One Design Platu Championship of Thailand 2011

by Edited by Kevin Scott on 29 Mar 2011 The Fox' skippered by Rolf Heemskerk won the Round one of the 'Yachts in Thailand' One Design Platu Championship of Thailand 2011.

Some of the best crews around came to challenge the Platu OPEN Championship of Thailand held once again at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club, just south of Pattaya (12-14 March). This is a truly international affair with crews travelling in from as far away as Denmark , Singapore, Malaysia and consisting of crew members of every Nationality. The event is round one of four making up the 'Yachts in Thailand ' One Design, Platu Championship of Thailand 2011.

Proceedings started with a dead calm but this quickly changed as the sea breeze came in and the first race got underway after half an hour delay. This race set proceedings for the weekend as Rolf Heemskerk took a fine win over the rest. However, constant wind changes made tactics difficult and several very inconsistent results followed during the next three races of the day. Most noticeably affected results came from 'The Weasel' , skippered by Thomas Sorensen of Denmark as he recorded two wins and two sixth places on day one .

Day two brought better winds and crews were hiking hard to keep up good speeds. Results were very mixed for some crews but again 'The Fox' skippered by last years OPEN Champion Rolf Heemskerk kept a consistent pace with results of a first second and a third place to maintain his lead and become OPEN Champion for the second year in a row. A very satisfied Rolf Heemskerk remarked: ' Thanks to the organisers for a well run event. We had good winds and close racing against some very experienced crews and a nice cold beer waiting for us at the bar.'
Congratulations are also due to a Finnish team of match racing enthusiasts from the Royal Varuna Yacht club who sailed very well to come second . Thomas Sorensen was again unlucky with some wind shifts with a first , fifth and sixth place on day two but secured a well deserved third overall. Nick Henley, a member of the third placed crew, said: 'As usual the organisers gave us a super event with slick organisation. This attracts the very best crews from around the world and the racing is close and exciting. I am looking forward to the next event in the series , The Top of the Gulf Regatta '
Thailand is getting one of the new protagonist in the East for Platus. In a few days, indeed, there will be an other prestigious appointment in Pattaya: 'Top of the Gulf'(from the 30th of April to the third of May). Pattaya will host also 'Platu Nationals' from the 12 th to the 14 th of August and the 'Platu Cup' from the eighth to the ninth of October.

RESULTS OF 7 RACES WITH ONE DROP SCORE

PLATU 130 001 Team Fox THE FOX ROLF HEEMSKIRK 1-3-2-1-1-2-3 10 FIRST
PLATU 103 002 Team Matchrace EMMA MATILDE BJORN 2-2-5-5-2-1-5 17 2ND
PLATU 120 003 Team Sorensen THE WEASEL THOMAS SORENSEN 6-1-1-6-6-5-1 20 3RD
PLATU 124 004 Team Ferret THE FERRET JEREMY CHASE 4-8-3-4-4-3-2 20 4TH
PLATU 112 005 Team SMU 1 MAGIC DRAGON CHRISTOPHER LIM 3-5-4-2-5-4-4 22 5TH
PLATU 257 006 Team Pine Pacific PINE PACIFIC K . ITHINAI 5-4-6-3-3-6- 27 6TH
PLATU 131 007 Tonys Newboys NATAYA TONY MALLIA 7-6-7-7-7-8-7 41 7TH

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