Thai Platu Open next weekend

by Kev Scott, Ferret News on 11 Feb 2009 The Raimon Land One Design Platu Championship 2009 gets under way 14/15 March. Opening event for the Championship series is the Thailand Platu Open which always attracts top crews.

Current holder Scott Duncanson will be hoping to successfully defend his title aboard The Ferret with The Lofts Southshore team. And Rolf Heemskerk will be just as eager to avenge last year’s very narrow defeat on a countback! Rolf is the current Platu National Champion, so these two will surely be banging sides somewhere on the course.

Ray Waldron will be sailing the Gulf Charters boat, and judging by his rapid rise to success last year will most certainly be up there as well. Morten Jackobson will no doubt be competing with his co-owner Neil Semple, so watch out for these two especially if the wind is mild. Morten is well known for his ability to find the wind while others are busy finding the ‘holes’.

Khun Ithinai, with his lucky number 257, will be bringing along an all-Thai team, and his recent form has been a pleasure to watch. A newcomer to racing again after a long spell away, he has created a very fast ambitious team and with Khun Lim of the Thai Navy on board to do tactics , will surely do well. Khun Aey (Team Puma) will be working as hard as always to get a result and repeat his success during club racing last year.

We can expect representation from Japan as well. Starting last year they are keen to do all the events this year. And if you have raced against the fellas from the Land of the Rising Sun, you will know just how hard they compete!

We hope also that the Thai boat Wikki will be taking part. This team came along after a very long lay off and made everyone look up at last year’s Platu Nationals, finishing an amazing third . They are keen to better that this year.

We also hope to see Khun Pote racing his Platu and give his luxury racing/cruiser a rest for a few days. It wouldn’t be the same without his all-Thai team gracing the course wearing bumble bee t-shirts and big smiles.

A new team is starting this year: Steve Dover and Simon Makinson have linked up to put Simon’s “Magic Dragon” into racing trim and get another Platu on the water. Good luck Steve, and welcome to the Platu fleet.

We also welcome newcomer Nils Razmilovic from Singapore. Nils wants to check out Platu racing here in Pattaya so we wish him well - I am sure the locals will give you all the help you need… before the start! We may also be welcoming Malik Sulaiman from the Royal Malaysian Navy - a friend of Rolf Heemskerk, he has also been persuaded to come and try our One Design Platus. And of course there will be the Singapore young guns from Singapore University. This youth team surprised everyone at a recent club event, and showed some of the regulars the way home. We have also had interest from a New Zealand team, but so far no confirmation.

This event promises very close racing of the highest standard and there cannot be a favourite at this stage.

The next event will be The Top of The Gulf Regatta, including the Platu Coronation Cup. Two top teams are already confirmed from Australia and it looks like all charter boats may have been taken already - expect a full fleet of 15 or 16 for this one.

The Championship this year consists of four events out of Pattaya Ocean Marina, with three results to count Check out www.OMYCsailing.com for details and NORs.

Any enquiries can be sent to Kev Scott: email kevscott@hotmail.com or mobile +66 0878 25 00 11 .