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AsianYachting
- Race Report 5 & Summary
 by Capt Marty Rijkuris
7th December There
she blows!
A good 15 to 18 knots made an exciting final day of racing. The crews keenness to get on with the job had several racing class yachts over the line early forcing the race officer to have a general recall and a restart. Not since the mid nineties has there been so much wind at the King's Cup on the final 2 days of racing making up for the earlier races where a distinct lack of wind was causing some discontent amongst the competitors with the race management decisions. Racing
Class
After 2 years of being the brides maid Peter Ahern's Yo! finally stayed in front to capture his first Kings Cup. Today's final race saw Hannes Waimer the CEO of DK Yachts on his Farr 40 Jativa take first place from Neil Pryde's Hi-Fidelity and Frank Pong's Jelik who blitzed around the trapezoid course in a little over an hour. The only threat to Yo! was Robert Elliot's Linklaters Mandrake that finished forth beating Yo! by only one second on corrected time. Having a 2 point advantage going into todays final race Yo! held on to take the overall title by one point from Linklaters Mandrake and Hi-Fidelity climbing up into third spot.  Premier
CruisingMark Liedts Elektra took the final race which left David Bailey's Hocux Pocux and John Wardill's Australian Maid in 2nd and 3rd respectively and tied on points at the end of racing. After a initial countback they remained tied with the same roundup of placings so after a further countback the tie was broken in favour of Hocux Pocux for taking a second place in front of Australian Maid on the last race today. IRC 1 IRC 2 IRC 3 - Cruising Ocean
Multihulls
Mark Prescott's Summersalt finished
1st today to remain at the top of the leaderboard from Tony Lough's
Securicor Fine Pitch and Radab Kanjanavit's Cedar Swan
who have managed to finish in the same order in the overall
class standings.
Ocean
Rover
Donald Radcliffe's Klondike
finished with 4 wins out of 5 races to take the honours from Javis
Jay's double wishbone rigged Blue Jay and Geoff Horn's
Good Hope.
Classic
Class
Chris Edwards Xyphias
once again took the honours from Julian Hill's Sanook to
record 4 wins out of 5 races and the overall winner of the 2 boat
class.
Summary
What started with very light and frustrating sailing conditions ended with the last 2 races being sailed in a 15 to 18 knot blast. This restored the sailors confidence and has got most of them over their earlier disappointments. The committee must be commended for making some fair and equitable results out of a difficult situation that saw many of the yachts out on the water well after dark and crews expressing their opinions and some unsavoury thoughts. The arrival of the North Easterly has saved the day and will hopefully go down in the competing sailors memory as a successful 16th King's Cup. AsianYachting
- Observation For a complete set of
PKCR 2002 results go to http://www.kingscup.com
The 16th Phuket King’s
Cup Regatta is the second official event on the Asian Yachting
Circuit (AYC) that also visits Malaysia, Singapore and Hong
Kong.
The Principle Sponsor for the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is Binatone and Royal Phuket Marina, Resort & Spa. The event is supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Kata Group, American Express Bank, QBE, Sunsail, the Evason Phuket Resort & Spa, Mom Tri’s Boathouse, Bangkok Airways, TQPR (Thailand), Nautica, Land Rover Thailand, Phuket Magazine, Phuket Island Beer, BJC and Coke. |
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16th Phuket King's Cup Regatta 2002
AsianYachting
- Race Report 4
by Capt Marty Rijkuris
6th December
Wind
Glorious Wind - at last!
Four races into the regatta
our prayers for wind have finally been answered. A welcoming 15 to 18
knots greeted sailors on the penultimate day of racing so 2 windward/
leeward races could be completed for the racing class and the Evason Resort
and QBE Insurance around the Islands race for the rest of the fleet could
be completed before lunch time.
Racing
Class
A mixed bag of results
from today's racing has produced a reversal of form on the overall leader
board. Peter Ahern's Yo! produced a 1st and 6th to regain the
lead and Robert Elliot's Linklaters Mandrake 6th and 2nd placings
have placed them in second spot overall. Neil Pryde's Hi-Fidelity
won the second race and Ray Roberts second place in race 1 has dethroned
Keith Moores Pla Loma as overnight leader into third place
overall who suffered in the stronger wind conditions. With only 1 race
left tomorrow the overall winner cannot be determined yet and on paper
at least should be either Yo or Linklaters Mandrake
unless someone else puts in an almighty effort and these yachts finish
well down the order.
Premier
Cruising
David Bailey's Hocux Pocux
has turned the tables to record his second win of the series and Ermano
Traverso's Stormvogel revelled in the stronger wind to take second
spot from George Olivet's Big Buzzard. John Wardill's Australian
Maid forth place has tightened up the scoring so the overall placings
will be determined by tomorrows results.
IRC
1
Rob Williams Di Hard is
provisionally first from Warren Batt's Mustang Sally and Horst
Lakits Big A taking third. Several start line protests and counter
protests have been lodged which when heard will affect the overall standings.
Big A has a commanding lead on points and if the wind keeps up
will be hard to topple.
IRC
2
The Royal Thai Navy entrants
have had another big day and repeated yesterdays 1 2 placings to fill
the respective positions on the overall leader board. Gerry Daughton on
Gotcha Lagi! could only manage a 3rd and has been relegated down
to third overall. As only a few points separate the leaders and some protests
need to be sorted the results from tomorrows final race could well
determine the overall placings.
IRC
3 - Cruising
The fresh breezes bought the
big boats to the fore with Tracy Williams Patrice III taking
the honours from Bob Ashman's Simba and Alan Nichol's Salamander
3 third. Although Salamander 3 has a slight points
advantage over Simba George Foose's Freewind is close
behind and the overall winner could come from any of the leading pack
including Shuji Hagihara's Amanda.
Ocean
Multihulls
Mark Prescott's Summersalt confirmed
his place at the top of the leaderboard with a win today in front of Tony
Lough's Securicor Fine Pitch and Radab Kanjanavit's Cedar
Swan. The mixed results by the leading pack sees Summersalt having
a slight advantage going into tomorrows final race but a change of placings
could well see them being toppled.
Ocean
Rover
Once again it is Donald Radcliffe's
Klondike from Javis Jay's double wishbone rigged Blue Jay
and Geoff Horn's Good Hope which will be the overall finishing
order despite one more race tomorrow.
Classic
Class
Chris Edwards Xyphias
once again took the honours from Julian Hill's Sanook to record
wins in every race held so far and will be the final overall finishing
order
As the close pointscoring
system indicates the final race tomorrow will determine the overall
places in most of the classes. Several protests have been received and
as they have not been resolved at the time of going to print they could
effect the overall standings leading into the final race. All classes
will be racing a trapezoid course and as all predictions are for the
wind to keep up an exciting final is expected. May the best sail trimmers
and fastest boat win.
For a complete set of PKCR 2002 results go to http://www.kingscup.com
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16th Phuket King's Cup Regatta 2002 AsianYachting
- Race Report 3
by Capt Marty Rijkuris
5th December
Wasted
days and wasted nights
Murphy's Law has a habit of
plaguing the King's Cup. After a beautiful days sailing during yesterdays
layday competitors woke this morning to find the conditions had returned
to light and variable with occasional rainy patches. The race committee
managed to start all the racers at their scheduled times but within half
an hour the breeze had all but faded with an occasional zephyr appearing to
favour one side of the course and then the other. After a painstaking
hour of racing the racing class had not completed the first leg so
the committee decided to shorten the race at the first windward mark. One
last puff swept across the course and the racing class
made a gallant dash to the shortened finish.
On the Multihull and IRC course
the competitors where allowed to continue around despite the ever-changing
conditions and completed the entire course after being deluged in heavy
rain.
Racing
Class
The first race saw a reversal
of fortunes as it became a small boat benefit. Last months Raja
Muda winner Stella a Sydney 38 corrected in to win by 4 seconds
from Schle Wood's Thai Farr 40 Pasaya and Stuart Harrison's
Mumm 30 Panic by 18 seconds. The bigger 50 footers and
Jelik ended up well down the order.
After a attempt at a second
race for the day was cut short the committee waited for conditions
to improve before the racing got underway and this time round was shortened
after 3 legs were completed. Keith Moores new Pla Loma rebounded
to take first place and the overall lead in the series. Neil
Pryde's Hi-Fidelity was second by a mere 5 seconds and Peter
Ahern's Yo! third to place him second on the leader board at
this stage.
Premier
Cruising
John Wardill's Australian
Maid took a 2nd and 1st respectively today to place them firmly
at the top of the leader board. Marcel Liedts Elektra won the
first race but did not finish the second and David Bailey's Hocux
Pocux recorded a 3rd and 2nd to hang onto 2nd place overall.
IRC
1
Horst Lakits Big A struck
gold in the first race and a third in race 2 today to take the overall
lead in this class. Rob Williams Di Hard won race 2 and a consistent
David Lindhal on La Samudra took a 3rd and 2nd to tie on points
with Big A and displace an unlucky Viroj Nualkhair on Octopussy
to third overall.
IRC
2
The Royal Thai Navy entrants
had a big day on the King's birthday today to take first and second
places with N C Nawinm on RTN 2 taking over the overall lead.
Jock Crombie's Adams 40 Fi Tuen filled third spot in front
of a lagging Gotcha Lagi! which was relegated to 2nd overall
after the navies exceptional performance.
IRC
3 - Cruising
George Foose on Freewind
took his second win for the series to move him back into contention
after an unlucky second race. Alan Nichol's Salamander 3 bounced
back with a second place and Bob Ashman's Simba finished third
in front of Shuji Hagihara's Amanda who holds first place overall
at this stage in proceedings.
Ocean
Multihulls
Radab Kanjanavit's Cedar
Swan took today's honours from Mark Prescott's Summersalt after
Tony Lough's Securicor Fine Pitch was recorded a did not start
after initially going to the wrong stating line only to return take
the lead and cross the finish line in front by a proverbial mile.
Ocean
Rover
Donald Radcliffe's Klondike
reversed the finishing order from race 2 with Javis Jay's double wishbone
rigged Blue Jay and Geoff Horn's Good Hope unfortunately could
not manage a finish.
Classic
Class
Chris Edwards Xyphias
once again took the honours from Julian Hill's Sanook to record
wins in every race held so far.
Racing continues tomorrow
with the Racing Class opting to race 2 windward / leeward races in
favour of a single round the islands race and hopefully the conditions
are favourable to finish all classes in the coastal classic
For a complete set of PKCR 2002 results go to http://www.kingscup.com
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16th Phuket King's Cup Regatta 2002
AsianYachting
- Race Report 2
by Capt Marty Rijkuris
3rd and 4th December
The
Binatone Royal Phuket Marina - Andaman Sea Race
Two downwind starts in quick
succession saw the entire fleet away clearly between the majestic
limestone cliffs of Koh Phi Phi Don and Koh Phraya Nak. As the crews hoisted
spinnakers and helmsmen jostled for clear air they provided
press photographers with a colourful and picturesque scene that characteristically
has been associated with this regatta since the mid nineties that
have been missing for the past 2 years. Several gates that the yachts
must pass through are laid along the course allowing the race committee
to take times and shorten the 38 nm course if required. A early morning
10 - 12 knots north easterly fanned the competitors along but by midday
had significantly decreased and left the yachts at the mercy of the strong
tidal currents.
Racing
Class
With their asymmetrical spinnakers
set the big boats made quick work of the first leg but as the breeze
dropped they closed ranks and staged a dramatic finish. As skippers chose
their angles through the remaining patches of wind and tide several lead
changes occurred as the yachts criss crossed on the downwind paths. Eventually
it was Linklaters Mandrake that took Line Honours but Keith Moore's
fast finishing Pla Loma came out on top after handicaps
where applied from Peter Ahern's Yo! relegating Linklaters
Mandrake to third place. The four smaller yachts below 40ft either
did not finish in the time limit or retired as the wind completely dropped
out during the afternoon.
Premier
Cruising
John Wardill's Australian
Maid was the only yacht to complete the entire course within the
time limit leaving the rest in his wake to initially record DNF's although
the race committee have made provision in the rules to use the times
taken at a previous gate to calculate the final results.
IRC
1
The only class to have all the
yachts record finish times with Viroj Nualkhair's Octopussy taking
Line and Handicap honours. Horst Lakits Big A snuck in a second
and David Lindhal's La Samudra a consistent third. Stuart Anderson's
Jigonda was the early leader that ended up ninth and
may have found their own parking lot or saw his chances swept away in
the tide.
IRC
2
Jock Crombie's Adams 40 Fi
Tuen was the only yacht to finish the shortened course to be awarded
first place and the rest initially scored a DNF, although the race
committee will use the times taken at the previous gate if less
than 20% of the class fail to finish in time to make a equitable result.
IRC
3 - Cruising
The leading yachts spent most
of the race on anchor steming the unfavourable tide as the backmarkers
played catch up was all to no avail as once again only half the fleet
managed to finish. Matthew Rothchild's La Pinelle took Line and
Handicap honours from Allen Bollinger's Olmi and Darren Shipard's
Loreto third to turn the points table in their favour.
Ocean
Multihulls
Mark Prescott's Summersalt led
the way to take the honours this time from Tony Lough's Securicor
Fine Pitch followed by Mark Horwood's Phuket built Ceberus
and J Yamamoto's chartered Chimera. The other five competitors
failed to finish or retired and will have to live for another day
to improve their overall standings.
Ocean
Rover
Javis Jay's double wishbone
rigged Blue Jay managed a first on handicap from race one winner
Klondike and Geoff Horns Good Hope who finished first.
Classic
Class
Chris Edwards small Xyphias
once again took the honours from Julian Hill's Sanook for the
second race in succession.
As today is a layday a beautiful
12 to 15 knot north easterly breeze is fanning the press core as they
take breakfast at the 5 star Evason Phuket Resort and Spa overlooking
the outlying islands and picturesque Andaman Sea. Hopefully when racing
resumes on Thursday with a series of short races laid of Kata Beach
the weather system will produce some good racing and fair results.
For a complete set of PKCR 2002 results go to http://www.kingscup.com |
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16th Phuket
King's Cup Regatta 2002
AsianYachting
- Race Report 1
by Capt Marty Rijkuris
2nd December
Wind
Woe's at KC continue.
Last nights tropical downpour
disrupted a building North Easterly pattern to once again produce
light and variable conditions on the first day of racing to be of
some concern to the competitors. About 10 knots of wind saw the yachts
clearly away from the 2 separate start lines which faded early leaving
big holes of no wind indispersed with scattered patches of light breeze
lines around the course.
Racing
Class
The fading conditions turned
the race into a big boat benefit as the smaller boats where left stranded
at the windward mark and struggled to complete the last downwind leg.
Robert Elliot's highly fancied Linklaters Mandrake placed first
despite being recalled at the start from Frank Pong's Jelik that
took Line Honours and Peter Ahern's Yo! third. Last years winner
Neil Pryde on the revamped Hi-Fidelity filled forth spot
and as the breeze died the committee had no option other than to abandon
race 2 and call a end to the days procceedings.
IRC
1
Competing on the same windward
/ leeward course as the racers this class also suffered a similar fate.
Stuart Anderson's Jigonda finished in front of Viroj Nualkhair's
Thai hopeful Octopussy and David Lindhal's well campaigned La
Samudra third. A number of competitors could not finish as the strong
currents swept them away from the shortened finish line.
Around
Phi Phi Racers
After a brisk start the islands
high peaks caused a wind shadow to form on the leeward side which had
the yachts struggling in the adverse current. Becalmed Stormvogel
drifted past the gate by 100 meters and took half an hour to return. The
arrival of a light afternoon seabreeze was a savoir that got the boats
to the finish line after what seemed to become a lottery as the yachts
received the next puff.
Premier
Cruising
As the sea breeze emerged David
Bailly's Hocus Pocus eventually pipped John Wardill's Australian
Maid who had held a commanding lead for most of the race. Marcel
Liedts sparkling new Elektra took third in front of George Olivet's
Big Buzzard.
IRC
2
Its that Gotcha Lagi! again,
although this time round chartered to Gerry Daughton and a keen crew from
the UK and Hong Kong. Close on their heels where the Royal Thai Navy 2
and 1 skippered by N Nawin and Rt Pera Na Sagultem. As the fluky conditions
persisted the positions fluctuated alowing the backmarkers to close up
and Gotcha Lagi! eventually crossing the line with only minutes
to spare in the race time limit.
Ocean
Multihulls
The battle of the past winners saw
Tony Lough's Securicor Fine Pitch take both line and handicap
honours from Mark Prescott's Summersalt who had the best start
and relegate Radab Kanjanavit's Cedar Swan to third place this
time.
IRC
3
At one stage the 21 yachts in
this class where spread almost half way round the island. After allot
of persistance eventually it was George Foose on Free Wind from
Alan Nichols Salamander 3 and Tracy Williams on Patrice 111
to take the podium places. Over half the class recorded
Did Not Finish (DNF) and will be looking forward to the next race to make
their mark on the leader board.
Classic
and Ocean Rover class
Chris Edwards Xyphias
had a close tussle with Julian Hill's Sanook around the course
to eventually come out on top of the 2 boat class. Past Kings Cup chairman
David Radcliffe was the only finisher in the Ocean Rover Class on Klondike.
Most
Persistent Award
Must go to the Thai crew on
the Farr 40 Pasaya who had the most attempts to pass through
the finish line but remained within 100 metres for over an hour battling
11/2 knots of adverse tide as the rest of the racing class watched on
from the sidelines.
Tomorrow the fleet make their
way from Phi Phi to Phuket on the Andaman Sea Race and hopefully mother
nature plays her part and provides them with sufficient wind to complete
the 30 plus nautical mile course.
For a complete set of PKCR 2002 results go to http://www.kingscup.com
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16th Phuket King's Cup Regatta 2002 AsianYachting - Pre Race Report
1st
December
Over 70 yachts have registered for Asia's premier yachting event starting on Monday from the spectacular Phi Phi Islands in southern Thailand. The superb Racing Class line-up includes 3 Farr 40's, Neil Pryde's rebuilt Hi-Fidelity, Keith Moores newly acquired Reichel/Pugh/Mills 43, Peter Ahern's Asean Regatta winner Yo, Frank Pongs 77ft Jelik and Linklaters Mandrake which won the 65th Hoya Round the Isle of Wight race this year has been especially shipped from the UK and stands a good chance here. The battle of boat building supremacy in the region starts again between the Sydney 38 Stella winner at the Raga Muda 2 weeks ago and Ray Roberts custom built Sydney 46 taking on the almighty DK Yachts of Malaysia who have 7 clients competing this year. John Wardill's Australian Maid after 10 years in the racing class has gracefully entered the Premier Cruising Class and is looking forward to resuming the battle with Big Buzzard formerly owned by four time winner Bill Gasson who narrowly beat them back in 1996 for the overall title. David Bailey's Hocus Pocus is back again and is always a force to be reckoned with. The remaining racer / cruisers have been divided into IRC 1 and 2 based on their handicaps and hull factors with the biggest class being the Cruising Class having a variety of 20 competing yachts. The newly introduced Rover Class has only attracted 5 entries and the Classic Class are down to two. The Multihull class is always hotly contested and has past winners Radab Kanjanavit's Cedar Swan and Tony Lough's Securicor Fine Pitch lining up again with Mark Prescott's Summersalt always on the hunt to expand his trophy haul. The practise race today saw some interesting comparisons of speed and the organisers hope that the change of dates will produce some favourable sailing conditions. The racing class will be doing windward/leewards and the rest of the fleet are embarking on a very ambitious round Phi Phi course that contains several gates which competitors must pass through and in event of the wind dying can shorten the race there. |
| AsianYachting
News and Views November
In a bold attempt to catch the favourable North Westerly trade winds that have deserted them for three years the Kings Cup committee have decided to return to the original Phi Phi Island starting format that made this regatta famous in the 90's and race through the islands to Phuket one week earlier than usual. PHUKET, THAILAND, 15 October
2002 THAI VICE PRESIDENT
BRINGS IN RACING INNOVATIONS
Racing will be made more exciting, and more able to adjust to changing conditions, by having separate courses for each fleet, two start lines, and courses that are designed specifically for each type of yacht. Race officers will have a variety of options to allow them to cope with varying wind conditions. For example, more marks of the course will be available for changing and shortening courses and there will better than ever radio and telephone communications between official boats. Results will be posted within minutes of the yachts finishing on the regatta website at www.kingscup.com and on strategically located TV monitors at the Regatta HQ. The regatta organisers anticipate around 80 keelboats and up to 20 beach catamarans and sports boats, bringing the numbers up to the sort of levels experienced before the September 11, 2001 tragedy in theUSA. 57 yachts have already registered, a record so far ahead of the regatta. The 16th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is the second event on the Asian Yachting Circuit (AYC) that also visits Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. The Principle Sponsor for the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is Binatone Royal Phuket Marina, Resort & Spa. The event is supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Kata Group, American Express Bank, QBE, House of Kangaroo (Europe), Sunsail, the Evason Phuket Resort & Spa, Phuket Island Beer, Mom Tri’s Boathouse, TQPR (Thailand), Nautica, Land Rover Thailand, Phuket Magazine, BJC and Coke. Go to Past years PKCR Race Reports Return
to AsianYachting Homepage |
The
2002 King’s Cup Regatta introduces changes to the classes under which
the regatta will be raced. These include a new Ocean Rover class, a Beach
Catamaran class and a Sports Boat class. The Classic class will this year
be restricted to entries with truly classic lines. The Beach Catamarans
have been absent for eight years, having been a strong component of the
regatta in the early days.