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4th Koh Samui International Regatta 2005

Asian Yachting Pre-Regatta Report - 21st May

Get ready, the South China Sea calls again...
Ever dreamed of lazing around on a tropical palm tree lined, white sandy beach with cooling crystal clear water only a stone throw away? Then Koh Samui is the perfect setting for you. For the last 4 years the islanders have played host to the Koh Samui Regatta and welcome racers from Australia, NZ, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia along with local Thai sailors to its shores. The atmosphere is laid back island style with a week of fun filled racing action and passionate partying that makes it a prominent feature and truly unique event on the AsianYachting calendar.

Peter Plant from the organising committee reported "It’s just the start of the SW Monsoon season and conditions are looking good as the westerlies are already coming in nicely. We should average 10-15 knots during the regatta. It’s a great time of year here, temperatures average 27-28 degrees and there is low humidity".

This year competition in the Racing Class will be fierce as defending champion, Sam Chan's 21.21m ULDB sled Ffree Fire is returning to take on Frank Pong's 75ft Reichel Pugh Jelik and Troy Yaw's Sarawak based custom Sydney 46 Ulumulu skippered by Aussie Ray Roberts is looking at making amends for last years defeat with Toby O'Connell's newly acquired Pacific 50 YO! rounding out a formidable quartet of big boat racers.

Although Neil Pryde has won the 2004/05 AY Grand Prix Championships - Skipper of the Year award before this season ending regatta, if the new skipper of YO! (8 points) steps up to the top of the podium here, they could dislodge Hi-Fidelity (11 points) on count back for the 2004/05 AY Boat of the Year award. Take a peek at this seasons progressive point score or see how your favorite team ended up in the AY Rankings http://asianyachting.com/news/Rankings0405.htm.

The return of Hong Kong based yachts to SE Asian waters has Marcel Liedts X-612 Hocux Pocux 2, last years Racing 2 winner defending his title against the worthy opponents of Peter Churchouse's Warwick 19.5m Moonblue 2 and Wade Kimpton's heavy displacement Stephens 24m Lady M from NZ who won the Commodores Cup at the windy Royal Langkawi Regatta in March this year.

Racing Class 3 has attracted a number of Aussie yachting icons with George Snow owner of maxi Brindabella and veteran of 24 Hobart races leading the way by convincing Mariner Boating Holiday’s Trevor Joyce, to add this regatta to his growing list of sailing destinations. They have chartered four identical Sunsail Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35’s all named Princess - Princess Athena (George Snow), Princess Sharda (Tony Hearder), Princess Anna (Karl Stechmann) and Princess Arietta (Hans Sommer former CYCA Commodore) apparently princesses by name but not by nature. This is a good example of how 'fly in, have fun and fly out again' yacht racing has a big future in the Asian Region.

While the Aussie's are expecting close racing on a level rating basis, they will have some solid competition on handicap with the rest of the boats in their class. Singapore based Bill Bremmer’s Sydney 36 Foxy Lady, the two Thai Navy Farr MRX 36’s, David Pollard’s X412 Foreign Xchange 2, Saranya Makison’s Jeanneau 35 Magic Roundabout and Andy Dowden’s Image Asia Sunsail Jeanneau 461 will all be keen to show the Princesses the way home.

Magic Roundabout completely dominated at the recent Top of the Gulf Regatta ahead of Foreign Xchange 2 and the Thai Navy's Farr MRX 36’s won quite convincingly here last year and at the last few King's Cup in Phuket.

Another tough contest is expected to come from the 4 different Sportboat designs. Jonathan Mahony's Mumm 30 Happy Endings has repaired the mast damage from the Singapore Straits Regatta in time to defend last years title from David Bell's 2nd placed Fremantle 8 Pink Pussy Cat. Mark Horwood's Phuket Sports 8 Image Asia Attitude 8 is expected to have the legs on the group in fresh breezes but has found it difficult to beat John Vause's Pattaya built Buzz 8 on handicap as this incredible Runnalls 8 design has won 2 out of 2 events since launching.

The warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand are proving very attractive to multihull sailors. Radab Kanjanavanit Farrier F9 Cedar Swan is ready to repeat last years striking performance but the 2 Samui built Radical Bay 8000's of Pierre Forsans China House and Kim Thomas Coco Blues (King's Cup winner) will be out to spoil their chances. Kirati Asakul's heavier Lock Crowther 43 Sonic from Ocean Marina recently dominated the Top of the Gulf Regatta could be a cat among the pigeons. Others to watch out for in the 7 strong fleet are Francesco Brancaccio's Farrier F24 Vivace, David Hill's Formula 28 Gnome and Martin Peters Tiki 30 Nok Talay.

No matter what the result, this year’s Koh Samui Regatta is shaping up to be a lot of fun. At the end of each days racing competing crews will be able to unwind and relax with plenty of refreshments at the Regatta Tavern - on the beach in front of the Central Samui Beach Resort. Organisers must be commended for finding a opening in the calendar and choosing this magical setting that enables owners and crew from all around the world to get together for friendly competition. Many battles that start in the South China Sea are likely to be permanent features during the fast approaching 2005/06 season.

For more news and information www.samuiregatta.com.