Regatta starts with a whimper

11:01:2010 As the North Easterly failed to make an appearance this morning the race officials were left searching for an area with wind. Miraculously right down the end of Bass Harbour, five to eight knots of breeze was enough to get the fleet started. The game was to stay in the wind lanes and avoid the light patches. Shortened courses became the order of the day so as Race 1 could be completed. The early arrival of the sea breeze had PRO Mark Pryke's team relaying the course and getting Race 2 quickly underway.

The racing is on in earnest for the big three in the Racing Class. After the first lap Ray Roberts TP52 Evolution Racing came from behind to overtake Neil Pryde's Welbourne 52 Hi Fi and lead Frank Pong's 75ft Jelik III around the top mark. Normal service was resumed until they reached the top mark again and a quick gybe set by the Evolution Racing team saw them once again get the jump on Jelik III, that carried them through to the finish line. Despite the line honours battle going on in front of them, Neil Pryde's Welbourne 52 Hi Fi skippered by Kevin Costin were within striking distance but had to settle on second place by a mere 12 seconds. In Race 2 the order was reversed with Frank Pong resuming normal service at the front and posting the daily double, Neil Pryde in second place and Ray Roberts in third. Ishak Jab's Royal Malaysian Navy Farr 520 Zuhal completed the day with two fourth places. Straight after the Race 1 start Hi Fi announced that a protest will be lodged against Evolution Racing and the battle lines have been drawn.

Ben Copley's Club Swan 42 Katsu had a brilliant day by scoring first and fastest in both the Premier Cruising races. Vincent Chan's Titan 36 Mata Hari traded second and third places with Peter Wintle's Kerr 11.3 Koull Baby but they will have to go all out if they want to make an impression on Katsu.

In the IRC 1 Class, Mike Van Zyl's defending champion Jandi skippered by James Hardie scored first and second places to give the other boats notice they are serious about defending the title. Second and first places for Niels Degenkolw IOR 3/4 Ton Xyacht Phoenix has them level pegging with Jandi and becoming their biggest threat. Two third places for Simon Piff's Lavranos 34 Rainbow Dream is keeping the pressure on the leaders.

A mixed bag of results for the five Platu 25 teams in the Sports Boat Class. Curtis Skinner representing the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron drew first blood but dropped to third place in Race 2. Second place for Mohd Razlai on Royal Malaysian Navy 1 was followed by a resounding first place to go directly to the top of the overall standings. Third and second places for Mohd Masyuri on RMN 2 has them closing the gap and looking for bigger and better targets.

The Sports Boats are further divided into an Under 25 Class. Curtis Skinner from the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron posted two wins from Christopher Lims Singaporean SMU team and Shahril Abdul Razak representing the Malaysian Yachting Association slips into third spot.

In the Multihull Class Robert Prolux's Vertical Time got the better of John Danks Blue Moon in both races today. Grenville Fordham Andaman Cabriolet Da Vinci Niña is expected to turn up tomorrow and will certainly give them a shake up.

Jeff Harris Elan 40 Rapscapllion won both the Club Cruising races. The Royal Malaysian Navy Marikh skippered by Norhafisam secured two second places and Morten Ringvold Haffiman two third places to hold the respective places in the overall standings.

In the Ocean Rovers Jeremy Paul's Astra posted two wins followed by Gavin Welman's Hallberg Rassy 53 Rascal with two second places. This left Henning Lenz 33ft My Toy and Christian Doering's Ilya to rotate between third and fourth places.

Racing continues tomorrow on the outside courses and hopefully the wind will be a bit stronger for some dynamic racing.

More info and full results at: http://www.langkawiregatta.com

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