OMYC Platu Thai Nationals - Round 1
by Kev Scott, Ferret News 4 Mar 2021 01:01 PST
27-28 February 2021
OMYC Platu Thai Nationals 2021 © K Tanathorn Kuanchob
This year the One Design Platu Championship of Thailand is being fought out over four rounds, with a crew’s best three results to count.
Seven top class crews sailed the first round in perfect sailing conditions. The sun was shining and the sea was calm, other than when big power boats rudely blasted their way slap through the middle of the racing area instead of politely altering course by 100m.
On Saturday the wind was a constant 6-8 kts westerly. Luckily, the first race was a practice race only because it seemed that half the fleet consisted of scratch crews who needed time to get acclimatised to each other. It was not a pretty sight! But, as with all experienced crew, they soon settled into a routine and got ready to race hard.
Right from the start the YRAT team showed their speed, and recorded their first win of many over the short windward-leeward courses. This short format racing is popular with all the crews, and certainly keeps the racing close and exciting for everybody. After six races the results began to give some indication of what was to follow. K Tosapon (Platu 107) was leading with 8 points, followed by Kevin Whitcraft (Platu 117) on 14 points and Grant Atkinson on 17 points. And so the crews sailed back to the Marina to enjoy a well-deserved cold drink and explain their excuses and unlucky wind shifts.
Sunday provided even better sailing conditions, with 8-13 kts from the south. Although the median wind direction was constant throughout the day, crews reported big oscillating shifts up the course. Once again the YRAT team were the boat to beat, and although Kevin Whitcraft finally got the measure of them it was not enough to overhaul their overall scores. As usual for these events there are no drop scores and the final race carries double points. This ensures that results are far from settled and all boats have to do the last race which provides the fiercest racing of all.
Congratulations to all crews for providing great competition, strong and healthy racing, and a very friendly get-together for results and a beer afterwards.
Thanks to:
- Ocean Marina Yacht Club for providing the Committee Boat and the Mark boat, and K. Thammasak for arranging things on and off the water.
- our ever faithful flag man, Tony Hewitt.
- and FLS Logistics who have taken over the famous Ferret Platu 124 for the year. Their support for the yacht racing at Ocean Marina is most welcome, and we have plans to encourage members of their staff to become involved with this great sport of ours.
Results
1. Team YRAT, 18 points
2. Kevin Whitcraft, 32 points
3. FLS logistics, 45 points
4. Grant Atkinson, 47 points
5. Nathan Masopust, 57 points
6. Lucy Howett, 75 points
7. K Surapon Tippawongse, 82 points
Alongside this Platu event was the OMYC monthly racing for all classes. Five crews enjoyed a long distance race each day, with Morten Jacobsen’s small VX sports boat enjoying perfect conditions and an even better IRC rating to run away with the victor’s spoils. Because of the big variation between boats of this class it is intended to bring in a PHS system for future events.