Sea battles rage at Phuket Raceweek

Three boats lined up in IRC Racing I, including the former Team Premier, renamed Oi! and with a new crew and Peter Ahern at the helm. Although absent from the Asian big-boat sailing scene for a few years, Ahern took up where he left off, winning the first race on corrected time. The Reichel Pugh 45 Katsu, skippered by Ben Copley, was just one minute back in second with Thai favourite Wan Ma Rang, skippered by Kevin Whitcraft, in third.

The second race saw the Katsu steal the handicap win from Oi! by less than a minute, with Wan Ma Rang again in third.

The Benetau 44.7 Fujin, formerly Ichi Ban, now under new ownership and skippered by Peter Sorensen, had the best of the racing in IRC II, with a double double – two line honours and handicap wins. Stuart Williamson’s Skandia Endeavour of Whitby scored 2,4, with Phoenix taking two third places.

Ireland’s entry, Peter Wood, sailing Windstar out of Phuket’s Ao Chalong Yacht Club, led fellow-Ao Chalong skipper Rob Azzopardi’s Dreamtime in IRC Cruising class, with Aussie Mike Crisp four minutes behind in third on Asia Venture.

In the Firefly 850 class, defending champion Voodoo, skippered by Hans Rahmann, get off to a slow start with a 2,3. The glory belonged to John Newnham and his crew on Twin Sharks, who scored two bullets to take an early lead in the series. 

In the Multihull Racing class, John Coffin’s Java took the win, marginally ahead of Phuket Raceweek co-organiser Grenville Fordham on Nina, and DaVinci, skippered by Peter Gallagher, in third.

In Race Two, Aussie Alan Carwardine’s Asia Catamarans Hurricane made up for their problems earlier with a clear win over Java.