Easy Tiger Racing ties with Nataya for thriller final day

by Lulu Roseman on 8 May 2012 The Ferret powered by Easy Tiger Racing were on fire again today in the Platu class where they are keener than ever to get their paws on the Coronation Cup at the Top Of The Gulf Regatta in Thailand.

The Tiger Team continued their hectic social pace by attending a full moon street party last night

'The moon was very cool, so close and apparently the closest it has been in 823 years if you’re into astronomy,' Skipper Chris Way said after racking up another day of consistent results on the water despite a bitter sweet end to the day.

In an oscillating 10-15 knot breeze the wishes the team offered to the moon last night worked a treat and today the Tigers racked up a second, a bullet and another second in the three windward/leeward races sailed today.

'Our closest rival Rolf Heemskerk on Nataya managed a first, second and third so we gained a point and lead the regatta overall by five points. However, this is where the drops come into play and he has a six versus our five to drop so I think that would make us ahead by four points,' Way explained.

Naiad skippered by Chai Weiguo won the last race of the day after clocking a ninth and a fifth in the day’s earlier races and remains in third overall. Chomping at the bit to climb onto the podium is fellow Aussie Ian Short on Short Time currently in fourth overall.

'It’s very close and tactical racing and Rolf and ourselves seem to have the speed edge advantage over the fleet but not by very much.'

But the Tiger’s elation was short lived. After coming straight off the water Way learnt they were subject to a protest lodged by Heemskerk. Easy Tiger had been OCS in the day’s first race, but conflicting radio calls and flags meant that The Ferret continued racing. There were errors by the race management, so Easy Tiger were awarded a four-place penalty instead of being disqualified. With his extensive race management experience Tom Spithill represented Team Tiger in the protest room job.

'The outcome of this means we are tied on points with Nataya. It’s all going to come down to the final two races so it will be thrilling,' Way concluded.

'We had an interesting day. In the first race there was a misunderstanding at the start of the race that resulted in our second place being replaced with a sixth. In the next two races we won the desirable left hand side and got a first and second ahead of Nataya,' Tom Spithill said.