ASEAN REGATTA Race Report No 3 and Summary

"Close and exciting yacht racing that went right down to the wire" is how Chris Kelly the west Australian Race Officer summed up the last three races of the Asean Regatta at Port Dickson, Malaysia. Going into the last day only 2 points separated the first three yachts that had scored a win each and shared the minor placings in the previous 4 races. The regatta was still wide open for the taking.

Despite the prevailing light conditions (5-8 knots) and with a bit of skillful maneuvering by the race committee, Race 5 was able to get underway on time and the days 3 scheduled grand prix windward/leeward deciding races were completed.

Keith Moore's "Pla Loma" took the handicap honours narrowly away from the favored big boats of DK42 and Yo respectively in race 5. The finishing order was then reversed in race 6 to narrow the points tally down to a 1 point separation and the  leading three yachts shared 2 wins a piece. The stage was set for a final show down where the winner takes all.

After a very close start the big boats initially sailed away to take a commanding advantage. A 25 degree wind shift, half way through, forced the race committee to re-lay the windward mark for the second round. The dying wind and variable conditions turned the race into a nail biting lottery where everybody has a chance of winning.

Finally it was Singapore's "Pla Loma" to take the honours by only 18 seconds WOW! from Dian Kreatif's "DK42" and Peter Ahern's "Yo" who had a close battle at the front of the fleet for most of the race. Congratulations to Keith and his skillful crew for firing the first warning shot at the other prospective racing class yachts intending to compete on the forth coming S.E.A. Regatta Circuit. 

 Judging by the success of this inaugural Asean Regatta it looks set to join the calendar of premier yachting events held annually in South East Asia. Where else in the world over the next three months can you race or cruise on a yacht and enjoy the hospitality activities at three International standard regatta'shosted in 4 different tropical countries?

 

ASEAN REGATTA Race Report No 2

Holly hell, what have we done wrong for the Malacca Strait wind gods to desert us. Today's start of the passage race at the Asean regatta had to be delayed and when finally underway had to be shortened leaving the yacht crews sweltering under the hot tropical conditions.

Eventually it was "Yo" followed by Singapore's "Pla Loma" by 24 seconds and Hannes Waimer's on  the "DK42" by 2 mins and 32 seconds on corrected time. WOW!

Tomorrows 3 windward/leeward races will see the winners of the grand prix racing class to be decided from these three yachts. Who will it be? and, will David Bailey sailing his Phuket based "Hocux Pocux" or Chris Gee on "Matahari" upset them to take the minor placings?

Perhaps the crews will be able to convey their wishes of more wind onto their favorite spirits at tonight's Beach Club party in Kuala Lumpur.

Asean Regatta Race Report 1

Yesterday's 3 consecutive windward/leeward races produced a mixed bag of results and has left the field wide open. Peter Ahern's 50 footer "YO" won the first race, Hannes Waimer skippering the factory produced "Dain Kreatif 42" claimed the second and Keith Moore's Bashford 36 "Pla Loma" took the third race away from the big boats. The light and variable 8-10knots of breeze in the Malacca Strait has increased some yachts chances and has produced some very close racing with only seconds separating the top places.

Cris Gee's Titan 36 "Matahari" has been sailing well picking up the places which keeps him within striking distance of the leaders and on form going into today's 25nm passage race. This may well be a crucial decider to producing the eventual winner of the inaugural Asean Regatta held at Admiral Marina in Port Dickson, Malaysia. Time will tell.

Yesterday's practice session and last nights cocktail party for the inaugural Asean Regatta held at Admiral Marina, Port Dickson in Malaysia marks the opening of the forth coming Asian regatta season. The participating skippers representing Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong have issued all sorts of interesting challenges.

Organizing chairman, Peter Ahern's, Malaysian modified Murray 50 design is very fast in light airs especially around windward/leeward courses and could be considered a favorite for the trophy.

Hot on his heels will be the works team from Dian Kretif on the Reichel/Pugh design DK42 built in their advanced composite factory in Malacca, Malaysia who are also sponsoring the event. These guys are all out to prove their racing speed and base their products potential on racing results and performance.

From Singapore the Bashford 36 "Pla Loma" has steadily improved and they have putt together a formidable campaign that could threaten the big boats.

Malaysia's "Matahari" and Martin Axe's "Serang" are expected to put in a good performance and will keep the big boat skippers busy checking their time pieces for handicap placings long after they have finished.

 AY wishes all competitors fair winds, blue sky and allot of fun.