They arrived new to the circuit in Saint Tropez 2023 when Hong Kong based Alpha+ team first entered the 52 SUPER SERIES with the objectives of challenging themselves, learning, improving and having fun together. And since then they have evolved steadily, the uptick in their performance is constantly noted and in Year 2 they are very much in contention.
At heart they are an amateur team bolstered by a number of pro sailors. Their boat is the former Luna Rossa which they raced a little at home before refitting last year in Spain.
The Alpha+ team started out together in Hong Kong with a Beneteau cruiser racer some ten years or so ago. They graduated to a Ker 46+ and when the opportunity to buy Luna Rossa came up in January 2020 they seized the chance. They started close to the back of the local fleets around Hong Kong and the key Asian regattas but gradually learned and worked their way to become very competitive.
But it has been the owner Shawn Kang’s long held dream to join the 52 SUPER SERIES and so now, partly inspired by the success and enjoyment of their Thai counterparts on Team Vayu, the Alpha+ team have seized the initiative and will step up to compete this season with no real hopes and expectations.
Key pro sailors on board include North Sails’ Paul ‘Flipper’ Westlake, Craig Monk, Simon Daubney, navigator Harry Ross and Australian Olympic Laser gold medalist Tom Burton and since this year young Kiwi/Japanese helm Leo Takahashi who sailed for Japan at the 2020 Olympics and is on the USA Sail GP team
