One Design sailing – growing fast in Pattaya

by Kev Scott - Ferrett News on 5 Mar 2009 In Pattaya we have one of the best and largest OD fleets in Asia for the Platu (otherwise known as the Beneteau 25 in Europe), with 17 of these in Pattaya and another 12 spread around Asia. There are about 1,000 spread around Europe and a new fleet of 12 in New Zealand. And they are now being built in Batam near Singapore by Extreme Sailing Products.

This year’s Platu Worlds will be in Punta Ala (Italy) in September, and they are expecting about 100 entrants.

There has long been a need for good quality One Design racing in Thailand, and now here it is. Class rules are strictly adhered to, so it’s all down to crew work. Raimon Land are generous supporters of yacht racing in general and last year sponsored a new Raimon Land One Design Platu Championship. Their sponsorship helped bring in youth teams from Singapore and Malaysia and top crews from China, Japan, Russia, the Philippines, Hong Kong etc.
They wanted to encourage close, exciting yacht racing and this is exactly what they did. We had 13 yachts at each of the five regattas comprising the series for the year, and over 25 different crews took part. The series was eventually won by Raimon Land’s own Platu, The Lofts Southshore, skippered by Scott Duncanson of Australia. (Platu 124, The Ferret).

This year’s championship will be bigger and better, and competition will be at a much higher level. New Zealand recently held its first Platu OD racing and it attracted not only Olympic champions and several world championship winning crews but also Dean Barker of America’s Cup fame.

These boats are considered by some of the world’s best skippers to be ideal for training top class crews for all classes of boat. Last year’s series in Pattaya caught the attention of lots of top crews and this year the entry list already includes crews from Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan and Singapore.

Quality crews need quality racing.

The first of the four events in this year’s series is the Platu Open Championship of Thailand, 14-15 March, and it will be even more intense with the arrival of some very experienced crews including:
the current Platu Open Champions of Thailand,
the current King’s Platu Vega Rudder holders
the current Kings Platu Coronation Cup holders
the current National Champions of Thailand
the South East Asia Gold Medal Winning Thai team
the Malasian Navy team
the Thai Navy National team
and a team of top sailors from the European Platu Association…
all wanting to take away Scotty Duncanson’s 2008 trophy at the end of this year!

It will be very close and exciting racing for sure, on the waters just outside the Ocean Marina Yacht Club, 20 minutes South of Pattaya. Come along and watch this exciting 4-race series begin with the Platu Open Championship of Thailand, 14-15 March.

Entries to date:
Scott Duncanson, The LOFTS Southshore , Current Champions
Morten Jackobsen, Emma Matilde XX, always a threat .
Wikki, came out of retirement last year and surprised everyone with their speed .
Nils Razmilovic, a newcomer but is of Olympic standard and expected to do well.
Steve Dover, new to racing a Platu but you never know…
Khun Aey aboard his PUMA sponsored Platu.
Naiad, the Thai Navy, SEA Games champions
Rolf Heemskerk, Current Platu National Champion of Thailand
Malik Sulaiman, representing the Malaysian Navy
Khun Pote, with a Thai navy crew.
Ray Waldron on his Gulf Charters Platu - definitely a possible winner.
Khun Ithinai, also with a Thai team and getting faster every race.
Singapore Youth team SMU. Experienced and fast.

Contact Kev Scott for all yachting and Platu charter information enquiries: kevscott@hotmail.com or mobile 0878 25 00 11