King’s Cup Japanese friends to defend Bareboat division title

by Tracey Johnstone on 6 Nov 2009 Age has not wearied the band of Japanese warriors, led by Toru Inoue, who will return to Phuket next month to defend their King’s Cup Bareboat division title.

The team of eight friends, some of them Inoue said are 'quite old', will come together on board TAG, a Feelimg 10.9m yacht to contest the 23rd Phuket King’s Cup being held from 28 November to 5 December.

The TAG team will be a combination of experienced sailors and keen friends. 'Some of them are new and some are experienced. We sail together in a different boat at home, but they are all friends of mine.'

Skipper Inoue is one of the oldest aboard. 'Some of the crew are quite old. Myself, I am 62 years old and therefore I am already retired, but I enjoy anything anyway.'

Last year Inoue and his team sailed a very consistent regatta to finish on equal points with German skipper Jan Kisteit. On count back Inoue’s team took out the trophy.

This year, back on the same boat, the crew believe that last year’s experience will help them greatly. 'Yes, I think it helps to be one the same boat because we understand how it handles. We are used to sailing a 43, 46 and 52-foot boats. The boat sizes are getting smaller, but some of the crew are less experienced. This 37-foot is the kind of boat on which we can use our muscle.'

Inoue plans to be in Phuket two days before the regatta starts while his crew are not due in until the day before the practice race. This leaves the crew with only one day in which to fine tune the boat and themselves. 'The pre-race will be the only chance for us to train over there. One thing I want to do this time is to make everyone clear how we are going to handle the boat. We don’t need to be on board, but we need to get together and talk.'

Recently returned from the Mariner Boating Kalia Yacht Rally in Tonga where Inoue, sailing a catamaran, finished first overall, he is now spending his time on his 40-foot yacht in Okinawa working out the best strategies for how his team will successfully battle the Bareboat division fleet of more than 20 boats.

'I believe that the key will be the team work and the smooth handling with confidence which I had tried to keep last year.

'It will be a great challenge for us to defend 2008 win.'