[Hong Kong, 30 October 2025] — The Sailing Federation of Hong Kong, China celebrates a landmark achievement at the 15th National Games of the People’s Republic of China, where the Hong Kong Sailing Team secured its first-ever gold medals in dinghy sailing event at the National Games.
Nicholas Halliday, competing in the ILCA 7 class, delivered a breakthrough performance to win a gold medal, marking Hong Kong’s first sailing medal in the National Games history.
The event proved to be a challenging battle for Nicholas, who raced for 6 consecutive days showing remarkable consistency and composure . Nicholas finally clinched the gold medal with a 10-point lead over the silver medalist and ultimately defeated the defending champion from the previous Games. Halliday’s medal adds to a stellar year that includes victories at the Sailing Grand Slam – French Olympic Week in Hyères and the 2025 ILCA Asian Open Championships.
In the 49er class, Akira Sakai and Russell Aylsworth fought through a rollercoaster series of highs and lows, narrowly missing the podium by one position. Their resilience and tactical sailing in a highly competitive fleet earned them a well deserved 4th finish.
Meanwhile, in the 49erFX (Women) and ILCA 6 (Women) events, Stephanie Norton, Emily Polson, and Tiffany Mak competed against the top sailors in China. Polson and Mak, racing together in their first senior-level 49erFX regatta, missed the podium by just 1 point, finishing 4th, and gaining valuable experience for future campaigns.
Norton, a Tokyo 2020 Olympian and Asian Games silver medalist, finished 5th in ILCA 6, missing the podium by 4 points. Nancy Highfield had a remarkable showing in the ILCA 6 Stage 1 qualifying series, narrowly missing out on the final series by just one position. Her determination and progress throughout the event were commendable.
Peter Jessop, Hong Kong’s youngest ILCA 7 sailor, finished 10th at Stage 1. Having only recently stepped into the class, his performance shows great promise for the future.
“We are incredibly proud of our sailors’ achievements,” said Meihan Cheung, the President of the Sailing Federation of Hong Kong, China. “Their performance reflects the progress and depth of sailing talent developing in Hong Kong.”
