The 8th Singapore Straits Regatta 2002
Asian Yachting Circuit 2001/02
 Race Report 5 & Summary

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Day 5. Sunday 20 January
Race 6 Brewerkz Race held off Changi Sailing Club

The Singapore Straits Regatta came to a conclusion today (Sunday) at the Changi Sailing Club on the North east coast of this seafaring nation. The Straits Regatta is the premier sailing event in Singapore, part of a regional circuit and now in it’s 8th year. The third event on the Asian Yachting Circuit (AYC), the Singapore Straits Regatta this year attracted an international fleet of yachts from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and of course Singapore. The event has travelled from the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club to the Changi Sailing Club via Raffles Marina and the Riau Yacht Club. Day races of up to 40 nautical miles mixed with windward/leeward courses in the Riau Islands of Indonesia make this a true test of sailing.

Yesterday’s race from the Riau Yacht Club to Changi was won by Neil Pryde on his Hong Kong yacht Hi Fidelity. This was their fourth victory in five races, with their worst result being a second place to fellow Hong Kong yacht and defending champion Stella skippered by Warwick Downes. This impressive display confirmed Hi Fidelity’s status as overall champion before sailors got near the water this morning. All that remained on the day was to decide the other positions and of course the winners in the other divisions.

Lying second this morning behind Hi Fidelity was Stella and in third Karakoa from the Philippines, skippered by Ray Ordoveza. Fourth was the leading Singaporean challenger SINergy Team Singapore skippered by Paul Khor and fifth was Keith Moores Farr 40 Pla Loma.

The day’s race, the last in the Regatta, was the Brewerkz Race, a long windward/leeward race off Changi Sailing Club. With Hi Fidelity’s result secure they left the racing to the rest of the fleet. Right from the start it was clear that there was much racing left in the Regatta and that this was important to all. If Karakoa could beat Stella then they would move up into second place. At the start Karakoa got the best start and was closely followed by Pla Loma and Australian Maid. Stella was behind in fourth and the race was on in ernest with a good 10 knots of breeze. It was a great race to complete a successful regatta – and Stella was too good for Karakoa on this occasion winning the race with Karakoa second, SINergy Team Singapore on their new Mumm 30 in third ahead of Pla Loma and Australian Maid.

This meant that overall in the elite Racing Class A Division, behind champions Hi Fidelity (6 points) were Stella (9 points) and in third Karakoa (12 points). In fourth was SINergy Team Singapore (21 points) and in fifth Pla Loma (22 points). The winners took home trophies and specialist sailing equipment from Oregon Scientific.

Meanwhile in the Racing Class B Division it was KT2 skippered by David Low who took the overall title on 16 points just ahead of Shoon Fung Too skippered by Gordon Maxted on 18 points and Jangan Main Main skippered by Lee Sea Yean also on 18 points.

In the cruising PY Class it was Cassandra skippered by Chirs Schuler ahead of Joan Marie skippered by Graham Lind and Dondang Sayang skippered by Udo Beyer.

Winning skipper Neil Pryde aboard Hi Fidelity said "This has been a tremendous regatta. We’ve had some really good wind and enjoyable racing. The light winds early on in the Regatta were testing, particularly that first race and there’s some shallow water around these parts that adds an extra element. We’re just pleased with the result and we’ll move on now to the China Sea Race which will be very different. We’ve won in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore – but the Hong Kong race is all off-shore racing. It’s going to be very different but we’ll see you in Manila at Easter".

Paul Khor skipper on top Singaporean yacht and SINergy Team said "We’ve had a great regatta and we can be extremely pleased with our result. Last year we won the Racing Class B division and this was our first outing in the Racing Class A. It’s really tough out there with some great boats and crews – a real step up in all respects. But we’ve held our own and our next step, apart from competing next year at this Regatta, will be to mount a challenge at some of the other regattas on the Asian Yachting Circuit."

For photos and full results, visit:
http://www.sailing.org.sg/straitsregatta/8ssr/straits_fotos.htm
http://www.sailing.org.sg/straitsregatta/8ssr/straits_results.htm

The Asian Yachting Circuit now takes a pause until Easter when the China Sea Race sets sail from Hong Kong’s majestic harbour for the long crossing to Manila in the Philippines. Competitors depart on Friday 29th March for a journey expected to take three days. Then immediately followed by the last official event on the AYC 2001/02 the Philippine President Cup held over the 3rd to the 6th April.

The Singapore Straits Regatta is the third event on the four-stop Asian Yachting Circuit (AYC) that also visits Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong. The end of the season, in March 2002 will see a new Asian Champion. Each event on the AYC is televised for international broadcast to an audience in excess of 140 million homes on five continents. CNN will also be featuring each AYC Regatta in their own show Inside Sailing which reaches another 167 million homes. For more info and viewing dates try visiting the www.asianyachtingcircuit.com website or call Andrew Owen from Proteus Sports on +852 9472 1704 

To go directly to the Asian Yachting Circuit 2001/02 Race Reports with colour photo's of the regattas already held click on:
Phuket Kings Cup: http://AsianYachting.com/news/PKCR2001.htm
Raja Muda Int Regatta: http://AsianYachting.com/news/RMIR2001.htm
Asean Regatta http://AsianYachting.com/AseanReg2001.htm

View the Notice of Race and further information on the Regatta's coming up got at:
Phang Nah Bay Regatta - 10 to 13 Feb http://www.bayregatta.com
Puerto Galera Yacht Club - Chinese New Year’s Regatta 13-15 Feb info@pgyc.net
RHKYC's China Sea Race 2002 - 28th March http://www.chinasearace.com
Philippine President Cup - 3rd to 6th April http://www.prescup.com
Inaugural Ko Samui Regatta April 21-27 contact Bill Gasson gasson@thai.com
The 8th Singapore Straits Regatta 2002
Asian Yachting Circuit 2001/02
 Race Report 4

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Day 4. Saturday 19 January
Race 5 Nongsa Point Marina - Changi Sailing Club
(Sponsored by HAM Dredging)

For more photos and full results, visit:
http://www.sailing.org.sg/straitsregatta/8ssr/straits_fotos.htm
http://www.sailing.org.sg/straitsregatta/8ssr/straits_results.htm

Activities in Nagoya city are synonymous with Batam and no Straits Regatta is considered complete without a few visits to the world's center of cross-cultural exchanges. Many sailors absented themselves immediately after the Riau Yacht Club prize giving ceremony to further their education, although it was a much quieter affair than the previous night!

Saturday dawned bright, beautiful and quite windless! The race was delayed for an hour but by noon ‘A’ fleet were underway. By now it seems that most of the fleet knew where the deep and shallow spots are. No one ran aground or bounced of rocks, pinnacles or sand banks which posed a problem to some in earlier races.

The course for the day takes the fleet north from Pulau Batam toward the southern shoreline of Johore, Malaysia. One of the many navigation buoys in the area serve as a turning mark and from there, the fleet heads north west towards Changi Sailing Club.

An hour into the race and the wind reverted to its normal direction, well for most it did. Some of the ‘B’ division boats were caught in a large hole that had opened up between the two pressure systems. But wind was just part of the problem. There were a few boats that headed out on their own course, some heading for marks that were not even technically a mark of the course.

Two hours into the race and the two leading ‘A’ division boats were separated by a mere 30 seconds with Neil Pryde slightly ahead. On the reach from the Malaysian turning mark, Karakoa powered up and managed to sneak ahead of Hi Fidelity.

Jenny III had a good tussle trying to keep Australian Maid at bay but the larger yacht finally got past two legs before the finish line at CSC. Stella last years clear winner, lurked ominously in the background.

Meanwhile ‘B’ division were playing the yachting equivalent of golf, battling with the elements. Between the two pressure systems, a large hole opened up engulfing most of the fleet and was the center of the usual yachting post mortems – “if only”, “would’ve” and “should’ve”!

Many of the yachts had elected to sail toward the left side of the course that buried them even deeper in the wind hole. The Singapore Straits is amongst the busiest shipping channals in the world and todays race directly across them had navigators at the ready.

For the Performance Handicap class the day turned into a pleasant sail especially for Udo Beyers classic Dondang Sayang. Cassandra helmed by Chris Schuler must have driven right up the middle of the course and eventually romped home taking the honours on the day.

In the end, the breeze returned to its normal north east monsoon position and yachts were streaming in past the crows nest at CSC for a period of about 2 hours. Everyone had a good sail and the results as they now stand are:

Race 5. NPM -  CSC Racing A
1st Hi Fidelity, Neil Pryde, HKG
2nd Stella, Warwick Downes, HKG
3rd Karakoa, Ray Ordeveza, PHI

Racing B
1st KT2, David Low, SIN
2nd Jangan Main Main, Lee Sea Yean, SIN
3rd Rainbow Dream, Ong Siong Kai, SIN

Performance Handicap
1st Cassandra, Chris Schuler, SIN
2nd Red Baron, Chee Siong Yin, SIN
3rd Dondang Sayang, Udo Beyer, SIN

Tomorrows track is another short course this time held off Changi Sailing Club on Singapore's eastern approaches. Hopefully the winds will co-operate and provide another brilliant sail.
The 8th Singapore Straits Regatta 2002
Asian Yachting Circuit 2001/02
Race Report 3

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Day 3. Friday 18 January
Race 3 the Fortune Cup Race
Race 4 the Sentosa Race
 
For photos and full results, visit:
http://www.sailing.org.sg/straitsregatta/8ssr/straits_fotos.htm
http://www.sailing.org.sg/straitsregatta/8ssr/straits_results.htm

The Singapore Straits Regatta paused at the Nongsa Point Marina in Indonesia for some windward/leeward races on the equatorial waters off the Riau Yacht Club. The first race was the FORTUNE Cup Race where for some the day could be calamity jane and for others, it was full steam ahead.
 
Still more boats charted ‘new territories’. Two boats collected the rocks on the entrance to the marina and were forced to retire from today’s races.

It has been commented in the past how yachting interferes with the social agenda! So a leisurely start time of 11am meant most could return from the ‘Nagoya city tour’, get a few hours sleep and still make the race, how civilised.
 

As the start sequence commenced some huge boats up to 16m long pirouetted near the start line, flirting with the start gun. En masse they were off and the yachts surged across the line. In the elite racing class it was Stella, the defending champion at the Straits Regatta, that got the best start, surging across the line followed by Singapore’s SINergy Team Singapore, Pla Loma from Thailand. Hi Fidelity, winners of the first two races in the regatta, got a poor start and were playing catch-up.

Neil Pryde is an ex-Olympic sailor and he was using all his experience to work Hi Fidelity up through the fleet. SINergy Team Singapore held off for much of the race but eventually Hi Fidelity was past them. Stella, also from Hong Kong and skippered by Warwick Downes, remained untouchable though and took the victory, leaving Hi Fidelity in second, SINergy Team Singapore sailing a Mumm30 and crewed by some of Singapore’s best dinghy sailors in third ahead of Karakoa and Pla Loma.

A delighted Warwick Downes said  "This helps our campaign tremendously. We needed this victory – it’s great to win a FORTUNE Cup race and we’re back in contention for the Regatta. It’s not over yet"
 

In the ‘B’ Division, the order of events was mixed up. For the first time in the regatta, Xena – Hermans Philip, SIN showed their form which has made them the leading team in Singapore by eking out 59 second lead from Jangan Main Main, Lee Sea Yean, SIN and KT2, David Low, SIN

Performance Handicap Class is developing into a close tussle between the newest boat in the fleet – the Beneteau 40.7 - Joan Marie and probably the heaviest boat in the fleet – Cassandra. At this stage, just a point separates the two.

The second windward/leeward race of the day was the "Sentosa Race", a race named in honour of one of the sponsors rather than the destination for the race. As the yachts lined up for the start the congregation at the committee boat end proved a bit squashy. A slight ‘push’ from Jenny III forced “the unrefined” up towards the committee boat. A slight ‘touch’ of the committee boat spoilt Hooters chances in the race but they still managed a finish.

In racing, it’s the short course work which test’s crew work and coordination to the max and today’s courses were no exception. Tactically a large cross-course current saw most of the fleet over stand the top mark.Tactical errors aside, a number of spinnakers were hoisted with bag and all. Most of the said errors were not noticed by spectators only the watchful lens of the numerous camera and media flotilla!

After a long race and with the equatorial sun sinking fast it was Hi Fidelity who once again took the victory. Behind was Karakoa and in third Stella. Fourth was Pla Loma and the top Singaporean boat on this occasion Jenny III skippered by Jeffrey Leow finished fifth.

Overall standings sees Hi Fidelity leading Stella by four points with Karakoa one point further back in third. SINergy Team Singapore is once again the top Singaporean racing yacht in fourth place tied at the moment with Pla Loma.

Racing continues tomorrow (Saturday) with the second crossing of the Singapore Straits as the fleet heads back to Changi Sailing Club on the Northeast coast of the island in the Ham Dredging and Marine Race. Sailors who last saw Singapore’s coastline one year ago will be in for a surprise in that the dredging companies have been busy and probably the sole reason why they can afford to sponsor a yacht race.

The Singapore Straits Regatta is the third event on the four-stop Asian Yachting Circuit (AYC) that also visits Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong. The end of the season, in March 2002 will see a new Asian Champion. Each event on the AYC is televised for international broadcast to an audience in excess of 140 million homes on five continents. CNN will also be featuring each AYC Regatta in their own show Inside Sailing which reaches another 167 million homes.

Race 3. Fortune Cup
Racing A
1st Stella, Warwick Downes, HKG
2nd Hi Fidelity, Neil Pryde, HKG
3rd SINergy, Paul Khor, SIN

Racing B
1st Xena, Hermans Philip, SIN
2nd Jangan Main Main, Lee Sea Yean, SIN
3rd KT2, David Low, SIN

Performance Handicap
1st Cassandra, Chris Schuler, SIN
2nd Joan Marie, Graham Lind, SIN
3rd Dondang Sayang, Udo Beyer, SIN

Race 4. Sentosa Race
Racing A
1st Hi Fidelity, Neil Pryde, HKG
2nd Karakoa, Ray Ordeveza, PHI
3rd Stella, Warwick Downes, HKG

Racing B
1st Shoon Fung Too, Gordon Maxted, SIN
2nd Jantra, Neil Johasson, SIN
3rd KT2, David Low, SIN

Performance Handicap
1st Cassandra, Chris Schuler, SIN
2nd Joan Marie, Graham Lind, SIN
3rd Dondang Sayang, Udo Beyer, SIN

The 8th Singapore Straits Regatta 2002
Asian Yachting Circuit 2001/02
Race Report 2

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Date: 17 January
The Singapore Straits Regatta twice crosses the Straits over the course of the five-day event. Today (Thursday) saw the first such crossing from Raffles Marina to the Riau Yacht Club in the longest race in the regatta, the 40 mile Raffles International / DaimlerChrysler Race. An early start at the Raffles Marina saw the international fleet of yachts preparing for their lengthy immigration departure from Singaporean waters. The race would take them across the bustling waters of the Straits and into the more tranquil surroundings of Indonesia’s Riau archipelago.

The long start line was crowded towards the committee boat end as every yacht manoeuvred for the smallest advantage. These huge yachts of up to 16m in length are very agile but of course have no breaks. Weighing many tons and each worth a small fortune it is a tense atmosphere that courts disaster. As the start flag was raised the whole fleet surged across the line. Into the lead was Pla Loma from Thailand, skippered by Keith Moore and just behind was Karakoa from the Philippines and Hi Fidelity from Hong Kong. Almost immediately spinnakers were hoisted and the race ran downwind in a splash of colour.

Neil Pryde, skipper of Hi Fidelity found that he was covered by the leading boats Pla Loma and Karakoa. Wherever he went the leading boats would block him and spoil his air. With little option Hi Fidelity made the decision to gybe away from the leading pack and search for clear air. This decision would prove decisive for within the hour they had found fresh breeze while Pla Loma and Karakoa were left stranded in a "hole" of marginal wind.

Stella meanwhile was also keeping pace with the leaders. The defending champion who had a disastrous start to the regatta yesterday when she ran aground, was determined to make amends and do justice to her reputation. Showing a gift for understatement skipper Warwick Downes described the start line as "crowded" but they got away cleanly and were always in contention. As Pla Loma and Karakoa got left in the "hole" Hi Fidelity and Stella found eight knots of breeze and pressed forwards. But the steady monsoon winds of the previous few weeks were not so dominant today and smaller local weather systems swept over the course creating shifting winds of varying strength.

With wind speeds apparently declining the committee made the decision to shorten the course by some 10 miles. Of course as this happened the winds returned but at the end of a good race (subject to a late protest from Karakoa) it was Neil Pryde’s Hi Fidelity who took a second win of the Regatta, this time ahead of Stella and in third Karakoa.

B’ division and the Performance Handicap class seemed to have another set of problems ranging from missed gates to big holes in the wind. As for shallow spots, Team Hooters found the solitary pinnacle off Buffalo Rock. In a scene reminiscent of a crash test dummy clip, the Sydney 36 went from hero to zero in less than a boat length. No major damage was sustained and hopefully the delightfully tacky and unrefined crew will be back in force for the short course sector.

Racing A
1st Hi Fidelity,Neil Pryde, HK
2nd Stella, Warwick Downes, HK
3rd Karakoa, Ray Ordaveza, PHI

Racing B
1st Next Page, Steve Walker, SIN
2nd Tempest, Chia Meng Tze, SIN
3rd Rainbow Dream, Ong Siong Kai, SIN

Performance Handicap
1st Joan Marie, Graham Lind, SIN
2nd Cassandra, Chris Schuler, SIN
3rd Dandong Sayang, Udo Beyer, Sin

With the yachts now positioned in Nongsa Point Marina the full effect of the monsoon should be felt in the short windward leeward legs of day three.

Racing continues tomorrow (Friday) with two windward/leeward races in the tropical waters of the Riau Yacht Club, one of which is a Fortune Cup Race.

The Singapore Straits Regatta is the third event on the four-stop Asian Yachting Circuit (AYC) that also visits Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong. The end of the season, in March 2002 will see a new Asian Champion. Each event on the AYC is televised for international broadcast to an audience in excess of 140 million homes on five continents. CNN will also be featuring each AYC Regatta in their own show Inside Sailing which reaches another 167 million homes. The world will be watching as the AYC sets sail from the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club.

The international fleet is divided into three different categories, Racing Class A for the fastest boats, Racing Class B and a cruising class for the "fun" sailors and those with "limited experience" called PY Class. Racing at the Straits Regatta varies from long day races of up to 40 nautical miles to windward/leeward race tracks of only 2 miles in length.

The 8th Singapore Straits Regatta is the third event on the Asian Yachting Circuit (AYC) that also visits Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong. The Asian Yachting Circuit is presented by FORTUNE. Sponsors for the Singapore Straits Regatta include SembCorp Gas, Siemens, Raffles International, DaimlerChrysler, Sentosa Development Corporation, Ham, Brewerkz, Oregon Scientific and Singapore Salvage Engineers.

For more information turn to www.asianyachtingcircuit.com call Andrew Owen from Proteus Sports on +852 9472 1704
Ends

The 8th Singapore Straits Regatta 2002 
Race Report 1
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Date: 16 January
In the weeks leading up to the event, Singapore experienced the full strength of the North East Monsoon and the biggest storm for 25 years. Gale force winds ripped across the garden state levelling a great number of manicured trees and leaving much debate about whether the breeze would hold.

The 8th Singapore Straits Regatta was officially opened by His Excellency Mr. Tony Siddique Commodore of the Riau Yacht Club, at the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club on Tuesday evening.

But as with any regatta, the day before and the day after the event, go on record as being the windiest ever.

Day 1. Wednesday 16 January
SembCorp Gas / Seimens Race
Republic of Singapore Yacht Club – Raffles Marina

The Republic of Singapore Yacht Club is tucked away on Singapore’s south west coast. The starting area for race 1 lay just north of Raffles Light on the perimeter of Singapore’s southern port limits. Competitors are required to find their way through the maze of commercial craft that ply the Singapore Straits.

Just finding the way to the starting area can be quite a daunting task as the rate of land reclamation around Singapore is astonishing. Current charts are a must, for once where there was water are now vast tracts of land!

Thirty boats in three classes Racing A, B and a Performance Handicap Class were to face the starters gun. A running start from the racing area saw all yachts clear the line at 5 minute intervals with the faster craft of Racing A getting underway first.

A light breeze pushed the fleet south towards Raffles Light. An early tactical split by some of the fleet drew mixed results. Neil Pryde of Hong Kong established an early lead from the line as last years winner Stella nipped inshore looking for a more favourable route to the turning mark of Raffles Light - a decision that would prove to be costly.

A result of Singapore’s ever changing topography is a number of shallow spots many of which may not appear on even the most recent charts. Half an hour into the race and Stella had found such a spot. Due diligence and effort eventually cleared the yacht from the shallows but not before the race leaders had already completed most of the course. Meanwhile Jenny III of Singapore had her own list of problems commencing with charting yet another shallow spot, dragging a large clump of sea weed from the shallows around most of the course then, clearing the foils only to have the steering cables break and complete the course with an emergency tiller in place!

Racing B Class had another set of problems. The north east monsoon which had looked so promising in the morning, faded just as the class leader was about to round Raffles Lighthouse. A non-existent wind and a flowing tide held the fleet at bay until a very uncharacteristic southerly breeze filled in to carry the fleet to the gate and the eventual finish.

But perhaps some of those in the performance handicap class had it toughest as far as conditions went and the plushest as far as drinks and condiments go. Sailing a shorter course than the other classes only 3 out of 6 entries actually finished.

Results Day 1
Racing A
1st Hi Fidelity, Neil Pryde HK
2nd Karakoa, Ray Ordoveza, PHI
3rd Pla Loma, Keith Moore, MAS

Racing B
1st Against All Odds, Howard Witt, SIN
2nd Jangan Main Main, Lee Sea Yean, SIN
3rd Next Page, Steve Walker SIN

Performance Handicap
1st Dondang Sayang, Udo Beyer, SIN
2nd Joan Marie, Graham Lind, SIN
3rd Cassandra, Chris Schuler, SIN

On day 2 the fleet start from Raffles Marina and head for the Indonesian tropical splendour of Pulau Batam, home of Nongsa Point Marina and fledgling - Riau Yacht Club.

As in yachting senses, it’s still a long way to go but with some of the stalwarts already giving themselves their ‘discard’ race the regatta could return some surprises in the coming days.
Ends

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