2ND KOH SAMUI INTERNATIONAL REGATTA 2003
The biggest event ON the Gulf of Thailand
AsianYachting Race Report 2
by CaptMarty@AsianYachting.com

'Chai yo' for the crew on Pasaya

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

Two 1.6 nm trapezoid races held back to back had the crews working very hard trying to get there sail hoisting and lowering drills together. A wonderful sight when everything goes smoothly but could be devastating on crew morale when things get out of sync and any breakages may turn out to be very expensive on the owners pocket. The 20 man crew on Maligaya from the Philippines must be congratulated on a brilliant effort for getting the big Swan 80 around the short course in extra quick time to finish with 2 Line Honours today.

It will be drinks all round and allot of 'Chok Deeing' tonight for Schle Wood's Thai racing team on the Farr 40 Pasaya as they celebrate two wins in Racing class A today. They have been training for months and deservedly rewarded for participating on all the major Asian Regatta's during the 2002/03 season. Ray Roberts on the Farr 52 Hollywood Boulevard slipped in 2 seconds to stay in the running at the top of the leaderboard. Frank Pongs Mandrake and Peter Ahern's Yo! shared the 3rd placings to stay within reach of the leaders coming into the 2 lengthy passage races scheduled for tomorrow and Friday.

Steve Walkers Next Page and Greg Coops Abraxas two X372's shared the 1st place honours today with Melissa Olivit's Big Buzzard taking two second places. Abraxas and John Busch's Joan Marie divided up the third places to even up the pointscore and keep everyone in the running for overall places.

Mark Jewells Reflex 28 The Dogs II has firmly topped the leader board in the Sportsboat division with another convincing two first places over Scott Duncansons Phuket 8 Somtam Express and David Bells Marara one third place before ripping the mainsail and retiring from race 3. Catherine Fong's newly launched Phuket 8 Attitude 8 is living up to her name sake as they have experienced some ironing out problems and are yet to complete a race.

Daniel van Kerckhof and Kingsley Pursch put in another dazzling display on their off the beach Taipan catamaran to record one 2nd and a 1st place on top of yesterdays run away win to show why they are ranked the No 2 team in Australia and possibly soon to be crowned the No 1 team in Asia. Although they have not had it all their own way with Thailand's Damrongsak Yongtim's Nacra 5.8 sp taking the honours in race 2 by 22 seconds and ever consistent Scott McCook and Alice Lim recording 2 third places to keep them in the running for overall honours.

Tomorrow 26 nm passage race starts of Chaweng Bay and takes the fleet north about Koh Samui between Koh Pha Ngan (famous for the full moon parties) to Maenam Beach and return. Which if conditions remain unchanged should be a hard slog to windward followed by a quick down wind leg with some exciting surfing and planning on the sea swells generated between the islands.

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

Further updates be sure to visit the KSIR 2003 site at: www.samuiregatta.com

Cheers from Koh Samui
Capt Marty Rijkuris

AsianYachting HQ
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