Sizzling action from Singapore sailors

by Peter Cummins, Bangkok Post on 6 Apr 2007 The Sizzler Byte C ll World Championship opened off the Royal Varuna Yacht Club yesterday, the first yachting world championship to come to Pattaya for several years. And, in the weather patterns prevailing around the Kingdom right now, 'Sizzling' is the key word.

Sponsored principally by 'Sizzler', the home of steak, seafood and salad and co-sponsored by Speakerbus, Ronstan, the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and hosted at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, South Pattaya, the 33 participants from seven countries, including a large contingent of Thai sailors, are enjoying excellent conditions, if a little light.

At the end of the first day's preliminary racing which featured the Speakerbus Challenge Trophy, the Singaporean team gave notice to the fleet that they are going to be the team to beat, taking the first four placings (Herman Nurfendi, Khee Zi Yang, Zachary Poon Qi Jing and Nang E-wox Russell, first to fourth,) respectively, with promising Thai sailors Keerati Bualang and Nattawut Vongrak, fifth and sixth.

Then followed the Ronston Byte C ll Pre-World Championships, with a different outcome. According to the Notice of Race, four races will be required to complete the world championship and a finisher's positions in the three races comprising the Ronston, will carry forward as the first score in the World's Race One.

Race One can thereafter be scored like any of the rest of the competition and, it, too. can be the allowable discard. An interesting concept which, no doubt, will make a close competition.

Zachary Poon Qi Jing sailed Singapore to the front after the three races of the Ronston Pre-Worlds, followed by Brazilian Fabio Suyama Ramos, Singapore's Herman Nurfendi and consistent home-towner, Keerati Bualung, Kee Zi Yang (Sing) and Nittiwut Vongrak, in the first to sixth placings.

Countries represented in this event are Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Singapore and Thailand.

A sign of the times is the number of ladies competing, with Brazil (2) Bermuda, Canada and Ireland (the only sailor), Great Britain (2) and Singapore (4).

For most of the world's population, a 'Byte' is a storage capacity on one's computer. But this little sea-borne Byte, is somewhat akin to a Laser, the world's most populous sail-boat, designed by Canadians Bruce Kirby and Ian Bruce, the latter claiming design rights over the hi-tech Byte.

At present - apart from these championships, of course - there are none of the little craft in the Kingdom.

The closest approximation would be HM the King's own-designed Mod, though, with carbon-fibre mast, sophisticated fittings and a kevlar sail, the Byte would be a vastly up-market version of Thailand's own dinghy. The world championships will continue through today, ending with the prize-giving and championships award on Sunday. If the south-westerly continues to blow, it is going to be a vey close finish, indeed.