Patteera takes Laser title on her debut

The 19-year-old, who won the Optimist gold medal in the 2007 SEA Games in Chonburi, landed the crown after three days of competition with nine points. She was followed by Jittawat Boonrat with 21 points and Chut Dawruang with 22.

 “The conditions were changing all the time. Today it was not windy which was good for me as I am not physically strong enough for strong winds,’’ said Patteera who finished first in four out of six races.

 “As the winds kept changing directions all the time, my experience helped me take the right direction. I’m glad to compete in the event for the first time and win it,’’ said Pateera.

In the Optimist, 15-year-old Akapoj Kankaew of the Phuket Youth Sailing Club triumphed with 11 net points, three points ahead of Sutida Poonpat. The third place was taken by Teerapong Tokratoak, with 31 points.

 “I am glad to win because it will be my last competition in the Optimist. This has been my biggest win so far. From now on I will focus on the Laser,’’ said the Trang-native, who has been sailing for only three years under the guidance of British coach Katy Gooch.

While the three-day dinghy classes ended, Race classes just got underway yesterday right after the sail past to celebrate His Majesty the King’s 84th birthday.

In the IRC Zero, Hannes Weimer of the United Arab Emirates, on Team Premier, brushed aside the challenge of competitors from Hong Kong to grab the lead  after two races with three points.  Sam Chan of Hong Kong and his Freefire 52 Chan came second with four points, while compatriot Neil Pryde, on HiFi, was at third with five points.

But Hong Kong had something to feel proud in the IRC 1 category when EFG Mandrake with Nick Burns and Fred Kinmonth as skippers lead with five points, two fewer than Japan’s Karasu and Singapore’s Kukukerchu, who had seven points.

In the IRC 2 Class, Thailand had two representatives among the top three. Team Kata Rock, skippered by Peter Dyer, was in the lead with three points, while Royal Thai Navy 1, with Wiwat Poonpat as skipper, was in third with six points after Singapore’s Foxy Lady 5, with five points. Leaders in other categories were Moto Inzi of Great Britian in the Firefly 850, Sidewinder of Australia in the Multihull, Titania of Cowes from Great Britian in the Premier, Venture of Australia in the Bareboat Charter, Windstar of Thailand in the Modern Classic and Odin of Thailand in the Cruising Class.