2006 - 07 AsianYachting Grand Prix Skipper and Yacht Championships

Points are awarded based on the Yachts performance over eight selected AY Grand Prix racing class events (Malaysia 2, Hong Kong 2, Thailand 2 plus Singapore and the Philippines with 1 a piece) held each year (See below) that fairly grades the competing Skippers ability to successfully run a racing campaign in Asian waters over the 2006 - 07 Season.

At the final AY GP event in Koh Samui at the end of May the Champion Skipper receives a tailored Armani Blue Blazer and Perpetual AY Cup traditionally filled with chilled champagne is presented at a magnificent prize giving party on the lawns of the Central Samui Resort at Chewang Beach.

Goto the AY Photo Library for images of the 2003/04, 2004/05 2005/06 2006-07 2007/08 AY Grand Prix Champions presentation with selected shots taken during the season here...

Check out the Annual AYGP 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2007-08 and 2008-09 Champions

Breaking News stories and Race Reports as the 2006/07 Season progresses

Latest News...

Frank Pong and Jelik - Crowned 2006 - 07 AY Champions
Talk about going down to the wire... Coming into the last day of racing at the season ending Koh Samui Regatta Neil Pryde's Farr 52OD Hi Fi held a one point advantage over Frank Pong's 75ft Rachel Pugh Jelik. Race six got away on a windward / leeward course in 8 to 10 knots of breeze. Bill Bremner's Sydney 40 Foxy Lady III won the race and went on to became the overall Racing Class winner after scoring four wins out of six races. The race to be crowned the 2006-07 AsianYachting Grand Prix Champions just got more interesting as Frank Pong's crew on Jelik secured second place to even up the points with Neil Pryde's Hi Fi in 3rd place and PRO Tony Denham announced that a further windward / leeward Race 7 would be conducted back to back to complete the race program.

One of the closest starts ever witnessed in Asian waters resulted with everyone going flat out up the first windward beat. The downwind leg saw the usual separation based on boat speed but as the yachts turned for the next windward leg the breeze suddenly died and a shortened course posted. At 75ft Frank Pong's Jelik is the biggest boat racing here and usually found at the front of the fleet claiming line honours. On a short windward leeward course Jelik has to be up to one leg in front of the 52 footers to have their time on them to score a handicap win. On this occasion Frank managed to breast the shortened finish line as the other yachts picked their way through a minefield of wind changes interspersed with holes of no wind to finish over twenty two minutes in front of the next boat Mandrake. This gave Jelik the daily double of line and handicap honours for Race 7 and as Neil Pryde's Hi Fi finished in third place, this allowed Frank to leap frog them to win the prestigious2006-07 AsianYachting Grand Prix Skipper and Yacht Championships.

To get there Frank Pong and his 75ft R/P Jelik scored 3rd place (1 pt) at the China Coast Regatta in Hong Kong, 2nd place (2 pts) at the Royal Langkawi Int Regatta, 1st place (3 pts) at the Presidents Cup in Boracay and 2nd place (2 pts) here at Koh Samui to come up with the grand tally of 8 points. Neil Pryde and Hi Fi finished up on seven points for the year and Bill Bremner's Koh Samui win on Foxy Lady III lifts them to six points to make them equal third with Paul Winkelmann TP52 Island Fling at the end of the season. In total 12 yachts have scored points throughout the 2006 -07 Season and each of the eight selected regatta's or races has the distinction of having a different winner. The gala prize presentation may have been washed out on the lawns of the Central Samui Resort but after a little reorganising the Armani Blue Blazer was presented to Frank and the crew celebrated with the champagne in traditional grand prix style.

Koh Samui - Final Result still in doubt...
The battle for the prestigious annual 2006-07 AsianYachting Grand Prix Championships is heating up between Neil Pryde's Farr 52OD Hi Fi and Frank Pong's 75ft Rachel Pugh Jelik. Coming into the final event of the season both boats were tied on six points. Frank's Jelik started with a win and has since scored 3, 5, 2 and Neil's Hi Fi 4, 2, 2 plus a resounding win yesterday sees them two points in front with the possibility of three races to come. If a drop race is included at this stage the margin is reduced to a mere one point. On five points coming into this regatta the Fred Kinmonth and Nick Burns owned Farr/Mills 51 Mandrake has dropped out of contention with a scoreline of 3, 7, 4, 4 which includes a race 2 disqualification that maybe reopened but they will find it hard to come back from here.

If Neil Pryde's crew are really back on form they may well be the AY GP Champions for a third consecutive year. There has been some discussion about the courses to be used. Hi Fi may prefer windward / leeward courses and Jelik passage races but we have been assured by the race committee that there will be a mixture of both for the remaining races. Jelik's crew have also demonstrated in Langkawi and Boracay that they are capable of winning windward/leeward races and should not be considered out of the running by the media. Anything can happen over the next few days.

AY Grand Prix Championships reaching a climax at Koh Samui..
At the top of the leader board three skippers and yachts, Frank Pong (75ft R/P Jelik), Neil Pryde (Farr 52OD Hi Fi) and Paul Winkelmann (TP52 Island Fling) are all tied on six points with only the season ending Koh Samui Regatta to go. This year, there is no run away leader with several skippers only one regatta win away from the leaders. The Fred Kinmonth and Nick Burns owned Farr/Mills 51 Mandrake on five points are closest to the three leaders. Ray Roberts DK46 Quantum Racing on four points is well within striking distance. Crowning the 2006-07 Champion is dependant upon who turns up at Koh Samui.

Frank Pong has been released from China Teams America's Cup duties in Valencia. Neil Pryde and the Mandrake owners have formally registered their intentions to compete. Sam Chan's Ffree Fire 52 entered the frey by scoring three points after a resounding victory on the recent Hong Kong San Fernando Race. Bill Bremner's Sydney 40 Foxy Lady also on three points needs a good outing here to improve their rankings and can be considered outsiders. Past years have shown that anything is possible at Koh Samui. In event off a tie on points at the end of racing the winner will be decided on countback of results at earlier events. So it's anybodies guess who will be receiving the embroidered Amarni Blue Blazer and enough chilled champagne to fill the Perpetual Cup at the Koh Samui prize giving party, held on the magnificent lawns of the Central Samui Resort at Chewang Beach this year...

Hong Kong - San Fernando Race - Ffreefire enters the fray
After suffering from a series of breakages at earlier events Sam Chan's Ffree Fire 52 finally enters this years rankings with a resounding victory on the San Fernando Race. Second and third placed Chris Mead Halcyon Daze and Steve Manning's Walawala are the tenth and eleventh skipper and yacht to score points this season. Closing in at the top of the leader board three skippers Frank Pong, Neil Pryde and Paul Winkelmann are tied on six points with only the season ending Koh Samui Regatta to go. Several skippers and yachts are only one regatta win away from the leaders. Fred Kinmonth and Nick Burns owned Mandrake (five points) are closest to the leaders and Ray Roberts DK46 Quantum Racing on four points is well within striking distance. In event of a tie on points, the winner of the last event will become the 2006-07Champion.

Presidents Cup 2007 - Goes Frank Pong's way
Frank Pong had to crank up his 75ft R/P Jelik to a record thirty two plus knots on the last downwind reaching leg at Boracay to win the 2007 Presidents Cup. By adding three precious points to their tally in the annual AY Grand Prix Skipper and Yacht Championships finds them tied for the lead on six points with Neil Pryde's Farr 52 OD Hi Fi. Ernesto Echauz's Sydney 46 Centennial becomes the ninth skipper and boat to enter this seasons rankings. Ray Roberts third place on his DK46 Quantum Racing brings them to within two points of the leaders after only competing at two events. There is now several skippers and yachts only one regatta win away from the leaders. The Fred Kinmonth and Nick Burns owned Mandrake on five points is closest to the leaders. With only two regattas left this season everything is still open for the taking. Racing now swings over to Hong Kong for the San Fernando Race before the majority of racers come together again at the season ending Koh Samui Regatta.

AY March 07 News and Views
After winning the RLIR 07 Ray Roberts and Quantum Racing enters this seasons rankings. There is now four skippers and yachts tied on three points and only one regatta win away from the leader, Neil Pryde's Hi Fi on six points. There are three regattas left on our own home grown annual AY Grand Prix Skipper and Yacht Championships and as Ray intends on keeping Quantum Racing here in Asia and compete on these events everything is still open for the taking. The Fred Kinmonth and Nick Burns owned Mandrake on five points is closest to the leader. Third place in Langkawi for Rolf Heemskerk's Farr 40 YO!2 gives them one point to be the eighth skipper and yacht to score points this season. Racing now swings over to the Philippines and further scoring opportunities is dependant upon which events the owners choose to do before coming together again at the season ending Koh Samui Regatta.

Royal Langkawi Int Regatta - Quantum leap to victory
A daring port tack start gave Ray Roberts on Quantum Racing a slight edge over Frank Pong's Jelik on the winner take all final race. Quantum wrapped the spinnaker on the second hoist and may have seen their advantage disappear. Then Jelik missed the gate and had to quickly gybe back to correct the error. Nail biting stuff! The final windward work in twenty knots of wind on Bass Harbour may have been a little overpowering as crews strived to control the back winding mainsails and skippers kept their foot on the pedal. Eventually it was the bigger 75ft Jelik that crossed the line fourteen minutes in front of the smaller 46ft Quantum Racing. Was this enough after handicaps are applied? AY Race Reports here... and check out the AY Photo Library

13th Singapore Straits Regatta to Paul Winkelmann's Island Fling
In our own home grown annual AY Grand Prix Skipper and Yacht Championships Paul Winkelmann's TP52 Island Fling draws level with Neil Pryde's Hi Fi on six points. The Fred Kinmonth and Nick Burns owned Mandrake increases to five points and clearly within striking distance of the leaders. Bill Bremner's third place on Foxy Lady III earns them an extra point and puts them one win away from the leaders with four regattas to go. As racing now separates out between Langkawi and the Philippines further scoring opportunities are dependant upon which events the owners choose to do before coming together again at the season ending Koh Samui Regatta. SSR 07 - AY Race Reports with photos here...

Phuket King's Cup Regatta - Toby O'Connell on Dhevatara Drumstick
All racing class yachts eventually finished within seven minutes of each other, which gifted Toby O'Connell on the chartered DK 46 Dhevatara Drumstick his first King's Cup victory. After leading the fleet Neil Pryde's Hi Fi tied on points with Drumstick but lost out on a count back. Paul Winkelmann's TP52 Island Fling has shown allot of promise during the week but had to settle on third place overall after drifting into the mark adding further insult to injury on the final race. A twist of fate seems to play a hand in determining King Cup results, as earlier in the week Drumstick was dealt a severe blow from the jury and perhaps as retribution, nature has repaid them for the inconvenience. AY Race Reports here... Check out the King's Cup Photo Library...

Check out the Annual AYGP 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2007-08 and 2008-09 Champions

17^th Raja Muda Selangor Regatta 2006 - Fred Kinmonth/Nick Burns Mandrake take the title...
As the high noon showdown time approached, most yachts left the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club marina early to study the current direction and wind conditions on Bass Harbour. Five to eight knots of breeze saw the racing classes away with a lot of jockeying for position and covering tactics being employed up and down the fleet. All eyes were on the clash between Fred Kinmonth/Nick Burns Mandrake that narrowly led the pointscore and Bill Bremner's Foxy Lady that could execute an upset if the conditions suite. A hush descended on the media boat at the start of race seven as both RMN-Zuhrah and Mandrake were called over the line. As the boats were tightly packed, Bill Bremner decided to take the benefit of the doubt and returned Foxy Lady to the start line in case they were over early. The ever irrepressible Neil Pryde on Hi Fi took second place in race seven and Foxy Lady rebounded with a third placing but not enough to clinch the series. Mandrake's fifth placing was just enough to give the Fred Kinmonth/Nick Burns owned yacht the overall IRC Racing title this year. AY Race Reports here Check out the RMSIR 06 Photo Library...

Goto the AY Photo Library for images of the 2003/04, 2004/05 2005/06 2006-07 2007/08 AY Grand Prix Champions presentation with selected shots taken during the season here...

China Coast Regatta 06 - Neil Pryde's Team Hi Fi on the prowl again
Coming into the final race things were sure hotting up between Neil Pryde's Farr 52OD Hi Fi, Paul Winkelmann's newly acquired TP52 Island Fling and Frank Pong's massive 75ft R/P designed Jelik all tied on 8 points after discard and everything to play for. The start for IRC A was tight, with Sam Chan's Ffree Fire 52 (ex TP52 Flash) and Siren called over. Island Fling (ex TP52 Bambakou) feeling a weight of guilt saw them join the culprits in a revisit to the line. Unfortunately, Ffree Fire 52 didn't clear the line and was scored OCS, which allowed Mandrake to sneak in and take the final race. Team Pryde's second place on the more conventional 52 footer Hi Fi was enough to win the series by one point over Paul Winkelmann's more fancied TP52 Island Fling and Frank Pong's Jelik, another point behind. If this is a sign of things to come we are in for a exciting 2006-07 Season. Welcome to the racing class! RHKYC Race Reports with photos. As the CCR 06 is the first five star Racing Class event of the 2006-07 AY Grand Prix Skipper and Yacht Championships we welcome browsers to see how their favourite yacht is shaping up on the pointscore this year

AY Grand Prix Skipper and Yacht Championships gets underway
October sees the return of the serious contenders in the racing class on the International stage at the China Coast Regatta and the biennial 656 nm Hong Kong - Vietnam Race finishing in Nha Trang. Over the intervening months Sam Chan has a new Ffree Fire (ex TP52 Flash) and Paul Winkelmann's new Island Fling (ex TP52 Bambakou) will be joining in the frey and expect to clean up on the day racing events and set new records on long passage races. However they won't have it all their own way though, as Frank Pong's Reichel Pugh 75 Jelik, the Burns/Kinmonth Farr / Mills 51 Mandrake, Neil Pryde's Farr 52 Team Hi-Fi and Adam Wu Yi's Corby 41.5 Konka Hummingbird from mainland China are expected to be in the running at the end of the day.

Check out the Annual AYGP 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2007-08 and 2008-09 Champions

2006/07 AsianYachting Grand Prix Skipper and Yacht Rankings

Goto the AY Photo Library for images of the 2003/04, 2004/05 2005/06 2006-07 2007/08 AY Grand Prix Champions presentation with selected shots taken during the season here...

Check out the Annual AYGP 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2007-08 and 2008-09 Champions

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