Regatta designed by a photographer...

05:02:2010 Veteran photographer and publisher John Everingham first came up with the picturesque regatta concept to promote the region and fill his Thai based magazines with colorful images. The Day 2 course starts from where we finished yesterday and then zigzag's its way through the many limestone outcrops that make up Phang Nga Bay. Many hoped that last nights thunderstorm was a sign of a new pressure system pushing through but unfortunately it was not the case.

After a short delay racing got underway in five knots of breeze which lasted until the boats rounded Ko Pai. The early leaders got caught in the lee of the island which allowed the following boats to take a wider berth and consequently stay longer in the wind lane. The whole fleet then parked up with colorful spinnakers drooping down and at the mercy of the strong out going current.

A bit of a wait before the light northerly resumed which broke up the cluster of yachts that managed to make their way around a couple more islands before fading out again. A few yachts that got the jump earlier on stayed in the wind lanes and extended their lead beyond reach of the competitors. As the remaining zephyrs turned the race into a lottery the race committee decided to shorten the course as the leaders closed in on Ko Ku Du Yai. Fergus Wilmer/Henry Kaye's Thor squeezed in front of Mike Downard's Switchblade to capture line honours.

Mike Downard's Switchblade managed to bypass the lee of the island to make it two wins out of two races and stretch his lead in the Racing class. John Vause's Ruby Tuesday also avoided the pitfalls and slowly but surely slotted into second place. Ben Copley's Katsu became the biggest loser when they were stranded in the lee of the island and watched everyone sail around them but eventually recovered to claim third place.

Cruising A saw Niels Degenkolw's Phoenix once again take out the daily double in front of Hugh Thompson's Fidgi and Jon Button/Phil Kendall's Simba in third. The same finishing order as on Day 1.

Bill Crump's Fistral also notched up two wins in a row by again getting the better of Gavin Welman's Rascal. Graham Tuckey's Optoloi edged themselves into third place in the often trying conditions.

Hans Rahmann's Voodoo tops the Firefly 850 class again to make it two in a row. Pierre Forsans Pagatoon moved up a gear to take second place. Roger Kingdon's Moto Inzi hung on bravely for third spot.

Dave Wales The Sting is the smallest multihull competing but that did not stop them from claiming first place in the Multihull Racing class. Mark Pescott's Sumersalt stayed steady by posting another second place. Despite taking line honours Fergus Wilmer/Henry Kaye's Thor is relegated to third place as they could not get their time up in the light conditions.

Once again Bill Phelps Maharani got the better of Hermann Schwarz's Vienna Cat in the two boat Multihull Cruising class.

Tonight's party is at the Paradise Koh Yao, who are the Race Day 2 sponsor and host. Tomorrow the course will take the boats through some secluded and pristine islands ending up off the beach at the Sheraton Resort in Krabi.

More info and results can be found at: http://www.bay-regatta.com/

Goto: PNBR - AY Photo Gallery
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