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The Inaugural Phuket Race Week
Race Report 5 & Summary

Date: 17 July 2004

Phuket 8's to the fore...
After a short wait the final showdown got away in 6 to 8 knots of breeze and the gloves were off as yachts vying for overall honours covered each other up the first windward beat. The amassed media watched on with abated breath as Scott Duncanson's Phuket 8 Securicor Somtam Express crossed in front of Stuart Harrison's Mum 30 Panic. Yendys skippered by Richard Grimes with the Malaysian owner onboard on this occasion led around the top mark but needed to get further ahead as Viroj Nualkhair's Octopussy and John Vause's Ruby Tuesday were hot on his heels. The tight windward/leeward course set by Race Officer John McLennan proved to be the perfect choice as the breeze increased to 10 knots half way round and peaked at 15 knots on the final downwind leg. The Multihull and Club classes were sent around a triangle course where allot of jostling for position was going on as the final placings would determine the eventual winners.

The conditions were ideal for the Phuket 8's as they could easily get up and plane downwind with their huge asymmetric spinnakers powering them along. Scott Duncanson's Securicor Somtam Express crew did everything they could to take a commanding lead over Stuart Harrison's Panic his closest rival who came into the final deciding race tied on points. As the wind increased good sail handling and crew drills through the gybes became a necessity and a number of broaches occurred plus running over the spinnaker on launching temporarily hampered some yachts progress allowing Somtam Express to take advantage and get further in front. After putting in a near perfect sail Scott Duncanson's crew had a run away win to clinch the series and prove just how dynamic the Phuket 8's performance can be. Stuart Harrison's Panic had to settle for 2nd overall and although Keith Moore's Skiff Asia Pla Loma ended up second in the final race they finished the series 3rd overall.

In the IRC Class John Vause's crew on Ruby Tuesday put in a determined effort to record their second win in succession to draw equal on points with Mick Kealy's Minx and together topple Viroj Nualkhair's Octopussy who was leading by one point coming into the final round. Unfortunately Ruby Tuesday's late charge was not enough as after discarding a race and on count back, Minx's two firsts and two seconds gives them the overall victory.

In the Club Class Stuart Crow's crew on Cinders new what they had to do to break the tie with Al Boone's Blue Moon and went out and executed a near perfect performance to win the day and take the overall series honours. Blue Moon finished up second and John Fenn's consistent third placing on Four Winds not surprisingly earns them 3rd place overall.

Mark Pescott's fifth win on Ceberus gives them a clean slate in the Multihull Class. Although Mathew and the Phuket youth team on Chimera took 2nd today it was not enough to topple Chris Sieber's early run of second places on Kilo which scores them 2nd overall in front Chimera.

Summary
With the ever increasing number of regatta's being organised in the Asian region the inaugural Phuket Race Week can be used as an example by other budding event organisers to keep some semblance of order and bring simplicity to their operation. Allot of needless pomp and ceremony goes on during many of the established regatta's that can create a financial burden for future and often voluntary committees to deal with, that does not necessarily benefit the competing sailors in any way. Running a professional and successful event that pleases the sponsors and most of all the competitors should be the priority and that is what Image Asia have achieved here.

Having the event decided on the water instead of in the protest room also brings a welcome relief to the competitors, organisers and media alike, which can leave an everlasting impression that can either make or break an event and hard to shake off. Many thanks must go to the Evason Resort and Fosters beer for taking on this event and ensure its success in future years. Pencil in the 28th to the 31st July for next year dates.

Final results can be found at: http://www.phuketraceweek.com/results.htm

Race report by Capt. Marty Rijkuris of Asian Yachting.