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Sail-World.com : Quantum Sails Platu OD Thai Championships 2010
Quantum Sails Platu OD Thai Championships 2010
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'Rolf Heemskirk and a very ’Foxy’ looking crew at the Thai Platu Open'
Alberto Cassio
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Last weekend saw entries from Italy, Denmark, Russia and Australia compete with the best Asian teams to produce a truly international competition. Good winds, ultra-competitive crews and plenty of sun made sure everyone enjoyed the fun. Sportsmanship was also at a high, and although it was very noisy at some of the marks almost all the teams raced with racing, not protesting, in mind.
This year the organisers experimented with a full practice day, followed by a one-day feeder event before the two-day Open. The idea was to give more value for money and four days on the water to those crews who had travelled a long way. The Blue Seas Marine feeder event turned out to be a big success, with crews getting the full benefit of serious racing, but with an air of camaraderie and international spirit.
Thomas Sorensen from Denmark scored three bullets and a second to pulverize the competition, while Rolf Heeskirk on The Fox and Jeremy Chase on The Ferret practiced being OCS! The Russian team on The Weasel showed their potential, and the professionals from Australia also got up to speed.
Day one
Rolf Heemskirk showed us all why he is a past National Champion and equal first for the Open Championship in a previous year by scoring four bullets. He was able to stay out of trouble, and with a fast boat and excellent tactics he was able to control the fleet.
The Russian team soon learned how to sail the courses, and were well in with a podium chance with 5, 4, 6, 6. The Australian boys were very fast, but unfortunately an accident on board meant a dislocated shoulder and an enforced change of crew, giving them 11,3,4,3.
However, The Ferret, the current Open Champions, suffered an even bigger blow ‘before’ the start gun when their skipper, Scott Duncanson, was unable to compete due to the actions of the Red Shirt demonstrations in Bangkok. A hurried search for extra crew included Eduardo Barni, the International Platu Class President, who took over main from Jeremy Chase who took the helm. Results of 6,6,2,2 showed that they needed two races to get into the groove. Thomas Sorensen came all the way from Denmark with his foredeck crew and built the rest of the team from scratch - results of 4,2,3,5 confirmed the potential he showed us all during the feeder event.
At the end of day one Heemskirk on The Fox was on 4 points, Sorensen on Stingray was on 14, Jeremy Chase on The Ferret was on 16 and the Australians on 21. With a drop to follow it was still all to play for - if the Fox could be tamed.
Day Two
Now the wind was really picking up, and was presenting massive unpredictable shifts that gave the RO plenty to do. On one occasion his course had to be changed 80 degrees within minutes of the gun… but his experience and patience meant he gave us good courses throughout the two days, and we congratulate him on a job very well done.
Rolf started the day by continuing his unbeatable form, and won race 5. Only when he saw the Championship within his grasp did he produce a 2 and a 10, and there was nothing any one else could do to beat him. The Australians produced a consistent 3, 3, 3 set of results which put them third overall.
The Danes produced 4, 1, 2 to secure a very well earned second overall. The Ferret suffered a few handling problems on day two, but got a consolation win in the last race, narrowly beating Stingray to secure fourth overall. The Russian team suffered a main halyard loss and missed two races, but were otherwise always in the top half of the fleet.
And it was good to see three all-Thai teams competing… although the organizers are working hard to continually lift the ‘international’ element and raise the competitive level, they also hope that Thai teams will continue to come and enjoy these events.
Next event in the series is The Top of The Gulf Regatta 30 April to 4 May at Ocean Marina Pattaya.
All enquiries to kevscott@hotmail.com.
NOR’s and full Championship information on www.OMYCsailing.com, see Platu section.
by Kev Scott, Ferret News
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11:35 AM Wed 17 Mar 2010 GMT
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