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The
Inaugural Phuket Race Week Date: 13 July 2004 The light and variable wind conditions continued to trouble the race officers and competitors alike. Over the last 2 days, waiting up to 2 1/2 to 3 hours for the breeze to fill in, has seen the start delayed and the often fickle nature caused by passing rain showers has advantaged some boats and significantly affected others in the final standings. Race 2 finally got away in 10 to 12 knots of wind which saw the battle for line honours between Scott Duncanson's Phuket 8 Securicor Somtam Express and the Malaysian owned Yendys skippered by Richard Grimes (Colonel Grubovich) with the legendary all star afterguard of Fraser Johnson and Nig Nog start all over again, this time Yendys winning by a narrow margin. As the breeze momentarily picked up to 15 knots on the back reaching leg the Phuket 8's got up on the plane and provided a magnificent spectacle for the media to capture. (See web edition for Photos). Although the slower conventional keelboats could run deeper they managed to hold their places as they closed in on the top mark. After the leading yachts entered Ao Chalong Bay some huge wind shifts in the lee of Ko Mai Ton on the final 2 miles saw the trailing yachts significantly advantaged to come home in a rush on one tack to win the day. The Multihulls and Club classes also managed to finish after a disappointing long day in the sun during race day one. Stuart Crow's local lads on Cinders managed to edge out the veteran skippers Al Boone on Blue Moon and John Fenn on Four Winds. Dr Barry Gold's Forest became the biggest loser of the series after hitting the start boat then being over the line early plus not responding to the recall and to cap it all off the crew mutinied leaving him no option other than to pay for the damage and retire from the regatta. Aussie multihull designer Mark Pescott on Ceberus continued on their winning ways to win what turned into race 1 for them to be closely followed by Mathew and the Phuket youth team on Chimera. Chris Sieber's Kilo broke the jib halyard and was forced to retire on the first windward beat. Final results can be found at: http://www.phuketraceweek.com/results.htm Race report by Capt. Marty Rijkuris of Asian Yachting.
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