PHUKET: Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek began with 12-15 knots of wind on the opening day. Principal Race Officer Simon James set two races for all but the Classic class.
With the wind building throughout the day, the second, longer race produced some exhilarating sailing for more than 400 sailors.
The 35 boats are split over seven classes, and include many familiar faces together with a growing number of international boats and charterers this year.
Having set the startline between Lon and Aeo islands, the racing started on time and first off were IRC Racing I on a windward/leeward.
The in-form Foxy Lady VI was up against Peter Ahern's Australian entry Oi!, the well campaigned Fujin, Blue Note and the 42-footer Island Fling from Hong Kong.
A mixed bunch, and it was Foxy Lady VI who were first to put a win on the board. An error early on by Oi! hit them hard as they finished first but on corrected time had to settle for fourth.
Island Fling enjoyed the good breeze and all powered up secured second place, two minutes ahead of Fujin.
In the second race, the class were sent towards the Chalong coastline, downwind to the Safe Water Mark off Panwa Cape, back towards Chalong, around Aeo Island, and back upwind before one last downwind Phuket leg to the finish. With the wind building, Fujin went one better this time to finish second in Race 2, knocking Island Fling into third.
But again, it was the slick crew work on Foxy Lady VI that saw them take the Phuket win by four minutes on corrected time. Two out of two.
Last years winner, Phoenix, got off to a slow start in IRC Racing II with a sixth place finish in Race 1. They improved in the Race 2 to sit fourth overall at the end of the day, but the days glory goes to Australian boat Jessandra II.
Competing at Phuket Raceweek for the first time, Jessandra II scored two comfortable wins to lead the scoreboard.
Ruby Tuesday's 3,2 and the Mumm 30 Foreign Affair's 2,5, puts them in second and third overall respectively.
Starting together, the Cruising and Charter/Bareboat classes enjoyed some close racing on the course and on handicap, and Sail in Asia Pinocchio were the early winners with two first places today in Cruising, while a 1,2 for Little Eva in Bareboat/Charter sees them lead the standings.
A single race for the Classic class saw the fleet stretch their legs on an island course, enjoying the stunning cruising grounds in this southeast corner of Phuket.
Crossing the line first, after almost two hours of sailing, was Michael Zircon's Aventure that took the win by just 10 minutes on corrected time from the ever-young Seraph.
The multihulls are back in force this year with 12 split into two classes: Firefly 850 and Multihull Racing.
Good winds and relatively flat seas proved ideal racing conditions for the super fast one-design Fireflies. All podium-placers in the past, there is plenty of pedigree in the fleet, and defending champion Twin Sharks, despite capsizing a week before while preparing for the Multihull Regatta in Phuket, showed no signs of concern scoring two bullets on the day.
Having nailed both starts, Advanced Racing Mamba came in a close second in both races.
In Multihull Racing, the smaller boats of Sweet Chariot and Bullet struggled in the breeze today while the Stealth cats from the Asia Catamarans yard, Java and Asia Catamarans Hurricane, lead the way.
And it was two firsts for Asia Catamarans Hurricane and two seconds for Java at the end of the day with Grenville Fordham's Nina sitting in third overall.
Organised by Phuket-based Media Business Services, the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek consists of four days of world-class competition.
Racing continues tomorrow to Sunday off Phuket's southeast coast.
About Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek
Coming into its eleventh year, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek comprises four days of world-class yacht racing and four nights of beachside parties. Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek, run over six or seven classes including Racing, Multihull, Cruising and Bareboat Charter, has gained a reputation for its competitive racing for the serious boats and fun courses around the islands for the less serious racers. It is also the first event of the prestigious 2014/2015 AsianYachting Grand Prix. Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek enjoys the support of Tourism Authority of Thailand, SAT - Sports Authority of Thailand, Sports Association of Phuket, Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and Ao Chalong Yacht Club.
Regatta Sponsors and Partners
Sponsors and partners of the 2014 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek include: Cape Panwa Hotel, Mount Gay Rum, Kantary Bay Hotel, Tourism Authority of Thailand, DaVinci Lifestyle, Blue World Safaris, Concept Paradise, East Marine, Gybe, Mont Clair, Peroni, Radenska, 91.5FM Phuket Radio, Asia-Pacific Boating, Cape + Kantary Magazine, HELM Superyacht Asia Pacific, IMAGE Asia, Phuket Marine Guide, SEA Yachting, Town & Country Thailand, Elite Yachting, International Law Office, ISS Security Services, Phuket International Hospital, Phuket International Boat Show, RUS Phuket TV, Electrical Marine, Phuket Boat Lagoon, Krabi Boat Lagoon, Quantum Sail Design Group.
Supporting Authorities include Ao Chalong Yacht Club, Sports Authority of Thailand, and Yacht Racing Association of Thailand.
With the wind building throughout the day, the second, longer race produced some exhilarating sailing for more than 400 sailors.
The 35 boats are split over seven classes, and include many familiar faces together with a growing number of international boats and charterers this year.
Having set the startline between Lon and Aeo islands, the racing started on time and first off were IRC Racing I on a windward/leeward.
The in-form Foxy Lady VI was up against Peter Ahern's Australian entry Oi!, the well campaigned Fujin, Blue Note and the 42-footer Island Fling from Hong Kong.
A mixed bunch, and it was Foxy Lady VI who were first to put a win on the board. An error early on by Oi! hit them hard as they finished first but on corrected time had to settle for fourth.
Island Fling enjoyed the good breeze and all powered up secured second place, two minutes ahead of Fujin.
In the second race, the class were sent towards the Chalong coastline, downwind to the Safe Water Mark off Panwa Cape, back towards Chalong, around Aeo Island, and back upwind before one last downwind Phuket leg to the finish. With the wind building, Fujin went one better this time to finish second in Race 2, knocking Island Fling into third.
But again, it was the slick crew work on Foxy Lady VI that saw them take the Phuket win by four minutes on corrected time. Two out of two.
Last years winner, Phoenix, got off to a slow start in IRC Racing II with a sixth place finish in Race 1. They improved in the Race 2 to sit fourth overall at the end of the day, but the days glory goes to Australian boat Jessandra II.
Competing at Phuket Raceweek for the first time, Jessandra II scored two comfortable wins to lead the scoreboard.
Ruby Tuesday's 3,2 and the Mumm 30 Foreign Affair's 2,5, puts them in second and third overall respectively.
Starting together, the Cruising and Charter/Bareboat classes enjoyed some close racing on the course and on handicap, and Sail in Asia Pinocchio were the early winners with two first places today in Cruising, while a 1,2 for Little Eva in Bareboat/Charter sees them lead the standings.
A single race for the Classic class saw the fleet stretch their legs on an island course, enjoying the stunning cruising grounds in this southeast corner of Phuket.
Crossing the line first, after almost two hours of sailing, was Michael Zircon's Aventure that took the win by just 10 minutes on corrected time from the ever-young Seraph.
The multihulls are back in force this year with 12 split into two classes: Firefly 850 and Multihull Racing.
Good winds and relatively flat seas proved ideal racing conditions for the super fast one-design Fireflies. All podium-placers in the past, there is plenty of pedigree in the fleet, and defending champion Twin Sharks, despite capsizing a week before while preparing for the Multihull Regatta in Phuket, showed no signs of concern scoring two bullets on the day.
Having nailed both starts, Advanced Racing Mamba came in a close second in both races.
In Multihull Racing, the smaller boats of Sweet Chariot and Bullet struggled in the breeze today while the Stealth cats from the Asia Catamarans yard, Java and Asia Catamarans Hurricane, lead the way.
And it was two firsts for Asia Catamarans Hurricane and two seconds for Java at the end of the day with Grenville Fordham's Nina sitting in third overall.
Organised by Phuket-based Media Business Services, the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek consists of four days of world-class competition.
Racing continues tomorrow to Sunday off Phuket's southeast coast.
About Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek
Coming into its eleventh year, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek comprises four days of world-class yacht racing and four nights of beachside parties. Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek, run over six or seven classes including Racing, Multihull, Cruising and Bareboat Charter, has gained a reputation for its competitive racing for the serious boats and fun courses around the islands for the less serious racers. It is also the first event of the prestigious 2014/2015 AsianYachting Grand Prix. Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek enjoys the support of Tourism Authority of Thailand, SAT - Sports Authority of Thailand, Sports Association of Phuket, Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and Ao Chalong Yacht Club.
Regatta Sponsors and Partners
Sponsors and partners of the 2014 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek include: Cape Panwa Hotel, Mount Gay Rum, Kantary Bay Hotel, Tourism Authority of Thailand, DaVinci Lifestyle, Blue World Safaris, Concept Paradise, East Marine, Gybe, Mont Clair, Peroni, Radenska, 91.5FM Phuket Radio, Asia-Pacific Boating, Cape + Kantary Magazine, HELM Superyacht Asia Pacific, IMAGE Asia, Phuket Marine Guide, SEA Yachting, Town & Country Thailand, Elite Yachting, International Law Office, ISS Security Services, Phuket International Hospital, Phuket International Boat Show, RUS Phuket TV, Electrical Marine, Phuket Boat Lagoon, Krabi Boat Lagoon, Quantum Sail Design Group.
Supporting Authorities include Ao Chalong Yacht Club, Sports Authority of Thailand, and Yacht Racing Association of Thailand.
