Squalls off Chaweng Beach test crews to the limit in Samui Regatta

This year 60 per cent of the fleet has sailed in from overseas to challenge strong locally-based boats including past winners and regatta stalwarts. Among the Thai crews looking to exploit home advantage are the Multihull Class’s Radab Kanjanavit on Cedar Swan, Kirati Assakul on Bandara Sonic and Saad Panyawan on Kindred Spirit; and the IRC Two’s Amanda skippered by Lennart Fahlgren leading an all-Thai crew. 

All classes got underway in eight knots of wind, and were greeted with two squalls during the racing that tested crew work and boat-handling skills. 

The top-fleet IRC Zero class includes four Hong Kong boats, who are up against Team Hooligan, skippered by Australian Marcus Blackmore. The first race saw the largest in the fleet, the 90-foot Genuine Risk take line honours but lose out on corrected time to Hooligan. Hooligan slipped to third place in Race 2, with Hong Kong’s Sam Chan on Freefire taking the win, and HiFi scoring its second second-place finish of the day. The end of Day 1 delivered a three-way tie at the top. 

The IRC Premier class raced 26 nautical miles to Koh Pha-ngan Island and back, the distance and conditions favouring El Coyote skippered by Gary Baguley who took the win on corrected time from Brad Kirk’s Dynamite. The 10-strong IRC One fleet completed two races including the longer 26-mile course. Hong Kong’s EFG Bank Mandrake skippered by Nick Burns/Fred Kinmonth won Race 1 by less than a minute from Singapore’s Foxy Lady 6, under Bill Bremner. Mandrake continued to perform well, taking second in Race 2 ahead of Steve Manning’s Walawala 2, to take an early lead at the end of Day 1. 

The six-strong IRC Two class enjoyed close competition with Greg Coops’ Abraxas finishing first ahead of Lennart Fahlgren’s Amanda and their Thai crew, with Reef Knot, skippered by Stuart Collins in third. 

Eight boats are challenging for the Multihull Class title this year with a strong line-up of regulars up against two newcomers to Samui – Fantasia and Sweet Charriot. 

The 26-mile race suited Andrew Stransky and crew on Fantasia who took the line honours and handicap win. Second place was secured by Sweet Charriot who beat Thai favourite Radab Kanjanavit and his crew on Cedar Swan by less than a minute on corrected time.