Top of the Gulf Regatta 2013 - Foxy Lady and Ichiban in control

by Event Media on 7 May 2013 Day three at the Top of the Gulf Regatta 2013 (TOG Regatta) saw classic Gulf of Thailand conditions with steady breeze, good seas and some excellent racing across all the classes in the 250+ fleet of boats.

On the keelboat and multihull courses a series of Windward/Leewards were in order, two for all classes except the Platus who enjoyed three.

In IRC Racing 1, Bill Bremner's Foxy Lady was the clear winner with two bullets, stretching a four point lead over the class going into the final day. Wan Marang, skippered by Kevin Whitcraft and KukukKERchu, skippered by David Ross, traded places with a 2,3 and 3,2 respectively.

Matt Allen's Ichiban, despite being OCS in Race 2 today, finished with two bullets while Royal Thai Navy 1, skippered by Cpl. Wiwat Poonpat placed second in both races. Adding the drop race, Allen sits on five points and looks unbeatable with one day to go.

The Singapore Management University crew on Hi Jinks remain unbeaten after two more wins today and appear to have an unassailable lead. The all Thai crew on Sansiri Ooh la la, skippered by Patinyakorn Buranrom, made a slow start in the series but two seconds today move them up to second overall and five points clear of Japanese entry Tai Two.

In the one-design Platu class improvements in the mid-fleet saw some place changes, and after dismasting yesterday Rod Berteaux's Platu 122 was back on the startline mixing it up. At the top of the standings, Black Betty, skippered by Gary McNally scored 1,1,3 and has a seven point lead going into the final day and one hand on the Coronation Cup.

Problem Child, skippered by Brian McMaster, had a sub-par day on-the-water with a 7,6,4 and now is tied for second overall with Andrew Moore's Tigrana.

A notable performance in the Platu class today were from Easy Tiger Racing, defending Coronation Cup champions, who placed 4,8 in the first two races and scored their first bullet of the series in the final race of the day.

David Liddell's Miss Saigon scored two Line Honours today but could not translate into handicap wins, loosing out to Sonic, skippered by Keerati Assakul, who's late surge has moved them upto second overall just two points behind Miss Saigon. Two thirds today for Black Swan, skippered by Scott Galle, leaves them third overall.

The dinghy and beach catamaran fleets, a spectacular sight and large part of what makes the TOG Regatta so special, finished their three-day series today, and after a storm and fickle winds yesterday causing havoc amongst the fleet, things were back to normal with three races across all classes.

A record 128 Thai and international youngsters lined up in the 2013 Thailand Optimist National Championships presented by Sansiri. Started in 1976, the Thailand Optimist National Championships is the second oldest annual sailing event in Thailand and continues to develop youth talent and introduce more Thai youngsters to the sport of sailing. The proof of this was see on the water over the last three days with some close racing in challenging conditions and an exceptionally high level of sailing.

The title was in Suthon Yampinid's grasp going into the last race of the series. Having placed consistently high throughout, it was his to loose, and loose it he did with a tenth in the final race, dropping him to third overall, missing out on second by one point.

After seven races, it was 14-year old Pongsapat Pumyam who finished the series in style with a first place to take the overall title and be crowned 2013 Thailand Optimist National Champion. Second place went to Thai girl Kamonchanok Klahan, who was also top female.

The strong winds on day two left damage in its wake with a depleted fleet making the startline on the final day in the Formula 18 and Open Beach Multihull classes. In Formula 18 Pom Green/ Apple, sailing the new Olympic Nacra 17, dropped their final race score (a second place) to finish with an undefeated scoresheet. Michael Scantlebury/ David Harris placed second overall with Morten Jakobsen/ Florten Herson in third.

There were no surprises on the final day of racing in the Open Beach Multihull class – three more bullets meant Damrongsak/ Sakda Vongtim were undefeated over the eight race series, followed by Grahame Southwick/ Khaipho second overall, and Teerapong Watiboonruang/ Passuree Sompalasin third.

An uncharacteristic ninth place finish for Keerati Bualong in the last single-handed monohull dinghy class race yesterday, was a mere blip on his scoresheet. Three more bullets today saw him easilly win the class with Natthawut Paenyaem in second eight points behind, and Supakon Pongwichean third.

Threatening to make the podium in the double-handed monohull dinghy class was 2010 World Optimist Champion, Noppakao Poonpat, and sailing partner Panida Suksomporn. However a 7,3,7 today put pay to that. The class honours went to Sittisart Ponpun/ Peerapol Wisaka with three wins on the final day. Totsapon Mahawichean/ Chaichanamwut Deenak finished second and Malaysian team Mohd Faizal Norizan/ Ahmad Shukri Abd. Azi were third.

Racing for keelboats and multihulls in the Top of the Gulf Regatta finishes tomorrow at Ocean Marina Yacht Club.

For more information, visit www.topofthegulfregatta.com

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