Koh Samui Regatta sadly over for another year

by Marty Rijkuris, Asian Yachting on 29 May 2005 Scurrying through the racing rules book, trying to interprete not only how to break a tie on corrected time, but also a series tie, shows just how close racing was following a week of variable conditions at the Koh Samui Regatta.

Frank Pong's 75ft Jelik once again roared around the track in the fresh conditions, but as the race progressed, the breeze became patchy, allowing Troy Yaw’s Ulumulu, which was in hot pursuit, to close the gap.

Both yachts sailed within their handicaps and despite Jelik taking line honours for the sixth time, Ulumulu and Jelik ended in a tied situation, down to the minutes and seconds on corrected time.

By scoring the same points in today's final race, Ulumulu maintained her three point advantage to become this year’s champion.

Jelik was relegated to second place overall for the series, and after putting in a good performance at their first outing, Toby O'Connell's newly acquired YO!, finished third place overall.

Over nine selected AY Grand Prix racing class events (Malaysia 3, Hong Kong 2, Thailand 2 plus Singapore and the Philippines with one each) held through the season, Neil Pryde and his former Hi-Fidelity have become the respective 2004/05 AY Grand Prix Skipper and Yacht Champions of the year.

By taking out the trifecta of the Raja Muda, King's Cup and the Singapore Straits, plus a second place in the China Coast Regatta behind Skandia, is some of what it took Pryde (the manufacturer of the newly announced Olympic class RS:X windsurfer board) to win this prestigious award.

Bill Bremner's Singapore based Sydney 36 Foxy Lady scored another first place today to clean sweep the IRC 2 class with five wins in as many days.

His score sheet was only blotted with an eighth on the first variable day, which he later used as his drop. This yacht, under a former owner when named Pla Loma, actually won the inaugural Koh Samui Regatta four years ago.

Following a close tussle for placing's, John Vause's fourth place in the final race was enough to give the Pattaya built Buzz 8 second place.
The other Singaporean entry, Jonathan Mahony's Mumm 30 Happy Endings, finished second on tied on points with the Buzz 8, but had to settle for third on count back.

Karl Stechmann's Princess Anna finished in front of his fellow Aussie's, competing on four Sunsail Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35’s. The group thoroughly enjoyed racing amongst themselves and loved their time in Koh Samui.

The duel between the Samui built Radical Bay 8000's in the multihull class was also close with China House and Coco Blues tied for the series with three wins and two second places each, after Pierre Forsans China House won the final event.

His win gave him the series win on countback from Kim Thomas's Coco Blues. Despite Radab Kanjanavanit's (Cedar Swan) finest efforts, he had to be content with third place overall.
For more news, full results and photos on the Koh Samui Regatta go to: www.samuiregatta.com

*Amended by Sail-World