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4th Koh Samui International Regatta 2005

Asian Yachting Race Report 3 - 25th May

It's becoming a game of cat and mouse...
After an hour of hanging around the Tradewinds beach bar, the postponement flag on a beach cat in front was lowered which stirred the assembled rock stars and International crews from under the palm trees and out onto the water. The predicted SW trades did manage to arrive although a little late and saw the fleet away with 10 to 12 knots on a 24 nm passage race to the south of Koh Samui this time. The big yachts made quick work of the outward beat and spinnaker reach back only to get caught in a hole as they approached the finish line between the dying land breeze and emerging sea breeze. Decision time again, stay inshore or go to sea? Inshore seems to have paid off, yet again.

Toby O'Connell's YO! and Marcel Liedts Hocux Pocux 2 were a little to keen to get away and had to be recalled at the start which had a bearing on the days results. Peter Churchouse's Moonblue 2 stayed in contact with the leaders in the fresh conditions and made the best progress during the change over to record a resounding victory over the out and out racers. Frank Pongs Jelik initially streaked away only to get caught up in the hole near the finish to end up 2nd and just beating Marcel Liedts Hocux Pocux 2 by a mere 40 seconds. Troy Yaw's Ulumulu claimed 4th place and still holds the overall lead despite the juggling of places in today's race 4.

The bigger boats in IRC 2 made the best of the fresh conditions to increase their points standing over the smaller sports boats. Bill Bremner's Singapore based Sydney 36 Foxy Lady added another win to his tally making it 3 in a row and David Pollard's Foreign Xchange entered the frey with a well sailed 2nd place today. Saranya Makison kept Magic Roundabout in the running with a 3rd place and despite being 5 minutes late for the start John Vause's Buzz 8 scored 4th to be the best of the sportsboats. It was also Karl Stechmann's turn on Princess Anna to turn the tables on his fellow Aussie's competing on the four Sunsail Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35’s.

It was Pierre Forsans chance on China House to get one back from Kim Thomas's Coco Blues who have been sharing the wins so far with their Samui built Radical Bay 8000's over their bigger counterparts. Radab Kanjanavanit's Farrier F9 Cedar Swan claimed 3rd place and would seem to be the best of the rest at this stage in proceedings.

Catching up with Ray Roberts in his make shift office under the palm trees this morning he said "Anytime is a good time sailing in paradise". After the race Frank Pong added "If you have 5 days of good sailing winds like today this regatta will rank as one of the best in the South China Sea. The heavier displacement cruisers with their air-con, microwaves and gen-sets will sparkle in the distance races amongst the limestone cliffs and pristine clear water. They will also find the sandy bottom in the beach anchorage very secure".

For more news, full results and photos goto: www.samuiregatta.com.