Phuket King’s Cup – the Breeze is Back

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World.com on 10 Dec 2015 After a comparatively slow day yesterday, the breeze was back this morning with enough oomph to encourage the Race Officers to send all divisions off on long courses to a gate at Koh Racha, Koh Aeo (IRC 0, 1) and points in between – variations included leaving ‘buoy 9’ or Koh Hi or even just the end of the Koh Racha gate to port.

This is the Andaman Sea Race, and has always been popular with those who enjoy a bit of sea room and/or have long legs. Only to be attempted (by Race Officers) when the breeze is pumping.

There was no problem with that as the boats from the Seraph start headed straight off to Koh Racha, and the Marie G divisions beat up two miles to a windward mark before bearing away. Everyone enjoys the blast of a two-sail reach, and nobody more so than the fast multihulls – particularly the Firefly 850s, tearing off in a ball of spray… and they were still yippin’ and hollerin’ on the finish line. One of the Moto Inzi crew sustained broken shoulder (?) en route, but as it was the homeward leg, they continued on and through the finish line. May as well, no?

On the IRC 0 start line Jelik shut the door very firmly on Alive, who them spent some time catching up and – eventually – overtaking on the course up to Koh Aeo, going on to claim both Line Honours and the handicap win for the day.

Right on the finish line Slipstream, pole forward and all pressed up trying to lay the pin, exploded her spinnaker in spectacular fashion just as the photographer was changing the memory card in the camera. Damn.

The Corsair Pulse 600s raced three rather shorter courses, with Lizzy Schoch scoring two bullets and a second to lead the pack going into the Lay Day.

More after the break, as the saying goes.

Full results can be found at www.kingscup.com

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