Quantum
Nag Cup
2005
AY Race Report
2 & Summary
All's
well that ends well...
All 4 Phuket 8 sports boats crews were out early practicing, despite many having attended Reiny's raucous welcoming party at the Karma Lounge in Karon beach.
After discussions between Race Officers Simon James, John McLennan and the yacht skippers it was decided to shorten the courses to 1 nm legs and have quick short races to keep everyone together and in with a chance.
The breeze had dropped slightly to 10-15 kts in the gusts from day 1, but the sun was out in full glory which was great for the photographers. The crews keenness was shown by the close starts, changing positions throughout the race and finishing order.
Scott
Duncanson's Securicor Somtam Express crew did not have it all
their own way this time, as they had to climb back through the fleet from
a fouled spinnaker launch in race 5 and Keith Moore's Pla Loma
led the way home on the final race that had a small passing rain storm.
No problems here though, as in the warm tropics, they were dry by the
time they reached the leeward mark.
Handling
these skiff like planning racing yachts with a huge sail area, that were
built for sheer speed and complete disregard for any handicap measurement
rules, can some times be a hand full.
Over trimming the big 94sqm (1010 sg ft) asymmetric spinnaker in 15 -18 knot gusts can be disastrous (As Mark Horwards Image-Asia Attitude 8 has shown us on many occasions) and cause a yacht not only, to loose a race but finish up well down the pecking order for bragging rights, at the end of a day!
The
teams that quickly got their boat trim and balancing act together, plus
consistently performed extreme feats of hiking are usually rewarded with
podium positions in the one design racing classes. Scott Duncanson's,
well oiled team Securicor Somtam Express crew falls into this
category and marched away with the Quantum Naga Trophy for the second
year in succession.
After
a close battle Keith Moore's Pla Loma took only one race from
Somtam this year (See QNC
04 reports) and had to settle for 2nd place on the podium.
The juggling act to stay upright and introduce new sailors to this exciting form of racing was won by Josh Lee's Vino by Watermark who tussled with Mark Horward's Image-Asia Attitude 8 all around the course on both days, to end up 3rd and 4th overall respectively.
Go to the Evason Phuket Race Week site or AY Race Report Coverage Page at: http://asianyachting.com/news/PRW05.htm
Got
Wind and plenty of action...
Six
windward - leeward courses are scheduled over the weekend, where the winner
takes home the intricately carved Naga Cup and a couple bottles of Australia's
popular Bundaberg Rum.
Boat
trim, balance, good crew work and extreme hiking are of prime importance
if you are contemplating success in the sports boat class. Teams that
manage to consistently put all these things together, normally finish
on the top of the podium. Aussie Scott Duncanson who instigated the building
of the class in Phuket has lead the fleet at all regional regattas. 
It
comes as no surprise then, that at the end of the first day of racing,
his team finished up with a 3-zip score line on Securicor Somtam Express.
Following close in their wake is Keith Moore's Pla Loma with
3 x 2nd places and with a little more application of the essential things
above may be able to achieve the inevitable and beat Somtam.