Singapore Straits 2012 - across in Batam, Indonesia

by AsianYachting.com on 31 Jan 2012 Light variable wind with a strong incoming current forced PRO Richard Cai to raise AP over H flags, meaning the yachts should return to the marina and wait for further instructions. After a two hour wait the North Easterly breeze strengthened and crews returned to the racing area to prepare themselves for a long afternoon. As the breeze climbed to 14 - 16 knots two three lap windward/leeward races were held, which made up for the mornings disappointment and kept the schedule on track.

In the IRC A Class an interesting situation is arising between flying symmetric and asymmetric spinnakers is appearing in the results. Steven Manning's Sydney GTS 43 Wala Wala ploughs on ahead to take line honours with an asymmetric spinnaker but Brent Morgans' Archambault 35 Men at Work and Sarab Jeet Singh's Sydney 40MOD Windsikher with symmetric spinnakers continue to run down the middle of the course to take handicap wins and finish up with podium places. However second and first places for Manning's Wala Wala has restored them on the top of the leader board. First and third places for Morgans' Men at Work has them tied with Wala Wala but reduced to second overall when the drop race is introduced. Two fully powered up starts has the defending champion Singh's Windsikher scoring third and second places to put them back into contention and well in front of arch rival Rick Pointon's J130 Jing Jing that fly's an asymmetric spinnaker, since they started the windward/leeward races.

Gordon Maxted's Young 84 Shoon Fung Too were out to prove a point and nailed both starts, then extended the lead to take line honours and the daily double in Race 5. Eight seconds separated them from making a complete rout of the day as Alexi Lim Zong Wei's Platu 25SMUve intervened to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in Race 4. Gregory Ho's SMUmad slipped into third and second places which is a vast improvement but comes a little to late in proceedings to make a difference in the overall stakes.

Once again Borstnar Vladimir's Angel scored two wins to make it five in a row and completely dominate the one design J24 class. Less than a 100 meters behind Christopher Lim's Shengli continues to plug away but just can't find that little extra speed to get on top of Vladimir's Angel. The same order has prevailed throughout. Calvin Lim's Jangan Main Main with all thirds and Daniella Ng Hui Min's RSYC Dua with all fourth places to round out the order.

The PY Class has been greatly reduced in numbers. Although leading overall Ng Ser Miang's Swan 61 Magic Dragon 2 and Anthony Lim / Richard Koh's Leopard 40 Annette with all the past presidents onboard elected not to participate on the Indonesian side. Wang Yew Pang's Jeanneau 54 Haiya 1 developed steering problems and withdrew from Race 4 which left Leslie Fung's Hanse 315 Todak to take the honours from Desmond Seah's Oslon 911 Arbudhen in both races today. In Magic Dragon 2 absence Leslie Fung's Todak takes over top spot.

Unbeknown to the media the Corsair 750 Class also finished the regatta back in Singapore after three races. Nicolas Gillier's Singaloc claimed overall victory from Alice Lim's The Dash leaving Scott McCook's Sirens in third and ruing the last race mistake that dethroned them from taking victory.

Tomorrow is the final day of racing and weather permitting two windward/leeward races will complete the schedule. In the evening the gala prize giving ceremony and dinner at Nongsa Point Marina Resort will put the 18th year to bed.

More info and results can be found at http://www.straitsregatta.com