3rd Top of the Gulf Regatta 2007 AY News Race Reports

3rd Top of the Gulf Regatta 2007
AY Race Report 4 & Summary

For slideshow of selected images go here

Successfully run and done..
Race six got away in five knots of breeze with class leaders covering each other and keeping a close eye on where the other competitors were running in the fleet. Building dark clouds to the south, threatened to break the committee's run of luck of having no storms interrupt the racing so far. As race 6 finished the approaching widespread storm looked more than imminent, so PRO Jerry Rollin's called an end of play for the day and the regatta. Cries of joy erupted on Vivat Poonpat's Naiad as they had broken the tie with The Ferret in their favour, during the days first race, so the cancelled race now handed them a class win and to be awarded the prestigious Coronation Cup for the first time.

The Optimist fleet were last to return to the marina and the young sailors and parents observing on the breakwater had a few anxious moments as 25 knots suddenly whipped up, as over 100 boats approached the marina in front of them.

Class 1 (Keelboats IRC)
Defending champion David Lindahl's Swann 42 La Samudra may have placed down in forth on race six but his four earlier wins was enough to carry them through to win the title for a second year in succession. David Pollard's X412 Foreign Exchange II and Pascal Leray's Jakan 38 Breakaway finished up tied on points but as Foreign Exchange II took a win at the start of the regatta, ends up in second place and Breakaway in third place overall. David Bell's Jeanneau 35 Magic Roundabout came to the fore by winning the only race held today and breaking La Samudra's run of winning four races in a row.

Class 2 (Keelboats Thaicap)
Japan's Tetsuo Ogino chartered Missy had to settle on third place today but two earlier wins earns them the title. Dawn Phung's all Singaporean girl crew on Amanda won the race today and as they have improved a position each race since they joined the class, have ended up in second overall. Although Erik Habers crew on Naranthip won race 2, consecutive fifth places relegates them to third overall and the best of the rest.

Class 4 (Platu) Coronation Cup
As stated earlier Vivat Poonpat's crew on Naiad consistently finished in the top three to secure the Coronation Cup this year. Coming into today's final races Naiad was tied with Scott Duncanson's The Ferret but after finishing down the order in sixth place Duncanson's chances took a turn for the worse. As the drop race comes into play, the pointscore can dramatically change the order of the boats, especially the ones that may have had a bad race during the regatta. Marco Belonje's The Beaver, you may remember broke the mast in race 2 but bounced back and after winning today's race ends up with second overall. Japan's Kenichi Takahashi's on Motornet dropped a first race retirement to claim third overall after consistently being among the leaders. Morten Jakobsen's Emma Mathilde XXV came to the fore on the passage race yesterday and second place today elevates them to fourth which leaves Scott Duncanson's The Ferret way down in fifth overall.

Class 5 (Ocean Multihulls)
Kirati Assakul's Sonic has continued on and finished all races while the high rate of retirements in this class has helped them to clinch the title. Dave Wales on The Sting has also finished all races and a first place today sees him taking second overall. Radab Kanjanavanit may have retired Cedar Swan after the race 4 collision but scoring two wins and a second place in the early races they still manage to hold onto third place.

Dinghy Classes
Thailands Navee Thamsoontorn and Nattawut Paenyaem may have scored first and second places in the 2007 Optimist National titles but not before they repelled the strong challenge from Malaysian Yachting Association sailors Mohamad Nazrin Muis, Khairunnisa Afendy and Koh Boon Quan who finished up third, fourth and fifth overall out of ninety nine young sailors.

In the Laser Class Malaysia's Nik Ashraf Qaedi came into the final round tied for the lead with Thailand's Manat Photong. After playing a cat and mouse game of covering Nik Ashraf Qaedi took the title after finishing one place in front of Manat Photong. Adrian Chang Kee took third place which shows promising signs for Malaysian sailors before the S.E.A. Games to be held here at Ocean Marina in December.

The all Thai Super Mott Class designed by none other than HM the King himself, sees Kitipong Khambang celebrate with a win on the auspicious occasion of Coronation Day. Piyapong Chantara finished up close behind in second and Sutee Poonpat stayed amongst the leaders to end up third overall from eighteen other boats.

Summary
Although this regatta fails to attract the top class racers from Hong Kong that usually grace the racing class at other events, it none the less serves the purpose of catering for an established boating community that operate out of Ocean Marina and the Royal Thai Navy down the road at Sattahib. The one-design racing at the Coronation Cup is proving to be the big attraction, where foreign racing teams can charter a boat, fly in, race and fly out, without all the boat delivery problems and lengthy absence from home. As sportsboat sized boats only require four to six crews and raced by most sailors, it is easier to form club and national racing teams that can go to events and race boats of similar size and design. AsianYachting is looking into running an annual Sportsboat Team Championships at major regattas that cater for this class. A number of yacht clubs are eager to introduce some new events to create a circuit that will help their sailors get up to speed before embarking on National events and International games. The large contingent of dinghy sailors competing here is very promising for the future and with a little bit of encouragement when their dinghy days are over, will see these sailors filling crew roles on bigger boats or go on and form their own racing teams to compete at high profile fleet and match racing events in SE Asia.

Full results can be found at: http://www.topofthegulfregatta.com

3rd Top of the Gulf Regatta 2007
AY Race Report 3

Long, hard day on the water, rewarded..
The combined downwind start for all classes proved to be a bit tricky at the pin end for some. Calls for 'starboard' right of way followed by luffing hails and buoy room were heard loud and clear across the water. Surprisingly the 'all clear' signal came from the start boat as crews sheeted in and two sail power reached across the line on a 30nm passage race around off lying islands. A few boats had to extricate themselves from above the pin and others completed 360 degree turns to exonerate themselves from any penalties they may of incurred. The rest of the race turned into a reaching and running drag race based on boat speed till they rounded the Raymond Land mark, laid off their new North Point beachfront development in Pattaya. Then it was a long work all the way back to Ocean Marina.

After spending 5 to 7 hours on the water the sailors were treated to the Raimon Land party, who are renown for hosting the best parties at regattas with a live rock band, free flow of drinks, plenty of raucous behavior, lots of dancing and fireworks to finish up the nights entertainment.

Class 1 (Keelboats IRC)
Defending champion David Lindahl's Swann 42 La Samudra added another win to his tally which puts them in an unbeatable position with only two races left to go. David Pollard's X412 Foreign Exchange II claimed second spot and in doing so second place overall. Although Pascal Leray's Jakan 38 Breakaway has taken line honours on most occasions they have to settle for third after handicaps have been applied. David Bell's fourth place on his Jeanneau 35 Magic Roundabout relegates them down to forth place overall.

Class 2 (Keelboats Thaicap)
Japan's Tetsuo Ogino on Missy extended their lead by a huge margin after winning the race today and also some result recalculations from race two has them comfortably in first place. Dawn Phung's all Singaporean girl crew on Amanda scored second place today but were relegated to third place on yesterdays race after a new handicap was applied. Andrew Tam's Panda lifted their game and finished with a third place.

Class 4 (Platu) Coronation Cup
After a disastrous start to the regatta Morten Jakobsen's crew on Emma Mathilde XXV came to the fore on the passage race. Japan's Kenichi Takahashi's on Motornet sailed into second spot which left overall leader Vivat Poonpat on Naiad in third place. Although current Thai champion Scott Duncanson skippering The Ferret wound up in fifth today, Vivat's third place now has them tied on fifteen points each, coming into tomorrows final two races will be the decider.

Class 5 (Ocean Multihulls)
Kirati Assakul's Sonic added a further win to their tally to take the overall class lead. Dave Wales on The Sting finished with second place and as Radab Kanjanavanit's Cedar Swan has retired from the rest of the regatta, The Sting has taken over second overall. After retiring from earlier races Serge Straeten's Vivace takes over third spot.

Dinghy Classes
Malaysian Yachting Association sailors are distinguishing themselves in the dinghy classes. Nik Ashraf Qaedi is tied for the lead with Thailand's Manat Photong in the Laser class with two races to go. Mohamad Nazrin Muis is in second place in the combined Thai Optimist Championship and Khairunnisa Afendy is leading the girls and holding forth overall from 99 sailors competing here. It would be a tremendous boost for Malaysian sailing if they could go on to win the Thai Championships in Thai waters.

Racing continues tomorrow on the Coronation Day public holiday. As HM the King is revered above all in Thailand, it only leaves us to say "Long live the King"

Full results can be found at: http://www.topofthegulfregatta.com

3rd Top of the Gulf Regatta 2007
AY Race Report 2

Dodgem cars on the high seas..
Race 3 got underway in a good 10 to 12 knots of wind which built up to 15 - 16 knots by the time race 4 started. Boat handling in these conditions, especially on the light weight Platu 25 keelboats can be very trying, even for hardened sailors. (See photos on Photo Edition) Several collisions, wild broaches, spinnaker wraps and one capsized Pornstar took place around the course. Two distinct groups of Platu sailors contesting the Coronation Cup are becoming very evident. The more experienced leaders that have raced these boats for many years and the less experienced, left trailing on the leg behind. The return of warm sunshine has allowed the worrying rain storms leading up to the regatta, to fade away into the distant memory.

Class 1 (Keelboats IRC)
Defending champion David Lindahl's Swann 42 La Samudra added two wins to his tally and takes the overall lead on points. David Pollard's X412 Foreign Exchange II and Pascal Leray's Jakan 38 Breakaway both scored second and forth places in the two races held today. David Bell's newly acquired Jeanneau 35 Magic Roundabout finished up with two third places and is gaining ground on the leaders. Despite the big rating differences only 4 minutes on corrected time separates the top four contenders, which shows they are very quick to capitalize on each others mistakes and as a result experiencing exceptionally close battles around the course.

Class 2 (Keelboats Thaicap)
As the wind is in, PRO Jerry Rollin's sent the six Class 2 racers on a lengthy passage race around the off lying islands. After racing with the Class 1 boats yesterday, Dawn Phung's all Singaporean girl crew on Amanda were reclassified to Class 2, then went out and won race 2 on their first outing. Erik Haber's Naranthip made up for yesterdays difficulties to claim second spot. Race one winner Missy chartered to Tetsuo Ogino from Japan may of ended up third but takes the overall lead on points.

Class 3 (Sportsboat)
Kipsan Beck's, Shaw 6.5 Pornstar looks a bit like a big 18ft skiff is the only competitor in this class. As this lightweight boat has crew on trapezes the organizers decided to keep them in a separate class but starting and sailing the same course as the Class 1 keelboats. As they preformed their last downwind gybe, within sight of the finish line the boat became overpowered and capsized, throwing the crew into the drink. After releasing the sheets and taking down the spinnaker in the water, the crew then climbed onto the small keel and righted the boat, dinghy style and continued on through the finish line.

Class 4 (Platu) Coronation Cup
Vivat Poonpat scored a first and second today to sky rocket Naiad up, onto the top of the leaderboard. Close on their transom is Japan's Kenichi Takahashi's on Motornet after claiming fifth in race 3 and first in race 4, despite a collision with Morten Jakobsen and receiving gunnel damage from Emma Mathilde XX's bow. Current Thai champion Scott Duncanson skippering The Ferret had to settle on two third places and stays well within reach of the leader. After yesterdays mast breaking episode Marco Belonje's The Beaver came back in force today, securing second and forth places by setting a shining example on how a good crew will always bounce back especially in troublesome times.

Class 5 (Ocean Multihulls)
Kirati Assakul's heavy displacement Sonic showed a remarkable burst of speed in the strong winds to score two first places. Radab Kanjanavanit on Cedar Swan had to settle on second place in race 3 and a start line collision with the bigger Sonic forced them to retire from race 4. If overnight repairs can't be completed perhaps they will have to retire from the rest of the regatta. Dave Wales on The Sting finished with a third place and in Cedar Swan and Vivace's absence a second place in race four.

Dinghy Classes
Racing in the Super Mott, Laser and Thai Optimist title got underway with up to five races completed. The windy conditions also took its toll on the dinghy racers with the hulls dipping between the troughs of the waves, the majority of competitors were forced to retire with broken gear. Even the jury took to the water on jet skis and had to perform a rescue of there own when the Singaporean juror's craft filled with water and started to sink. The dinghy results can also be found on the TOTGR 07 website.

Full results can be found at: http://www.topofthegulfregatta.com

3rd Top of the Gulf Regatta 2007
AY Race Report 1

Luck of the wind gods..
Thunderstorms during the night and throughout the morning, made it doubtful whether the first race would get away on time. That is until... Regatta chairman Bill Gasson and Khun Rut in charge of the race committee made a spiritual offering at the local Buddhist temple. Allegedly as they stepped back one of the candles blew out and the other remained alight, is about when the rain stopped and the wind kept blowing. When the yachts proceeded out to the start line the sky remained very overcast and a five to seven knot Southerly breeze covered the course. PRO Jerry Rollin's had the course laid out and got Class 2 Thaicap Cruising keelboats away on time for their short passage race. The breeze even increased throughout the day and the two scheduled races were completed in dry conditions and everyone back safely in the marina before the rain returned. Perhaps that is why the Thai tourism slogan is "Amazing Thailand"

During the first starts most competitors were very cautious on the approaches but after finishing down the order made a determined effort to rectify the situation during the second race with exceptionally close starts. Several yachts missed rounding the leeward mark before proceeding to the finish and were either disqualified or upon realizing their mistake threw away their leads or top placing's and sailed back to correct the mistake to finish down the order. Five requests for redress have been lodged which the International jury are presently hearing.

Class 1 (Keelboats IRC)
David Pollard's Foreign Exchange II claimed race one by one minute on corrected time from Pascal Leray's Breakaway. Defending champion David Lindahl's La Samudra finished in third place but bounced back with a first place in race two. Pascal Leray's Breakaway ended up with two second places and David Pollard's Foreign Exchange II in third place to tie these three podium placers on four points a piece.

Class 2 (Keelboats Thaicap)
Missy chartered to Tetsuo Ogino from Japan pulled out a good lead to finish seventeen minutes in front of Fozano to pick up the daily double. Panda struggled with her spinnaker to lay the finish line and eventually had to settle on third place.

Class 4 (Platu) Coronation Cup
The current Thai champion Scott Duncanson skippering The Ferret stayed in the winners circle with a first place in race 1 and a third place in race 2. Marco Belonje's The Beaver took second place in race one, but the side stay holding the mast up parted at the deck and could only watch as the mast came tumbling down during race 2. Morten Jakobsen's Emma Mathilde XX scored third in race 1 and fell back to forth in race 2. Vivat Poonpat on Naiad pulled of a surprise win in race two and Kenichi Takahashi's Motornet scored a timely second place to give the leader board a good shake up. Malaysia's Looi Sing Hoe on Team Gapurna 2 was up with the leaders in race one but missed the leeward mark on the way to the finish to score a retirement and has lodged a protest.

Class 5 (Ocean Multihulls)
Regatta winning Radab Kanjanavanit on Cedar Swan continued on their winning ways by scoring two first and fastest's on day one. Kirati Assakul's Sonic traded 2nd and 3rd places with Dave Wales on The Sting over the two races held today to end up level pegging for second overall behind Cedar Swan.

Full results can be found at: http://www.topofthegulfregatta.com

AsianYachting Ventures Sdn. Bhd. (Co. No. 627106-T)
A 308 PD Perdana Condo Resort, Jln Pantai, 71050, Pt Dickson, Malaysia
Tel: 6 06 6477701 Email: info@asianyachting.com
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Yachting at http://AsianYachting.com

3rd Top of the Gulf Regatta 2007
AY Pre - Regatta Report

The month of May brings a change in monsoon seasons so racing now swings over to the Gulf of Thailand. The Top of the Gulf Regatta has over 450 local and international competitors on about 200 sailing boats, racing off Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya. Three major trophies are on offer – The prestigious Coronation Cup for the Platu 25 Class, TOG Regatta Trophy's for nine racing classes and the Optimist National Championship for young sailors aged between 8 and 15 years.

Sixteen racing teams from as far away as the UK, Holland, Croatia, Australia, NZ, Singapore and Malaysia have assembled at Ocean Marina for registration and sail measurement in preparation to contest the Coronation Cup on one design Platu 25's beginning on Friday 4th. Ever since the keelboat was introduced at the Asian Games last year, there are signs of a resurgence of interest in keel boat racing amongst the national organisations. Forming racing teams that can travel around to contest suitable sportsboat events is gaining momentum and proving to be a good testing ground before the S.E.A. Games back here in December. If this trend continues, in future an annual series can be anticipated at existing regional regattas that encourage this style of boat and participation.

For the past three days the region has experienced a tropical disturbance in the Gulf that has produced uncharacteristic rainfall and interrupted the usual SW flow of wind. The organizers have looked at the long term forecast and are hopeful that conditions will change for the better by Friday's 11:00 am start time. Despite all this the show goes on with the military style marching band rehearsing outside the press room and tonight's official opening party been bought inside, around the under cover swimming pool area. The construction of the second luxurious marina front condominium apartments, Ocean Portofino launched last year is well underway and promoting an active lifestyle should be a bonus for watersports enthusiasts in future years. Main sponsors Raimon Land are pleased that most of the popular sailboat classes in the kingdom are here and joined by sailors from all over the world to well and truly celebrate HM the King's Coronation, 61 years ago.

One of the special features at this event is the exceptionally big dinghy fleet of Optimists, Lasers and Super Mott's racing alongside the big boats. Especially since His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej proudly designed the Super Mott as a small light-weight dinghy which ideally suits the lighter Thai physique. However the Thai sailors won't have it all their own way as a large contingent of Malaysian Yachting Association dinghy sailors have arrived here and expected to be able to mix it up with the best and be in the running for podium positions by the end of the regatta.