Mark Watson III and crew of Tiburon are among the top half of the fleet at the Etchells World Championships in Hong Kong.

After five races, provisional results showed the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club skipper nineteenth among the formidable 43-boat fleet.

Yesterday, the fleet faced favourable 11-14 knot east-northeast breezes which held fairly steady throughout the day before eventually shifting right and decreasing mid-afternoon.

Watson and crew thrived in the conditions, posting a ninth, the team’s best showing so far.

The Argo Group president and CEO, who had the distinction of sailing on the winning yacht in this year’s Trans-Atlantic Race, is joined on Tiburon by crew Andreas Josenhans and Chris Busch. Also competing at the championships is Tim Patton, a multiple Bermuda national Etchells champion.

Patton, who is competing aboard Australian skipper Bill Steele’s boat, Chelsea Lady, is making his 25th appearance in the annual regatta this year. Steele and company are 31st.

Topping the leaderboard is American skipper Skip Dieball and crew of Aretas.

Closely behind is Dieball’s compatriots Steve Benjamin and Marvin Beckmann aboard Scimitar and The Martian.

Grant Simmer, the general manager of Oracle Team USA, holders of the “Auld Mug”, is competing on board Australia skipper Graeme Taylor’s boat, Magpie, which is seventh on the leaderboard.

The championships are being hosted by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in conjunction with the Hong Kong Etchells Association.

The regatta consists of nine races to be contested on the waters around “The Ninepins”, located near Clearwater Bay, from November 2 to 7.

Today, the race committee will attempt to stage two races so that the final two days of the regatta can feature one long race per day with an upwind finish.