Phuket 8’s putting smiles on tanned faces… PRW Day 3

by Asian Edition on 16 Jul 2004 Light but varying winds once again prevailed on day 3 of the inaugural Phuket Race Week. With a delayed start, the fleet was off on an around-the-buoy course with the hosting sponsor, the Evason Phuket Resort and Six Senses Spa in sight.

Boats in Racing Class battled for the lead with Image Asia Attitude ahead until after the first mark. The Mumm 30, Panic! finished first while the Phuket 8’s, Securicor Som Tam Express and Skiff Asia Pla Loma finished second and third respectively.

Keith Moore, skipper Skiff Asia Pla Loma commented after the race, ‘The racing has been generally good despite overall light conditions. It's slightly frustrating because the Phuket 8's can race in lighter winds than some of the other classes, so we are forced to wait each day for the wind to fill in. When we finally get going it's been a lot of fun’.

Keith has put the buzz back into his racing by sailing a new Phuket 8 Sports Boat whilst the other, 46ft Pla Loma, is in the speed shop being tweaked before this season's Asian tour. Keith went on to say, ‘Yesterday in race 3, a windward - leeward, saw all three of the Phuket 8’s in the lead at some point. Attitude 8 led at the top mark, Somtam Express and Attitude swapped places a couple of times downwind until Skiff Asia Pla Loma managed to pass both boats coming into the leeward mark.’

‘On the second lap Pla Loma and Somtam locked into an upwind duel, with Somtam coming out on top by the time the windward mark came up. The final run saw Somtam still in front and Pla Loma held onto third despite pressure from Attitude. Race 2 was also fun as we saw 15.6 knots of boatspeed downwind at one point. Team Pla Loma is still working out how to get the best out of the Phuket 8, but I can honestly say I have never had more fun coming third before’ said Keith, delighted with the event so far.

Similar conditions prevailed in IRC and Club classes with a close field and keen competition. In IRC skipper Mick Kealy’s, Minx finished first while Ruby Tuesday placed second with Octopussy third. In Club Class, Blue Moon, skippered by Al Boone placed first with Cinders and Four Winds coming second and third.

Three boats competed in Multihulls with Kilo back after having to retire due to problems with its head sail. Under Chris Sieber, Kilo raced to first place. The two catamarans, Ceberus and Chimera, which are built in Phuket by Latitude Yachting, finished second and third respectively.

Light wind conditions in this usually breezy month of July have offered something of a challenge to both racers and Race Committee members. In yesterday’s race, Principal Race Officer John McLelland and his team were able to shorten the course just 30 seconds before the first boat crossed the line. Racing will take place on Lay Day tomorrow for all four classes to make up for today’s missed second Windward/Leeward race. Club and Multihulls will have an additional race to account for the DNF’s from Monday’s race.

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