Things that go bump in the night, Raja Muda race 3

by David Lightfoot on 21 Nov 2003 Race three of the Raja Muda International Regatta gave the smaller yachts a chance as the larger yachts slowly parked up in a dying north westerly breeze. With just ten nautical miles to go to the finish line off the island of Langkawi, a north easterly shift and subsequent thunderstorm rolled in giving the leaders a chance to cross the line after languishing in the variable conditions.

The smaller yachts in this sixty nautical mile dash from Penang to Langkawi sailed most of the race in a consistent 10 to 12 knot north westerly breeze before receiving a north easterly shift and 18 to 20 knots of wind on which they came home strongly.

Ray Roberts, skipper of the Farr 52 Hollywood Boulevard led most of the race from Penang to Langkawi and commented that for them the wind had all but died by 10.00pm. Ray went on to comment that, ‘thunderheads and rain were filling in all around us however we seemed to be caught in a no wind zone for about an hour’.

The lead pack including Hollywood Boulevard, Yo!, Hi Fidelity and Pla Loma had to wait as the new breeze filled in around them whilst the smaller yachts were still making way on a reasonably consistent breeze behind.

Once the breeze had filled in the Hollywood Boulevard team were on their way for a line honours win with approximately 5 miles to the finish line. The Farr 52 OD was cruising along with slightly cracked sheets at around 9 knots of boat speed on the new north easterly pressure when it almost struck disaster.

Ray made this comment about the incident, ‘we were sailing along quite well not too far off Langkawi when all of a sudden an unlit fishing boat appeared out of the rain and darkness. It went slipping by our port side not more than twenty feet away. She was stationary and looked as if the crew were asleep with all their lights off. At around 50 foot and made of solid timber, it could have caused some major damage if we had collided’. Ray and his crew then went on to take the line honours win.

Jeremy Muller, owner of the new Sydney 32 Scallywag was decidedly happy with the fourth place in the open IRC Racing Class and a second place in Racing B for the third race. Jeremy was unable to sail in the Penang to Langkawi race as he is currently in Sydney for the next two fixtures of the World Cup after narrowly making his flight due to the mammoth 2nd race effort of just under 24 hours.

Jeremy, who spoke from the stands in Sydney said, ‘I just heard the news and I am really wrapped with the performance of the crew’, now lead by James Davies, ‘who sailed a great race. The boat is going really well and the lads are now looking forward to the windward leeward races in Langkawi. This is only our first regatta on the Omega Asian Yachting Circuit with the new boat and I am really looking forward to the Kings Cup in Phuket where I will join the boat again for some more competition’.

The all female crew of Dewi Baru, who scored a first place in Racing B and a second in the open Racing Class informed the Sail-world.com Asian Edition that they had elected to stay offshore up the coast of Penang. They had 10 to 12 knots of breeze from the northwest for most of the race, staying close to the rhumb line before the wind shifted into the northeast for the rest of the race and increasing to around 18 to 20 knots.

The Dewi Baru team’s effort has elevated their chances of a place in this Raja Muda International Regatta with four windward leeward races to go over the next two days. However, Peter Ahern’s Pacific 50, Yo! is now sitting in a solid but challengeable position for overall victory in the Raja Muda Cup with a win in open Racing Class for race three.

One of the great things about finishing in Langkawi is the level of service the club provides to Raja Muda yachts and crew as they arrive. The virtual red carpet is laid out with the bar and restaurant opening all night and long after the last boat has finished. The professional marina staff is on had to escort each of the yachts to its pen without a hassle. After berthing the sailors gather in the beautiful open air bar and swap war stories with more than a handful of sailing karate going on. It is a great scene, www.langkawiyachtclub.com and just a small tip, a RLYC membership has some great reciprocal arrangements with other Asian yacht clubs too.

Send us your Asian sailing stories and pictures to David Lightfoot, at the Sail-world.com Asian Edition email: swae@ikon-media.com.au phone, sms, mms: +61 412 012 978