Sailors pump up the fun on Samui rest day
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After three tough days of racing - seven races for some classes - sailors took a well-earned day off yesterday to explore Samui's dry-land action. But with two day's of racing to come, Lay Day at the Samui Regatta was as busy as any other for the organis
One of the biggest preparations is for the Gala Awards dinner tomorrow at the Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui, where the Asian Yachting Grand Prix skipper and yacht of the year 2012/13 will be crowned in a ceremony overseen by renowned yachting writer Marty Rijurkis. Favourite for both titles is Hong Kong’s Frank Pong, who is also dominating the IRC Zero class this year in Samui.
Departing the regatta yesterday was Aussie skipper Matt Allen, who has won all five races so far and hands over the helm of Ichi Ban (AUS) to Scott Duncanson, who will no doubt keep Ichi Ban at the front of IRC Two class. Allen also has an eye on the progress of his new yacht, which is being constructed in Dubai as part of his life’s dream of winning this year’s Sydney-Hobart Blue Water Classic.
Meanwhile, the “Stand-Up Paddleboard Challenge”, sponsored by Neil Pryde and JP Australia, gave sailors and regatta fans some entertaining R&R yesterday.
