For
immediate release
24th February 2005
Phuket, Thailand
2005
QBE PHANG NGA BAY REGATTA
Four
Spectacular Days of Racing in Paradise
Touted as Asia's most fun regatta, the QBE Insurance Phang Nga Bay
Regatta, this year, certainly lived up to all expectations. With
a fleet of 27 yachts and 179 sailors taking part in the four day
event where competitors raced through some of the world's most dramatic
natural seascapes with beautiful limestone karsts creating a magical
backdrop for an international fleet of boats.
Organised by Siam Marine Magazine and the Ao Chalong Yacht Club
the Regatta is now in its 8th year “.. and just seems to improve
year on year", says the regatta's President Andrew Craig. "Bigger
sponsors and more elegant parties this year have really complimented
our regatta which is so unique, due to its destinations and relaxed
attitude."
Racing class attracted a fleet of 8 very competitive yachts including
two locally built Phuket Sports 8's, La Samudra a gorgeous
Swan 42, Switchblade the IOR Roberts 43 as well as Foo
the Beneteau First 51.
It was David Lindhal's La Samudra though which stole the
show and the silverware with 2 wins a second and a third over the
four days to be crowned this year’s champions, closely followed
by Scott Duncanson aboard his Phuket 8 Securicor Somtam Express,
who recorded two seconds and a first.
The Cruising class A trophy was won by Singapore entrant Paul Kendall
aboard his seasoned campaigner Simba the Dehler 39 with
three firsts and a second. Minx the lovely X-342 skippered
by Mia Gillow the only female helmsperson in the regatta finished
second overall closely followed by Canadian Jim Ellis on Remington
a sleek S&S 36.
Cruising B was dominated by Jay Jarus aboard Blue Jay.
This freedom rigged yacht (similar in design to a windsurfer) does
not look like your average racing boat at all, however she sailed
admirably in all four races to secure victory in this class. Second
place went to Aquavit III skippered by Hellmut Schutte
and third place was awarded to Kay Sira helmed by owner
Barry Wickett.
The largest class in the fleet was the Multihulls division, and
four times champion Mark Pescott on Summersalt was not
going to let anyone steel his crown away without a fight. Mark once
again dominated his class with pure sailing ability backed by local
knowledge. Second place went to Merv Owen aboard Mumbo
Jumbo and third place went to the fiberglass cruising catamaran
No Fixed Address with Australian owner Brent McInnes at
the helm.
Classic class was honoured by the presence of two exceptional yachts.
Sunshine the new 120 ft Burmese built Fyfe design owned
by Peter Wood took the champion’s honours for the regatta.
She was followed by Eden 1, a beautiful Turkish built schooner
which looked equally as gracious sailing around the islands.
A more than challenging course was set by race management which
covered most of the Phang Nga Bay area taking the fleet on the first
race day, sponsored by Siam Marine Magazine, from Phuket's Yacht
Haven Marina around the top of Koh Yao Noi and down the east coast
to finish at the opening of the channel that separates it from Koh
Yao Yai. After a smooth upwind start the winds died off at the top
of the island where competitors struggled against the tide to round
the top mark. Once around Koh Yao Noi the winds built up again from
the south-east and allowed the Racing and Multihulls fleets to make
a beat down to the finish. Cruising class entries were finished
further north giving them time to motor into the anchorage.
Day Two - The Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort and Spa Race Day was the
trickiest race of the regatta. The fleet sailed loops and figure
eights around Koh Hong arguably the most sensational area in all
of Phang Nga Bay. The high limestone cliffs created wind shadows
in parts of the course which tested skippers and a little local
knowledge certainly came in handy.
Day three’s race was sponsored by Raimon Land where the fleet
set out from the Sheraton to round Koh Hong with a spinnaker start
which saw the Phuket 8's hit their strides for the first time. They
sped through the fleet up to Koh Hong hitting speeds of 15 knots
to everyone's delight. Once around the top of the island - those
that stayed wide avoided the shadows and raced away from the rest
of the fleet towards Koh Samet before turning north towards the
finish at Railay Beach.
The final race of the event and the most testing was the race from
Railay Beach to Phuket's Chalong Bay. The fleet again had a spinnaker
start and carried their shoots al the way to the finishing line.
The front runners in Racing and Multihulls finished after 4-5 hours
with the cruising boats finishing a little earlier at the start
of the entrance to Chalong. Hot conditions made it difficult however
the breeze was strong the entire race with 10-12 knots of breeze
and gusts of up to 20 knots pushing the fleet home.
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