Koh Samui Regatta
1-7 June
By
Liz Hamerton
The 7th Koh Samui Regatta marked
the end of the 2008 Asian sailing
calendar. All the major Grand Prix
yachts were there but Samui is not just
about the ‘big boats’ and there was a
very strong line up of Racer/Cruisers,
Sportsboats and Multihull’s.
Uncooperative wind on Day 1 led
to a delayed start but the fleets did get
away in a north westerly breeze. Despite
the wind easing off and an unfavourable
current, Jelik took the double of first
and fastest. Foxy Lady IV just managed
second place ahead of Quantum Racing
on corrected times. Close racing in IRC2
saw Ichi Ban take first place from Baby
Tonga and Panic respectively. Sportsboat
Pornstar led Ice Bucket and Moon
Shadow around the course in record
time. Constanza took the Cruising class
from Princess Sharda and Big Blue and
Dhevetara Frog beat Sea Horse Interiors
in the Multihulls.
Insufficient wind on Day 2 resulted
in the abandonment of back-to-back
windward/leeward courses having ‘bobbed
about’ for six hours under the hot sun.
After an early postponement on Day
3, it wasn’t until 13.00 that crews were
summonsed from various beach bars to
get Race 2 underway before the wind
changed again. Jelik took line honours
but podium places went to Quantum
Racing, Ambush and Full Metal Jacket,
separated by less than a minute. Panic
scored first place in IRC2 closely followed
by Happy Endings and Ichi Ban. The
Sportsboats and Cruisers repeated
their first race placings while Sea Horse
Interiors was edged out by The Sting on
handicap with Sonic in third place.
Thursday was due to be a lay day but
it was decided to try and catch up on
the race programme. Breeze ripples on
the water looked promising and Race 3
got underway with seven knots of wind
being recorded. To everyone’s delight the
breeze held and the PRO, Tony Denham, quickly fired off Race 4.
After four races the overall table
showed Quantum Racing on 9 points
with Hi-Fi and Foxy Lady IV tied on 16
points. Ichi Ban led the IRC2 fleet ahead
of Panic and Katsu. Pornstar dominated
the Sportsboats with Moon Shadow
and Ice Bucket tied for second place.
Constanza, Princess Sharda and Big
Blue held their positions in both races
and overall placings with Dhevatara Frog,
Cedar Swan and The Sting first, second
and third in the Multihulls.
With the race programme now back
on track, Race 5 started in 6 to 8 knots
of breeze. A 22nm coastal course called
for some early tactical decisions. Jelik
took the familiar position at the head of
the fleet and claimed the daily double.
Foxy Lady IV accelerated into second
place with Hi-Fi sneaking in third. As
the breeze faded, the IRC2 course was
shortened giving Ichi Ban their fourth win
in five races ahead of Happy Endings
and Panic. Ice Bucket turned the tables
on Pornstar with Moon Shadow coming
third while the Cruiser class maintained
their established positions. Trimaran,
Cedar Swan, won on handicap ahead of
The Sting in second place and
Sea Horse Interiors which had taken
line honours.
On the final day, any idea of a second
race was abandoned as the early promise
of 8-10 knots faded. Race 6 got underway
in earnest with everything to try for. Jelik
crossed the finish just 1 minute 26 seconds
ahead of Hi-Fi with Foxy Lady IV, recovering
from being OCS, just 55 seconds behind.
Ffreefire 52 was followed by Fortis
Mandrake and Quantum Racing which was
enough for Ray Roberts to become overall
2008 Racing Class winner. Winners of
the other classes were Ichi Ban, Pornstar,
Constanza and Cedar Swan respectively.
The Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony
completed another successful Koh Samui
Regatta, until June 1, 2009. |
