Ichi Ban – the Southern Ocean or the Andaman Sea

by Rob Kothe and Jaroonroj 'Knot' Satitkasem on 4 Dec 2008 On the first day of racing at the 22nd annual Phuket Kings Cup, prominent Australian sailors said it was like sailing in Hawaii.

Three days later Allen, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Commodore, was still smiling as he climbed out of a RIB on Kata Beach after racing today in 10-15 knot winds, sunshine and flat seas.

In IRC 1 Class, Allen's Beneteau First 44.7 Ichi Ban leads the series after an impressive record of handicap wins in all races. In second place is Rob Bottomley's Beneteau First 47.7 Sailplane, followed by Ben Copley's Swan CS42 Katsu.

On the water today Katsu beat Ichi Ban by an insufficient seven minutes, with Sailplane back in third place.

Allen explained, ‘We set the boat up for the conditions we’ve had for the last two days and she is going well. It’s just been great sailing and great scenery.’

After the King’s Cup Allen’s next big on water appointment is the 2008 Rolex Sydney to Hobart race aboard another Ichi Ban, the modified Volvo 70.

Sometime in mid-Bass strait on December 27th, when the southern ocean gales are howling, Allen and his Ichi Ban crew will look back with fondness to the azure blue waters of the Andaman Sea.

His is not the only dominating performance.

Scott Duncanson's Phuket 8 Raimon Land The Heights, well known as Sontam Express, is the defending champion. She has also won every race in the Sports Boat Class at this 2008 regatta on line honours and handicap and she could very well confirm a King’s Cup win tomorrow.

Second on handicap today was Lake Macquarie sailor Ray Waldron's Phuket 8 Vino and Kipson Beck's Shaw 650 Pornstar.

Duncanson commented this afternoon that ‘the weather has suited us so far. If it softens we won’t be able to plane and the Platus will come into contention.’

In second place overall is Kenchi Takahashi's Platu 25 Motor Net, ahead of Morten Jakobsen's Platu 25 Emma Mathilde Ji-Zip.

In the IRC 2 Division, Royal Thai Navy 2 has four straights wins.

Niels Degenkolw's three quarter tonner Phoenix has moved up from fourth to second place today after she came second on IRC 2 handicap. Third place overall is Gould and Cusack's Frers 42 Di Hard.

The leader board is much closer on other classes.

In the Racing Class, Neil Pryde's Welbourn 52 Hi Fi has taken the overall lead after winning on handicap today. In second place overall is Paul Winkelmann's TP52 Island Fling, with Frank Pong's Reichel-Pugh 75 Jelik in third place.

Frank Pong commented this afternoon ‘both Hi Fi and Island Fling have made major changes in the last season and they are being sailed very well. The competition is now very tough. We look forward to more breeze tomorrow.’

In Premier Class series overall, David Ross's Swan 53 Macquarie-Frangipani Girl is still the leader after taking second place on handicap today.

Peter Cremers's Warwick55 Shahtoosh holds second place overall. In third place is Dr. Ian Nicholson's Dubois 80 Intrigue after she
took the gun from Shahtoosh who came before Jon Wardill's Cassidy 55 Australian Maid.


In the Multihull 1 Class, Radab Kanjanavanit's SEAMICO Cedar Swan still leads the series even after a third place on handicap today ahead of David Liddell's Miss Saigon.

In third place is Bob Brindley's X Catriot.

In Ocean Rover Class, Krasnoperov Oleg's Thalassa leads the series. In second place is Chapus Marc's Zorba, with Charles Hay's Symstery in third.

In the Bare Boat Charter Class Jan kisteit's Little Eva leads the series. In second place is Toru Inoue's Feeling 10.90 TAG after her victory on the Bareboat Charter handicap today. Asia Marine's Kinnon is third overall, after Daniel Schwalb's Montclair (Fei Mao) dropped from third place after the OCS.

The Hanse 400e Kinnon took the gun ahead of Mike Venture's Hanse 400e Venture. Tag was third.


In Sunsail One Design Class, Achim Griese's Sunsail One Design's Princess Anna leads the series. In second place is Jakob Handte's Sunsail One Design Princess Isabella. Third place overall is Jan Ruedel's Princess Arieta after a fabulous effort today.

In the Classic Series James Stoll's much admired schooner, Argo, leads the series, but she didn’t do so well today with a fourth place on handicap. In second place is Paul Brunning's Dondang Sarang, with Roger Foley's Tradition still in third.