3 DAYS OF EXCELLENT SAILING CONDITIONS
You just couldn’t have asked for anything more—three days of excellent sailing conditions in and around Chalong Bay, providing the perfect relief to those who have suffered from the COVID blues.
On the final day of racing for Phuket Raceweek, 2021 PRO Simon James of Regattas Asia had to delay the planned noon start time until 1:15 pm when the wind picked up and he was able to give the racing and cruising multis (the Stealths) two windward-leewards, giving them seven races in total, while the monohulls got in one race giving them six in their regatta series.
Dan and Dow Fidock made Raceweek history by being the owners of boats that won the regatta in two different classes: Fugazi in Multihull Racing and Saffron in Multihull Cruising. Dow also recently took over a couple of Lucky 13 franchises and graciously supplied the delicious sandwiches for the sailors and race officials every day.
Mark Pescott did a superb job helming Fugazi, as it edged out Warwick Downes Bonza to take the prestigious top spot in the OMR Sports Multiclass Division with Jason Corall’s Twin Sharks and Jojo Tayong’s all-Filipino-crew on Voodoo finishing in third and fourth spot respectively in the four-boat class.
Alan Carwardine turned in a masterful performance, winning all but one race skippering Saffron (formerly Java) to first place in the OMR Cruising Multihulls. Fez, skipped by Mick Coleman, took the second spot while Glywn Rowlands Twister 2 finished third. This was the tightest class by far as the Stealths finished just seconds apart in many of the races.
Nils Degenklow’s Phoenix never lost a race in the regatta and in so doing added to its trophy case winning the IRC Monohull class. The crew on Java Yachting’s Mas Alegre had never sailed together before, but by the third day, they were really getting it together and improving their standing, allowing them to take second overall in the division. Paul Merry’s Night Train claimed the third spot in the Multihull Class.
New to the regatta for this year was the Hydrofoil Kite competition, which saw Zayyar Wit take first overall followed by Vid Randejelovic, Christoph Dworzak and Dave Barnes in that order. The Wingfoil Kite competition saw Alejandro Vernis take the top shot followed by Tim Gunson and Bertrand Dufourt.
Rick Fielding read out the winners at a gathering at the Phuket Cruising Yacht Club after the regatta was over reminding all those in attendance that the final awards party will be staged at The Nai Harn Hotel on Saturday, November 13th (subject to further easing of Covid restrictions).
Speaking of the Phuket Cruising Yacht Club, Commodore Brent McInnes must be congratulated for providing a wonderful onshore haven for all the sailors throughout the regatta. Simon James, as usual, did an exceptional job as the PRO organising the on-water management team. Matt McGrath kindly supplied and drove the photography boat with Scott Murray on the camera. Video production with Phil Clarke and his son Jason from Helicam Asia.
And a huge round of applause must go out to Byron and Rung Jones, the latter who acted as a foredeck maiden on Saffron throughout the regatta, as they successfully organised & staged a fantastic Phuket Raceweek 2021.
All being well we shall see you on Saturday, November 13th at the Nai Harn Hotel.
Check out Raceday one report, and Raceday 2 report.
Full results are HERE
