OneSails pip Oi at post to win King's Cup
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Despite a strong challenge from Ahern Bailey Wilmer's Oi on the final day, Ray Roberts' OneSails Racing turned in strong and consistent performances throughout the tight five-day races to capture the 27th Phuket King's Cup Regatta yesterday.
The final day of racing in this year’s regatta posed the challenge of very light conditions, making every skipper’s decision and change of tack a crucial one. It was rival IRC0 class Australian boat Oi! and her crew which saved their best for last; the Ahern Bailey Wilmer’s team took two first places yesterday – an incredible finale and so typical of the King’s Cup. The result at the finish was Ray Robert’s crew winning the class by a single point; their second- and third-place finishes today were just enough to see them emerge as overall winners.
Roberts spoke of his delight at winning: “It’s great to be back here and winning our fourth King’s Cup. It was very light today with a little rain, and it actually suited us well; the weather contributed to a good, fair race, one in which you could not relax, and I would like to express my thanks to the Race Committee who did a terrific job managing it in changing conditions all week.”
The IRC1 class saw Bill Bremner’s Foxy Lady VI team finally defeated for the win in race ten, where a boat from Singapore, Windsikher, came in first place; but not until the class leaders had recorded another win in race nine.
In the IRC2, Yasuo Nanamori and the Japanese team “Karasu” powered through to two more wins on the final day, obliterating all competitors in their class.
The IRC3 class played host to an utter dogfight between Anthony Root’s Red Kite II racer from Hong Kong and Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban. Red Kite II emerged as victors in the class, with Ichi Ban on second place after leaving their title challenge a little too late this year.
The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Windsurfing Championship concluded yesterday also, with Navin Singsart named as overall winner after a total of seven races. Thai rival Ek Boonsawad was second in the final standings, with Siriporn Kaewduangngam winner of the women’s class.
Dinghy racing concluded on Thursday with Nuttapol Srihirun named the Laser class winner, Supparak Niamraksa Optimist Boys winner and Praewa Kangkla Optimist Girls winner.
