Yacht Owner's Typhoon Checklist for Hong Kong

What a yacht owner needs to do before a typhoon breaks into four time points: within 72 hours of the Observatory forecasting an approaching tropical cyclone, check mooring lines, fenders and the bilge system; within 24 hours, stow covers and canopies, secure loose deck items and photograph everything for the record; once Signal No. 8 or above is hoisted, do not go down to the boat — follow your club's announcements; within 48 hours of the signal being lowered, go back and carry out a visual inspection of the hull, the electrics and machinery, and the lines. These four stages are not a single fixed list but a rhythm — the closer the storm, the more urgent the action. Below, each stage is set out item by item, with source links to the Observatory's signal definitions, Marine Department typhoon shelter information and publicly available club advice.

In the early stages of an approaching tropical cyclone, the Hong Kong Observatory progressively updates track and intensity forecasts through its Tropical Cyclone Warning System. No signal is up yet at this stage, but this is the window in which an owner can act early:

The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's typhoon advice page likewise lists mooring lines, covers and the bilge pump among the items to check before a storm (RHKYC Typhoon Advice) — and this is not only for RHKYC members, it is the standard baseline across the industry.

Once the forecast suggests Signal No. 3 or above may go up within 24 hours, the pace has to pick up:

• Stow covers, canopies and awnings. Fabric covers tear easily in strong wind and increase the whole boat's windage — stow or remove them wherever you can.
• Secure loose deck items and safety equipment. Lifebuoys, floats and any movable gear should go below or be lashed down, and it is worth photographing everything — it makes it easier to compare damage afterwards, and it is practical evidence for an insurance claim.
• Check shore power and the battery system. Confirm charging is normal and cable connections are secure, to reduce the risk of an electrical fault if water gets in.
• Review your policy and licence expiry dates. Check whether your policy carries a "named windstorm" clause (cover written specifically for damage from named tropical cyclones), and whether your Pleasure Vessel Licence has expired. The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's official page makes this point explicitly: an expired licence may invalidate your insurance (RHKYC Typhoon Advice). Whether that applies to every policy, and not only to RHKYC members, is something we would suggest owners confirm directly with their own insurance agent.

The Observatory's tropical cyclone warning signals have clear wind speed definitions: Signal No. 3 means sustained winds of 41–62 km/h; Signal No. 8 means sustained winds of 63–117 km/h (HKO reference for Signals No. 3 and No. 8; HKO tropical cyclone classification). Once Signal No. 8 or above is formally hoisted, the principle is simple: personal safety comes before damage to the boat.

The Aberdeen Boat Club puts it bluntly in its typhoon readiness notes: you must come down and prepare your boat before Signal No. 3, because once a signal is hoisted club staff will not board vessels to clear decks — the responsibility rests with the owner (Aberdeen Boat Club: Typhoon Readiness). In other words, once a signal is up you should not be heading down to the pier to "sort out a few more things" — all preparation should be finished at T-24h or earlier.

The Marine Department's typhoon shelter and mooring information is the official resource to consult at this stage (Marine Department typhoon shelter information), but actual pier and club closures, and when access reopens, are governed by each club's or marina's own live announcements.

Once the signal is lowered it does not mean it is immediately safe — there is no single published safe time point for returning to the pier after a signal is cancelled. We suggest following your own club's or marina's reopening announcement, or asking them directly. Once you have confirmed it is safe, aim to complete the following checks within 48 hours:

Beyond moisture in the batteries and electrical system, Hong Kong's typhoon shelter waters are relatively enclosed and lower in salinity, which also accelerates galvanic corrosion of metal components. How a surveyor checks for galvanic corrosion is set out in detail in our complete guide to buying a second-hand yacht, and the same logic applies to the post-storm mechanical and electrical check.

For berths around Marina Cove and Pak Sha Wan in Sai Kung, the specific closure arrangements during a storm, the reopening timetable and how the marina notifies owners all depend on the individual club, so we would suggest owners ask their club directly or follow its announcements. For the wider picture on Sai Kung berthing systems and how memberships or berths transfer with a boat, see our Sai Kung berthing reality guide. If your boat is currently berthed around Sai Kung and you would like someone alongside you for the pre- and post-storm checks, get in touch.

In the following situations, go straight to a surveyor or a marine engineer rather than judging it yourself:

• Cracks or visible water ingress below the waterline
• A bilge pump behaving abnormally, or unexplained water inside the hull
• Unusual noise, oil leaks, or a failure to start when running the engine
• Signs of moisture in the electrical or battery system, with suspected galvanic corrosion or short-circuit risk
• A damage claim to be filed with your insurer, where you need a professional report to support it

What you can reasonably do yourself is the non-invasive work: visual inspection, photographing for the record, and surface checks on lines and fenders. Anything involving hull structure or the inside of a mechanical or electrical system should go to a professional — it saves both time and risk.