RMSIR 2014 – Patience is a virtue

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 21 Nov 2014 Today PRO Jerry Rollin earned himself a medal – for patience. The scheduled 1230h start time for the Penang Inport Races came and went, and then receded over the horizon. Sitting there with no breeze on a glass-calm sea some of us wondered whether we needed a watch or a calendar to track the passing time. There were hopeful-looking thermals over Penang island, but the sea breeze must have been suffering from constipation – it just wasn’t doing its job, so to speak. Slow start? ‘N over H’ might have been appropriate – return to hotel to await further instructions. Lunchtime came and went (and so did lunch) and then joy of joys!, a breeze, although from 340 it was more of a down-the-coast-breeze.

Start time 1450h, only two and a half hours late, but nobody can control the cats and dogs, right? Keen to avenge a last place on the Pangkor-Penang passage race, Neil Pryde’s HiFi was out of the traps like a White City greyhound. Unfortunately, nobody told them that there was an 80 degree right shift up ahead, and they were on the wrong side of it. All of sudden the right hand boats were able to tack and lay the mark from the right side of the course. Result: Foxy Lady VI powered through for a third bullet in as many races, followed by Sarab Jeet Sing’s Windsikher and then Island Fling in third place.

With time at a premium after the long wait for the first race, the RO had bothe eyes on the clock and really wanted to squeeze in another before the day’s cut off. Class 1 got away smartly and almost immediately for another two-sausage race, with a newly-set windward mark. This time HiFi was not caught on the wrong side of the course, but it didn’t seem to make much difference to the Foxies who tore up the course in a building breeze (and even some very welcome late afternoon sunshine) to record yet another bullet, leaving HiFi in second in race that was the same length (on the water) but 15 minutes shorter on the clock. With a miserly six points on the board after four races, Bremner & Co might be excused for thinking they have one hand on the Raja Muda Cup already – bit there are still five races to go over the next three days. Easy, Tiger.

Over on the other race course in Class 2 (Premier Cruising) Geoff Hill’s Antipodes levelled the scores with Australian Maid at 5-all by beating the Maid into second place.

Today was the day that the lightweight trimaran, 3 Itch, got some company on the race course. Racing against herself Port Klang-Pangkor-Penang, the Itches were joined by Hurricane and Java, Stealth 11.8 catamarans. Weather conditions were obviously in the cats' favour - see results (below). Last entertainment for the day, on the water at least, was Foxy Lady stirring up the bottom getting into the Straits Quay Marina at low tide.

After racing, and after racing back to the Straits Quay Marina, and after racing through the wash-and-brush-up routine, crews retired to the splendid surroundings of the Khoo Kong Si, the clan house of the Khoo family. MC Faye Khoo (yes, her grandfather was born there) introduced the regatta’s much-loved former Director, John Ferguson who delivered a few doses of his usual acerbic wit, and gave away prizes.

Aside from what is often very challenging racing, the party at the Khoo Kong Si is one of the highlights of the Raja Muda, with one of the very best lion dances we have seen anywhere in Asia, and (on this occasion) a jaw-dropping quick-face-change performance and a troupe of young persons providing a wushu display. ‘Penang street food’ stalls laid on a great spread, and on the other side of the courtyard a well-stocked bar kept everyone happy. Summary for the day: two races in good breeze after a long and patient wait, and a 5-star party, show, and prizegiving to follow. What more can anyone reasonably want?

Short Results (full results at www.rmsir.com)
IRC 1
1. Foxy Lady VI (3,1,1,1) 6
2. Windsikher (4,2,2,4) 12
3. Island Fling (1,8,5,2) 14
IRC 2 (Premier Cruising)
1. Antipodes (1,3,1) 5
2. Australian Maid (2,1,2) 5
3. Starlight (3,2,3) 8
IRC 3
1. Fujin 1,1,1,1) 4
2. Beaux Esprits (2,2,2,3) 9
3. Rikki Tikki Tavi (3,3,3,2) 11
IRC 4
1. Piccolo (2,1,2,1) 6
2. Nijinsky (1,2,1,3) 7
3. Skybird (3,7,3,2) 12.5
IRC 5
1. Sophia (1,1,1) 3
2. Lady Bubbly (3,2,2) 7
3. Rascal (2,6,4) 12
IRC 6
1. Kay Sira (1,1,2) 4
2. Aeolus XC (2,2,3) 7
Eveline (5,5,1) 11
IRC 7
1. Hurricane (1,1) 2
2. Java (2,2) 4
3. 3 Itch (3,3) 6