24th SEA Games - race day 2

by Dave Moxey, RSYC on 10 Dec 2007 The promised light winds were very evident today, and the fleet were dreading that the forecast 2 – 4 knots of wind would be the order of the day.

The Wind Gods in the Gulf of Siam were a little more generous, but the breeze was still no more than 9 knots throughout the whole sailing day.

After a really poor first day with two 4th places, Thailand were certainly looking to improve their positions in the Farr 25 Platu class. Singapore and the Philippines needed looking to strengthen their position at the top of the leader board and Malaysia was still in search of that elusive first place.

Race 3 of the 12 race series got underway in around 9 knots of breeze and a choppy sea. Immediately after the start the race officer raised flag X, someone was over early, nobody turned back and the fleet continued up the windward leg in the gradually decreasing breeze. At the first mark it was the Philippines spinnaker that popped up first, followed by Singapore, Thailand and Gapurna Malaysia.

There was no change in position after the first downwind leg, and the boats started their second round, but at the next windward mark, it was all change, Singapore rounded first, followed by Thailand, enjoying the lighter breeze, with Gapurna Malaysia in third and the Philippines dropping from first place to last. Down the track they came, with Thailand and the Philippines taking the right, and Singapore and Malaysia the left. At the end the right had side of the course paid off with Thailand taking 1st place in a tight finish with Singapore in 2nd and Malaysia and Philippines 3rd and 4th respectively.

On enquiring with the Race Officer who had been OCS. he mysteriously announced that the OCS was cancelled, and no more was heard about it…

The breeze continued to fall, and race 4 got underway in less than 7 knots. The Race Officer had decided not to reduce the length of the course in the dying breeze, so the fleet again started the long haul up to the windward mark. From the start, all went away cleanly. At the top of the windward leg it was Gapurna Malaysia in front a mere 9 seconds in front of Thailand with the Philippines and Singapore behind. Again Thailand and the Philippines went right, with Singapore and Malaysia taking the more central to left hand side of the course, and again the right paid off with Thailand leading the pack into the leeward mark.. Back up the windward leg and the first incident of the regatta resulted in Singapore protesting Philippines for tacking in their water. At the windward mark it was the Philippines’ spinnaker that opened first, but by now the breeze was well and truly on its way out. A long sail downwind towards the finish line with the fleet in line astern, Philippines crossed first, followed by Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia bringing up the rear.

At the subsequent protest hearing after the days racing, the International Jury found in favour of Singapore, who had Thailand as their witness at the hearing. The end result for the race being changed to Thailand 1st, Singapore 2nd, Malaysia 3rd and Philippines DSQ.

The overnight leader board shows a change at the top, with Singapore moving into overnight 1st place in advance of day 3’s racing.

Overall Results after Day 2
1st Singapore 8
2nd Thailand 10
3rd Malaysia 11
4th Philippines 12