Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2011- Hurry up and wait...

by AsianYachting.com, photos Guy Nowell on 13 Jan 2011 Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2011: After all the running around to get ready for the 0930 hrs start, the wind decided not to cooperate and the postponement flag was raised well before the boats left the marina. Crews patiently waited in the shade for something to happen. Four hours latter, signs of the incoming sea breeze stirred the race committee into action and soon after the crews were mustered onboard at their work stations.

The order of the day was windward/leeward courses in picturesque Bass Harbour. As the breeze peaked at 8 knots and suffered from directional instability, it was always going to be a hard day, especially for the race officials. When Race 1 got underway the breeze was already starting to clock around and by the second rounding the course turned in a soldiers course. To make matters worse it swung 180 degrees forcing the racing class to douse spinnakers and raise headsail's before they could finish. It then faded away and a shortened course was required to finish the rest of the classes.

After a short wait, the breeze then returned from the original direction and seemed to settle enough for Race 2 to get underway. Unfortunately a massive swing half way up the first beat, sent the fleet in all directions and once again faded away to everyone's annoyance. As the racing class approached the downwind mark a shortened course was signaled which created quite some confusion as boats came in below the line and is now subject to protest. The race was abandoned for the rest of the classes which also created some confusion with the flags and their meaning.

At the time of writing only provisional results for Race 1 in the racing class were available. Neil Pryde's custom Welbourn 52 Hi Fi breezed into first place followed by Ray Roberts TP52 Evolution Racing. Only 28 seconds behind Tiffany Koo's TP52 Jelik V slipped into third place. After taking line honours Frank Pong's 75ft Reichel Pugh Jelik III settled on fourth place.

In the IRC 1 Class, Ben Copley's Club Swan 42 Katsu held onto a handy lead to take out the daily double. China's Rick Pointon's 13m Jing Jing claimed second spot with David Ross' Kerr 32 Kukukerchu uncharacteristically settling on third place.

IRC 2 saw Niels Degenkolw's IOR 3/4 Ton Xyacht Phoenix continue on their winning ways with first and fastest. John Kara's Dehler 10.6m Skybird neatly slotted into second place with Jeremy Camps Pele Peterson 10.7 Cabaret 6 only twenty seconds behind in third place.

Rolf Heemskerk's Team ViewPoint triumphed in the hotly contested Sports Boat Class. Thailand's Jaray Tipsuk on Mitrmitree followed closely behind in second place and Shaun Toh on Singapore Management University (SMU) ended up third but made up for it by winning the Under 25 class. Hamish Crossan from BBYC (New Zealand) claimed second place and Genevieve Warlow from the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron sailed into third place in the Under 25 class.
In the three boat Multihull Class, Grenville Fordham's 11.6m Andaman Cabriolet Niña claimed the first win over Friob Thomas much bigger and very sleek looking 18m trimaran Spirit of Ireland, while the RLYC/Abd. Latif's 17.38m Manta Blu became the first casualty, with a broken steering system and took no further part today.

Mohd Amirul Shahiz on KSA 1 became the first winner of the inaugural Hobie 16 race at the Langkawi Regatta. Mohd Amran on KSA 2 slotted onto second place and Mohd Shukri on MYA 2 filled third place.

After many years of competing Morten Ringvold's Haffiman finally pulled of the daily double in the Club Cruisers. Gavin Welman's well prepared Hallberg Rassy 53 Rascal took second place and twenty seven seconds latter Thomas Frith's 12.6m Coruisk had to settle on third place.
Jelle C Mann's 13.10m Saipin also took the daily double in the Ocean Rovers. The smallest boat in the fleet Henning Lenz's 10.36m My Toy scored second place and James Morris 19m Sirius 1935 clung on in the light conditions for third place.
Racing continues tomorrow on the outside courses and hopefully the wind will be more cooperative.