THE 2003 KSIR GOES AHEAD - The show must go on!

The AY Race Reports can be browsed along with a daily selection of photos at: http://asianyachting.com/news/KoSamui03.htm

While the SARS threat is still lurking around and the damaging effects of issuing national travel warnings during the war on terrorism have been blamed for bringing the local airline and global tourism sector almost to a stand still, the 2nd Koh Samui International Regatta on Thailand's east coast is going ahead as planned from the 25th to 31st May. Any healthy sailors left in Asia seeking a crewing position should quickly make there way to Koh Samui for the last outing on the 2002/03 Asian Yachting Regatta Season. The entry list and turn out is looking good, as organisers guess allot of the racers are eager to get in a event after the cancellation of the San Fernando Race and keen to carry out some tests or modifications in preparation for the forthcoming 2003/04 season.

The regions yachting administrators and dedicated racers should be given a full round of congratulations as they have been able to put together an ever increasing number of International standard sailing events at some of South East Asia's usually popular tourist destinations despite the present economic slow down and all! To go forward from here, the show must go on! Perhaps it's time for a reality check but I am looking forward to getting out of the office, meeting up with fellow sailors and back to the island pace of life.

About 20 keelboats and 30 beach cats are presently making a bee line for Koh Samui for the 2nd running of the regatta which promises to be allot of fun in a very friendly and competitive way, that feels like it has been with us forever. Peter Ahern and Yo! look unbeatable on the recently released 2002/03 AsianYachting Rankings but may suffer this time as some of the rockstar crew have been worried about traveling about in Asia. He is looking forward to renewing the Kings Cup duel with Mandrake which is now in the hands of Hong Kong's Frank Pong. Thailand's Schle Wood (no relation to Tiger) Farr 40 Pasaya racing team are expected to put in a good showing while Andres Soriano's big Swan 80 Maligaya from the Philippines and Sam Chan's Hong Kong based 70ft Ffreefire will be keeping everybody honest at the front of the fleet

The highly respected and celebrated Aussie yachting journo, Bob Ross is expected to head over and cover the event, in particular Ray Roberts shipping his Farr 52 Hollywood Boulevard to Singapore especially to partake and hoping to improve on his 3rd place last year on Luna Nuova. As well as all the ‘on the water’ action the committee have lined up an exciting ‘off the water programme’ for all participants, their supporters and friends. (See Schedule of Events below).

A good gathering of smaller Class 2 yachts and Sportsboats includes 3 X yachts and The Dogs 2 the Sports class winner at the inaugural RLIR from Singapore taking on the Thai Navies two Far MRXs who have won at the King's Cup and the impressive Phuket 8 that showed some tremendous bursts of boat speed to take 4 line honours trophies in Langkawi.

During the press sponsored Malaysian Airways flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok and Bangkok Airways to sunny Koh Samui I have been advised that certain health checks and thermal heat scanning maybe taking place so I will be able to report first hand on the precautions that have been speedily introduced at airports and on planes (As seen on TV) and hopefully arrive in time for sunset cocktails and meet the team around the hotel swimming pool. Anyone for a massage?

As the yachts are arriving from Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and neighbouring Phuket and Pattaya the Organising Committee will be adhering to the guidelines and procedures laid down by the Thai Government Health Authorities. On arrival in Koh Samui waters all yachts are asked to anchor at Bang Rak (Big Buddha) Bay on the north eastern end of the island. Delivery skippers have been advised when approaching Samui to contact the Health, Immigration and Customs departments to give current position and ETA at Bang Rak. Follow up medical checks will be carried out every third day during the regatta and a doctor will be in the Regatta Office at the Central Samui Beach Resort every day from 08.00 to 09.30am in order to carry out any medical checks for all crew (and other participants) that have been issued with a Medical Card. With the hectic social program planned lets hope they can distinguish between bad hangover symptoms and the common flu. At present there are no SARS cases on the island and we trust that the procedures in place and the commonsense of visitors will keep it that way.

Inaugural 2002 KSIR - AY Race Reports with photos can be browsed by clicking on: http://asianyachting.com/news/KoSamui02.htm

Be sure to visit the web site for further updates www.samuiregatta.com

The Provisional Entry List as at 1st May 2003

Name Skipper From Type / Designer Length
Keelboats
1 Abraxas Greg Coops Singapore X372 37 ft.
2 Big Buzzard Melissa Olivit Singapore Humphreys 50 ft.
3 High Jinx Singapore X99 35 ft.
4 Mandrake Frank Pong Hong Kong Mark Mills 51 ft.
5 Hollywood Boulevard Ray Roberts Australia Farr 52 52 ft.
6 Maligaya Andres Soriano Philippines Swan 80 ft.
7 Naval Academy 1 Thailand Farr MRX 38 ft.
8 Naval Academy 2 Thailand Farr MRX 38 ft.
9 Next Page Steve Walker Singapore X372 38 ft.
10 Pasaya Schle Wood Thanan Thailand Farr 40 40 ft.
11 Pla Loma Keith Moore Malaysia DK Yachts 43 43 ft.
12 The Dogs II Mark Jewell Singapore Reflex 28 ft.
13 Yo! Peter Ahern Malaysia Murray Burns Dovell 50 ft.
14 Somtam Express Scott Duncanson Phuket Phuket Sports 8 26 ft.
15 ?? Phuket Phuket Sports 8 26 ft.
16 Marara David Bell Pattaya Fremantle Sports 8 26 ft.
17 Magic Roundabout Gary Baguley Pattaya Jeanneau 35 ft.
18 Amanda Sam Miller Samui 38 ft.
19 Ffreefire Sam Chan Hong Kong 70 ft.
20 Joan Marie John A. Busch Singapore Farr 40 ft.

Beach Cats

14 Nacras from RVYC Pattaya
6 Taipans RVYC
2 Taipans Singapore
3 Local beach cats Samui
5 Beach cats Royal Thai Navy

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Saturday 24th May – for those that arrive early Registration can be completed at the Central Samui Beach Resort from 12.00 to 16.00.

Sunday 25th May 2003 – Registration Day

10.00 – 15.30 Registration at the Central Samui Beach Resort

14.00 Practice Race – Chaweng Bay

16.30 Press Conference

17.30 Skippers Briefing at the Central Samui Beach Resort

18.30 – 20.00 Opening Cocktail Party for participants at Zico’s Grill & Bar, Chaweng

Monday 26th May – Race Day One

10.30 Start – Bangkok Airways Ocean Race

Chaweng – Hin Ang Wang – Lamai - Chaweng

18.30 – 20.00 Cocktail Party – Weekender Resort, Lamai

Tuesday 27th May – Race Day Two

10.30 Start – Strategic Catering Race Series

Back to back races Chaweng Bay

18.30 – 20.00 Cocktail Party - Big Buddha Café, Bang Rak

Wednesday 28th May – Race Day Three

10.30 Start – Santiburi Dusit Resort Ocean Race

Chaweng – Mae Nam – Chaweng

18.30 - 20.00 Cocktail Party – Santiburi Dusit Resort, Maenam

Thursday 29th May – Lay Day

Races may be rescheduled in the event of earlier races being abandoned.

Friday 30th May – Race Day Four

09.30 Start - Coconut Land & House Ocean Race

Chaweng – Bang Po – Ko Tae Nok – Chaweng

18.30 – 20.00 Cocktail Party – Impiana Resort, Chaweng Noi

Saturday 31st May – Race Day Five

10.30 Start - Central Samui Beach Resort Race

Olympic Racecourse - Chaweng Bay (half day, morning only)

19.00 Awards Ceremony and closing Banquet at Central Samui Beach Resort.