AsianYachting May
2006
News and Views
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CONTENTS
1.
Editorial - 2005-06
AY Grand Prix
Championships
coming to a conclusion
2
"Luckiest sailors of the month"
Chris Sieber and Surapa Srijutanat
owners of Kilo
3. Austral
- Asian News - Next up Top
of the Gulf Regatta and Koh
Samui Regatta
4. International News - AC action
kicks of in May - Wharington's Brunel
rejoins VOR
5.
World Speed Records - New
records for Geronimo and Yves Parlier Mediatis-Region Aquitane
- 597.81nm in 24 hrs
Goto Archived AY News & Views and Race Reports 2005-06 2004-05 2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01 98-99
1. EDITORIAL
As
the 2005-06 AY
Grand Prix Championships
comes to a conclusion Mandrake's China
Sea Race victory bumps the 51ft Burns / Kinmonth yacht up
the rankings to nine points which puts them within striking distance of
present leader Neil Pryde's Hi-Fi Team Pryde. After the President's
Cup Judes Echauz's Centennial,
Ray Ordoveza's
Karakoa
and Frank Pong's Jelik have
entered the frey. Avery's President's Cup photos found at: http://www.pbase.com/avypooh/pcr06
Depending on who turns up at the season ending Koh
Samui Regatta will determine the overall AY
Skipper and Boat
of the Year awards. Follow
your favourite teams progressive rankings at: http://asianyachting.com/news/AYGP05-06.htm
There is also a thread going on Sailing
Anarchy about who is coming to the KSR this year.
Over
the last few years Thailand has developed into the capitol of big boat
sailing in South East Asia, with no fewer than six major regattas being
held in various parts of the Kingdom every year. The Top
of the Gulf Regatta (3rd to 7th May) and Koh
Samui Regatta (21st - 27th May) promises to be even bigger
and better than last year. A total of 18 Platu 25's are fronting up for
the Platu Coronation Cup with eight chartered to Singaporean teams making
it the largest one design keelboat fleet ever assembled in Asian waters.
With the inclusion of Beneteau First class 7.5 match racing into the recent
12th Asian
Sailing Championships and the 15th
Asian Games to be held in Doha, Qatar (1-15 Dec) plus the
rejuvenated ISAF
Nations Match Racing Cup now taking shape, perhaps some other
Asian National Authorities will sit up and take notice that competitive
keelboat racing as well as dinghy sailing also comes under their area
of jurisdiction. As per the rules these boats can be sailed by a crew
of 4-5 persons having a max total weight of 325 Kg.
After
their dinghy days are over Asian sailors now looking for a career path
to progress along or stay on the International racing scene will need
to develop up some match racing and keelboat sailing skills before National
Racing Teams can be formed and become competitive at these events. As
opportunities don't come by every day, serious MNA's looking for reasons
to improve themselves should seize this initiative if a equipment sport
like sailing is to succeed in Asia, then work together with the National
Sports Dept's on producing a future Research, Development, Implementation
(R+D+I) Keelboat Racing Plan, to get to the next level.
We are already looking
at expanding our AY
Grand Prix Championships
to include the Sportsboat Class
at nine major events next season. Similar to the present Racing
Class - AY
Skipper and Boat
of the Year
being awarded the AY
Trophy, traditional
Blue Blazer and
enjoy Champagne Celebrations at a combined Koh Samui gala dinner
and prize giving evening on the splendid lawn setting in front of the
Central Samui Beach Resort
that marks the end of the 2005-06
Season...
See ya round on the water
Capt Marty
2. "Luckiest sailors of the month"
As
reported in Feb
N&V Kilo, a 46-foot catamaran
owned by Chris Sieber and his wife Surapa Srijutanat
drifted off its anchorage on Dec 17 from Kata Beach in Phuket and was
found on Jan 20 some 725 kilometers away in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
After three months of wrangling with Indian authorities about paying US$56,000
(about 2.1 million baht) to the Coast Guard for towing the yacht to Port
Blair became so intense that Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura contacted
the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get in touch with the Indian Ambassador
to Thailand and help clear the way. They we’re willing to pay as
much as US$10,000 (400,000 baht) but US$56k is way over the top. Bob Mott,
a close friend who was in constant contact with the Siebers throughout
the bureaucratic ordeal, said "In the end, it appears they paid next
to nothing and after conducting some repairs they were cleared by the
Indian Navy, Customs, Immigration, Coast Guard and the Harbour Master
to finally set sail and bring Kilo back to Phuket. Mr Mott was
full of praise for the Thai officials involved. 'I am amazed they got
this to happen. I know the Thai consul in Calcutta [Kolkata] has been
involved. I think without them it wouldn’t have happened'.
3.
Austral
- Asian News
3.1 Don't miss the MYA - AGM...
The Malaysian Yachting Association are holding their Annual General Meeting
at the Regency Tanjung Tuan Beach Resort in Port Dickson at 10:30am on
Sunday 7th May. A new constitution and membership status is up for discussion
and likely to be changed, so all yacht clubs, state sailing associations
and generally anybody involved with organising sailing events are urged
to attend and help put the National Association onto a proper footing
for the future. MYA website http://www.sailing.org.my/
E-mail: layarmas@tm.net.my Phone
06 6463643 Fx 06 6463890 to let them know your coming.
3.2
Sunsail Asia expanding to new horizons...
Sunsail was named Best Asian Charter Company at the Christofle Asia Boating
Awards for the second successive year. With the success of 4 matched SunOdyssey
35 yachts at last years Koh
Samui Regatta regatta, they are delighted to offer an even
larger selection of yachts for this years event from 21-27 May. Two Aussie
teams are returning to defend the Sunsail One Design title as all yachts
are supplied with racing spinnakers & poles, the Sunsail Trophy looks
to be even more competitive this year. Check out their Flotilla
holidays and Bareboat Charter
fleets or latch onto one of the weekly RYA
Courses or their great value MileCatcher
Voyages by Calling +66 76 239057 Fax: +66 76 238940 Email:
sales@sunsailasia.com or visit
http://www.sunsailasia.com
3.3
Darwin-Kupang-Bali-Singapore-Langkawi Yacht Rally 2006
The 2006 edition is a collaborative effort between Sail
Indonesia and SailAsia
to promote the navigational route from Darwin, Australia, through the
Indonesian archipelago, up the Malacca Straits before ending in Langkawi,
Malaysia. The rally starts in Darwin on 22 July and Sail
Indonesia have already attracted over eighty entrants
(three months before starting) SailAsia
will be taking over from Raffles Marina, Singapore ending in Langkawi
for an exciting week from 24 to 29 Nov (see the Rally
Schedule). Spanning four countries over four months and next
year possibly including Phuket this event is progressively turning South
East Asian waters into a world class cruising destination.
3.4
Langkawi International Boat Exhibition
(LIBEX)
Will be held from 24 to 27 Nov, set against the picturesque backdrop of
the Mediterranean-style Telaga
Harbour Park, Langkawi to coincide with the arrival of the
rally participants and the end of the Raja Muda Selangor Int. Regatta.
For exhibitors, LIBEX offers a range of facilities including on-water
berths, outdoor display areas, air-conditioned exhibitor pavilions, as
well as demo opportunities and seminar slots, plus other activities associated
with an international boating event of this nature. For details on Exhibition
Opportunities Contact: Pegasus Exhibitions & Events Management Sdn
Bhd Tel: +603 4043 6158 Email: peemsb1@streamyx.com
or lee@langkawiboatshow.com
Website: http://www.langkawiboatshow.com
3.5
ISAF Nations Cup - Oceania Region
Royal New Zealand's team of Simon Dickey, Dallas Bennett and Adam Minoprio
took out the regional finals defeating the Australian team, of Seve Jarvin,
Robert Bell and Sam Newton, from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
Unfortunately there were no Eastern or South East Asian teams competing
in these regional finals of the now revamped ISAF Nations Cup. Perhaps
next year, now that we have been notified and hopefully get some local
match racing going latter in the year. The focus of the ISAF Nations Cup
now switches to Europe and the Regional Final for Europe 3 in London,
Great Britain, from 25-29 April. Follow the progress at: http://www.sailing.org/nationscup
3.6
Your chance to meet Dame Ellen in Malaysia or Singapore.
When Ellen MacArthur and the B&Q crew arrived in Hong Kong they established
record number 7 of the Asian Record Circuit. Singapore's Elaine Chua has
the privilege of being selected to crew onboard for the remaining legs
(schedule below) and Malaysians will have the opportunity to meet Ellen
and look over the massive trimaran when it berths in Terengannu around
8-11th May. This is a opportunity not to be missed as we rarely get a
chance in this part of the world to see the record breaking craft let
alone meet the sailors in person. Follow their progress at: http://www.asianrecordcircuit.com/
1-7 May Leg 7: Hong Kong to Sanya (Hainan Island) Leg 8: Sanya to Nha
Trang, Vietnam Leg 9: Nha Trang to Terengganu, Malaysia
8- 11 May Stopover: Terengganu
11-12 May Leg 10: Terengganu to Singapore
13-17 May Finish: Singapore
The trimaran will return to the UK onboard a CMA-CGM container ship
3.7
Quantum Fusion
M just keeps getting better!
The
Quantum Sail Design Group have officially opened a new state of the art,
custom-built, 50,000
square foot factory in Malacca, Malaysia which is dedicated to
assembling its proprietary Fusion M sail membranes for more than 60 Quantum
sail lofts around the world. The Structural Membrane Facility (SMF) has
more than doubled Quantum’s capacity and has the potential to expand
further to meet future demands. So now, more than ever, you can count
on Fusion M delivering great boat-speed and reliability. Goto: http://asianyachting.com/news/QuantumSails.htm
3.8
First International off-shore yacht race in India
The 35 yachts of the Vasco da Gama Rally set off from Turkey in October
last year and arrived in Mumbai on April 21 after covering a total of
4,266 nautical miles. One yacht got snared in a large fishing net all
night, two yachts sank and there's one manned by an all-girl team. Mumbaites
will be able to see the colourful yachts from Nariman Point and Marine
Drive. The foreign yachts will be joined by Indian boats and will be racing
to Goa on April 23 ending with an awards ceremony on April 29.
3.9
Good News for Asian Pacific region sailors
Yachting Northern Territory have recently re-established Sailing as a
sport in the 2007 Arafura Games to be conducted in Darwin, Australia from
12 to 19 May 2007. The classes to be sailed in the Games are Laser, Laser
Radial, Laser 4.7, Optimist and RSX Sailboards. The Arafura Games is a
biennial event sponsored and supported by the NT Government and is designed
to encourage developing athletes from the Arafura Region, (Asia Pacific
Region). All competitors are welcome however they should have their country's
endorsement. Competitors in the Games have the honour of representing
their country and can win Gold, Silver or Bronze medals as individuals
that will add to the country medal tally. For information contact Yachting
NT on ntya@ais.net.au or visit the
web
page here...
3.10
World Match Racing Tour in trouble?
Forced to make an adjustment to the 2005-06 season after organizers of
the GKSS Match Cup (formerly Swedish Match Cup) were forced to cancel
the event due to funding difficulties. The season will conclude at the
Toscana Elba Cup (July 11-16) - Trofeo Locman on Elba Island. There are
two events leading to the final, the ACI Cup (May 23-28) and Match Race
Germany (June 1-5). The loss of the GKSS Match Cup, hosted by the Royal
Gothenburg Yacht Club was one of the sailors favourites but reduces the
professional Grade 1 racing schedule to eight events from nine. As the
Swedish Match Cup, held on the idyllic island of Marstrand, off Sweden’s
west coast, was the final event of the tour season with a large and enthusiastic
crowd on hand over the last six years. The loss of title sponsor Swedish
Match AB, was too much for event organizers Peter Klock and Martin Sohtell
to overcome. Scott MacLeod WMRT President, said, “We’re very
disappointed to see the GKSS Match Cup canceled. It’s an unfortunate
circumstance, but it’s hard for events to find funding. The event
has a strong heritage and we expect it to be back next year, better than
ever.” Television programs may be viewed on demand by clicking on
the television icon on the website: http://www.WorldMatchRacingTour.com
3.11
Featured AY Brokerage Listings...
How
would you like to own a Sydney
- Hobart Race winner?
Piccolo
is considered one of the original Farr 1104's to be built
in Australia, that back
in 1976 helped
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onto the road to International
fame and glory.
There must of been hundreds built in NZ and Aus but still today only a
few ever appear on brokerage lists, as this open plan, beamy and easy
to sail family yacht has a fractional, single swept back spreader
rig (No runners or check stays) that have served
as great family cruisers and
usually traded amongst friends. Sold to
the present owner mid 2002 and comes
with detailed instructional notes, written by the previous owner
over 18 meticulously
kept years in Perth, on how
to sail and live onboard Piccolo during his trip up to Asia.
Although now
considered a classic, she has been kept in good working order, alongside
the owners private marina berth in Malaysia. Farr
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4. International News
4.1
All aboard for Rolex Antigua Sailing Week
St. John's, Antigua - Final preparations for Rolex Antigua Sailing Week
are being made in the host town of St. John's, the capital of the twin
island nation of Antigua and Barbuda in the West Indies. At barely 100
sq. miles in size, the Caribbean giant will welcome over 1500 sailors
from April 30 to May 6 for what many call the biggest highlight of the
sailing season. For the past 39 years a celebration of Caribbean camaraderie
has been the draw for boats both big and small in a variety of classes
aimed at pleasing both serious racers and casual cruisers. More details
visit http://www.sailingweek.com
4.2 AC action kicks of in May
The season for the America's Cup Challengers opens with Act 10 on 11 May
with match racing until 16 May. This is followed by Act 11 with fleet
racing between the 19 and 21 May and then Act 12 is from 23 June to 3
July 2006. With the Louis Vuitton Cup less than a year away, this is crunch
time. Every Cup team faces the challenge of prioritizing development projects
- time is no longer plentiful. Although it seems like just yesterday the
America's Cup was several years away - it's now virtually around the corner.
The decisions that are being made right now here in Valencia will likely
determine who will win the Cup. While most of the teams will be sailing
their old boats for these races, BMW Oracle announced that they will sail
their new boat, USA 87, in Act 11. However, this could change as teams
have until 24 hours before the start of the first flight of each Act to
nominate the boat to be used. More news: http://www.americascup.com/en/
4.3
Warning to all offshore racers.
DK Yachts are warning all offshore racers to watch out
for when one of their Mum 30, Farr 36, 40, 52, 520 or Mills DK46 or the
new DK 40 lines up on your starting grid. It is business as usual in their
new ultra modern 110,000 sg ft workshop facility in Malacca. For the first
time there will be two DK 46's competing in German waters on the HSH Nordbank
Race starting 20th May, from Kiel (Germany) via Copenhagen (Denmark) around
the Danish Cape of Skagen finishing up in Hamburg (Germany). Tom Ebert
from Frankfurt got his DK 46 Tutima last season, and Christopher
Wuttke has just bought Guts'n Glory, which was the first DK 46
to be built. Serious Yachts
for Serious Sailors can
be found at http://www.dkyachts.com
4.4
Multi's in the HEART OF LONDON
The opening event of the Multicup 60', the London-Alpes Maritimes race
gets underway on 8 May downstream of the Thames Tidal Barriers, after
a parade beneath Tower Bridge. This year, with the creation of the Multicup
60', the route facing the six trimarans (Banque Populaire, Géant,
Gitana 11, Gitana 12, Groupama-2, and Sopra Group) is an
even more tactical one, involving as it does first going down the Thames,
then crossing a small section of the North Sea before passing along the
Channel and heading out into the Atlantic for Gibraltar Straits ending
up in the Mediterranean. More from the Gitana Team: http://www.gitana-team.com
or Event website http://www.multicup.net
4.5
Volvo Ocean Race continues on...
Grant Wharington's Brunel has arrived in Baltimore. The canard has gone,
the shrouds have been brought inboard and the orange house-brick beneath
the hull has been replaced with a sleek racing bulb in a last ditch effort
to get the ailing Aussie VOR 2005-06 entrant competitive. In a move which
seems to sail right through the spirit of the rules Wharington officially
withdrew from the race with his VO 70 on the back of a truck heading for
the builders shed in Melbourne for a major re-fit. Not content with being
an also ran at the back of the fleet he announced "That they will
pay another entry fee and re-join the final third of the race with plans
to win one of the legs from Baltimore to the finish in Gothenburg. Follow
the action at: http://www.volvooceanrace.org
5. World Speed Records
5.1
New records for Geronimo
Despite an extremely difficult final section, Geronimo
crossed the finish line of the 4,482 nautical mile San Francisco -Yokohama
record course at 13:21:23 GMT (04/27/2006), beating Steve Fossett's record
by 4 days, 16 hrs, 37 mins and 28 secs. Geronimo also set a new record
for the passage from Hawaii to Yokohama, which was also previously held
by the US sailor. Since crossing the start line, Geronimo has crossed
two finish lines to beat two records. Quite an achievement: “Afterwards,
it all seems easy, but beforehand you have it all to do. Between words
and action, you always have the sea. Geronimo has become a complete boat,
and one capable of successfully confronting all kinds of conditions. Since
we are still the only team on the front line, we obviously take risks.
Together with Capgemini and Schneider Electric, we were the first to build
a trimaran of this size. Our attitude hasn't changed one bit: we try new
things, but we tend to sail in the traditional way." More at: http://www.rivacom.fr/
5.2
Dee Caffari's almost round the world...
After a wind swept Southern Ocean crossing against the elements Solo yachtswoman
Dee Caffari is lining herself up for a good crossing through the doldrums
in her attempt to become the first woman to sail single handed non stop
west about round the world. With only a couple thousand miles to go the
girl from Watford has overcome the odds with auto pilot and watermaker
problems putting the record in jeopardy and glad to return to the Falmouth
starting point after over twenty four weeks at sea. Read Dee's diary at
http://www.avivachallenge.com/
5.3
AY
Gloves for
all occasions..
Whether your sailing in the depths of the Southern Ocean or the hot balmy
tropics, we have got a pair of sailing gloves to suite you! Check out
the fashionable tropical full finger (good for mastmen to bounce halyards)
or our signature cold climate protective gloves which earlier this year
became the fastest round the world. Just ask Bruno Peyron! They can be
purchased individually or in bulk (Min 60 pairs - your choice of colours
and logo) which event sponsors are finding good value and a memorable
promotion item, that won't break the budget. Take a look in the AY
Shopping
Arcade or go directly to: http://asianyachting.com/Mall/AYGloves.htm
5.4
Greatest distance sailed in 24 hours - up to 60 foot
The World Sailing Speed Record Council has ratified as a new world record
the 597.81nm run done by Yves Parlier and his crew of five on Mediatis-Region
Aquitane on April 9-10 - Average speed: 24.91 kts. Previous record:
1994 Primagaz 60ft Tri, Laurent Bourgnon, FRA, 540nm. 22.5kts.
This remains as the singlehanded, up to 60 foot 24 hour record that Yves
Parlier and his crew will continue to prepare for all spring in Las Palmas
of the Canaries Islands and eventually hope to have a crack at the solo
24-hour distance record. More on Yves Parlier's Team http://www.parlier.org
5.5
New record attempts for ORANGE
II
The giant Orange II, skippered by Bruno Peyron, will
be continuing with her program of records in 2006. The main feature will
be another attempt at the North Atlantic crewed record that they just
missed out on in August 2004 by some 31 minutes. Orange II might have
a go at her own 24-hour world crew record (706.2 miles), and maybe the
single-handed record too. On 10th October 2001, Steve Fossett's PlayStation
established a legendary performance in 4 days, 17 hrs, 28 mins and 6 secs
with an average speed of 25.78 knots! Meanwhile, a new Orange Project
trimaran, skippered by Stève Ravussin will be lining up for the
start of the 2006 Route du Rhum. More at: http://www.orange-sailing-team.com
-----------------------------------------------------
Come
on girls, lets go shopping!
As the South East Asian
region is expected to turn into a world-class yachting tourism destination,
AY
is expanding the Shopping
Mall to include a Charter
Yacht page for the popular "Fly
in, have fun, fly out" sailors with Sabah's recent
award winning Touchdown
Charters Plus a Real-Estate
page to promote the ever increasing residential
Condominium, Resorts
and Marina developments the region has on offer. Browse the full
AY
advertising
rates and find other things for-sale including the Fastest
Sailing
Gloves on the Planet in the AY
Shopping Arcade here...
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