Hollywood stars on penultimate day of King’s Cup
Day four of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta began with a Sail-Past in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, as sailors paid homage in dramatic and impressive fashion.
In sunshine and strengthening winds, a four-hour joust in IRC Zero class between THA72 skippered by the regatta’s chief organiser Kevin Whitcraft and Team Hollywood ended with a minute and a half separating the two boats. Ray Roberts’ team aboard Team Hollywood were victors after a gruelling run back – their first win this week.
Danish entrants in IRC2, Phoenix skippered by Niels Dgenkole, won their class on Friday on the long, slow course, with Team Judy second and the Royal Thai Navy 2 team skippered by Poonperm Somrak in third. However, after six races, Australian Belinda Cooper aboard Senga remains atop the IRC2 class with 10 points, followed by compatriots April Jorgensen skippering Judy and Robert Pfeiffer aboard Farrgo Express with 11 and 12 points respectively.
In the IRC1 class, Japanese Yasuo Nanamori sailed Karasu to cross the finish line first in the seventh race on Friday to stay on top of all challengers with 11 points, while Mandrake III skippered by Nick Burns/Fred Kinmonth are in second place with 15 points.
Wiwat Poonpat and Royal Thai Navy 1 team took another strong win in Platu One Design Class. With a clean sweep with only five points after six races, Wiwat is assured of winning the class despite the fact that there is one more race day on Saturday. The Tiger skippered by Singaporean Pascal Radue and The Wolf helmed by Finland’s Peik Astrom came in second and third places with the similar 14 points.
Thailand-based Pine-Pacific with Ithinai Yingsiri at the helm captured the lead in the Premier class with eight points from six races.
Shanghai Sailing Club on a boat called Overdrive, the only Chinese team in Open Charter, won impressively on Friday ahead of a Russian and Australian competing fleet. Light wind conditions in the afternoon made the long course selection quite slow going, with some classes being cut short in order to nail results to the board.
Gentle breezes were no problems for the Fireflies, of course; John Newnham on Twin sharks won easily again on Friday - no surprises, they have won every race this week.
The Phuket Dinghy Series concluded Friday, having provided some enjoyable viewing for the sponsors all week. Results as follows: Optimist winner, Paliga Poonpat; Optimist Boys winner, Saranwong Poonpat; Optimist Girls winner, Paliga Poonpat; Laser 4.7 winner, Aryhit Romanyk; Laser Radial winner, Apiwatt Sringam; Laser Standard winner, Keerati Bualong; 470 winners, Navee Thamsoontorn/Nut Butmasari; 420 winners, Suthon Yampinid/Nopporn Booncherd.
Hnoon Sansanakom, board member of the Government Lottery Office (GLO), spoke movingly of its reasons for supporting the racing and of the spirit behind the regatta.
“It’s about giving back to Thai society, not deriving a profit or meeting a certain key performance indicator. … Sailing is a sport that was beloved of HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The GLO wants to contribute to wider society in Thailand, improving the health of people – especially young people – and promoting positive and worthwhile experiences for everyone through sport.”
The 2016 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta competitive classes include Keelboats and Multihulls and International Dinghy Classes. Earlier in the week, local and international sailors and organisers observed 89 seconds of silence as a sign of respect for HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Sponsors of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta include Principal Host Sponsor Kata Group, and Strategic Partners: The Government Lottery Office (GLO), Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Co-Sponsors: Central Pattana PCL, Haad Thip PCL. Media Partners includes Phuket Gazette, Gazette Radio, The Nation, Prestige, Sea Yachting, The Greater Phuket Magazine, True 4 you, Madame Figaro, Luxury Society Asia, Yachtstyle, The Guide Phuket, RL Magazine, One Coast, and Phuket Marine Guide.
Saturday is the final day of the 30th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta off the Kata Bay in Phuket, which will be followed by the awards presentation at the Kata Beach Resort and Spa.
