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Phuket, 6 December 2023 – Great sailing weather once again greeted the competitors in the third day of racing at the prestigious 35th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta.
IRC Zero, IRC 1, Multihull Racing sailed two races on course 25 today; other classes sailed one race each. The Premier class was shortened at Ko Kaew Noi, and races for other classes were shortened because of deliclining wind and strong currents with results taken back to the first passing of gate one under the FPA rule 15.6.
Kevin Whitcraft’s TP52 Vayu THA72 continued to repair a technical problem defect and missed the first race of the day in the four-boat IRC Zero class. But Vayu THA 72 sailed the second race and won it. Ray Roberts TP52 Team Hollywood won the first race of the day with James & Kate Murray’s Callisto, a Pac 52, taking second in the first race and third in the second race. Steve McConaghy’s Aftershock Syndicate, a Davidson 55, took third in the first race and finished fourth in the second. After seven races, Team Hollywood leads this class with seven points followed by Callisto with 11, Vayu THA 72 with 19 (missed three races) and Aftershock Syndicate with 21.
The five-boat Premier class saw the Thai vessel Pine Pacific, an X-Yacht 55, skipped by Ithinai Yingsiri, win its fourth straight race. Peter Cremers’ Shatoosh, a Warwick 75, was second for the fourth straight race. Hans Rahmann’s JV 72 custom-built Yasooda rebounded from its DNF and power failure yesterday to finish third. Bernard Huybens’ Aphrodite, a Vitters 92, was fourth today. Viroj Nualkair’s MaDuZi is registered but yet to start a race in this class. After four races, Pine Pacific sits atop this class with four points, followed by Shatoosh ( Yasooda and Aphrodite tied with 15 points and MaDuZi (18).
Bruno Tristan Peyron is another international star competing in this regatta as he is helming Aphrodite. The French yachtsman, along with his crew on the catamaran Orange II, broke the outright round-the-world sailing record in March of 2005. In 1994, he also became the first winner of the Jules Verne Trophy completing a round-the-world trip in less than 80 days.
Nick Burns’ Witchcraft, a Millenium 40, won both races today in the seven-boat IRC One class claiming six of the seven races held in this class so far. Craig Douglas/Gordon Kettleby’s Ramrod, a Farr 40. was second in the class with a third and second-place finish.
Rolf Heemskerk’s The Next Factor, a Farr 40 (Mod) was third on the day followed by Craig Nichols Alright, a Sydney 40, in fourth. Robert Carr & Sandy Farquharson’s Aquarii, a Sydney 40, was fifth. Susurnu Kurose’s Char Chan, a First 40.7, was next. Craigie’s Anjo, a Beneteau First 40, was seventh in the first race of the day and unable to finish the second race of the day.
After seven races Witchcraft is in first in this class with seven points, followed by The Next Factor (12), Ramrod (21), Char Chan (22), Alright (25), Aquarrii (30) and Anjo (45).
The six-boat Bareboat Charter Class saw Dean Peng’s Gragonborn, a Beneteau First 40.7, win today giving it three out of four first-place finishes. Mike Downard’s Piccolo, a Farr 1104, was second while Alan Anderson’s Judy, a Farr 30, was in third.
Moonshine, a Oceanis 45, featuring the ASA Sailing Dream Asia was in fourth place with Hippocrates Toshihiko Iijima in fifth. Team Hayato, on a Sun Odyssey 409, rounded out the class.
After four races Gragonborn is first in this class with five points, followed by Piccolo (10), Hippocrates (13), Judy (17), Moonshine (18) and Team Hayato (22).
The five-boat Monohull Cruising class saw Steve Maine’ Enavigo, a Grand Soleil 45 won the class for the second straight day. Philippe Dallee’s Swan II, a Swan 43 (1969), was second, and Jianhao Yang’s Isabella, a Bavaria 46C, finished third. Thomas Veltin’s Brisk, an RG 6.5 Classe Mini, was fourth, and Mo Yiwei’s Sumalee, a Sun Odyssey 409, was fifth today.
After four races, Swan II sits in front of this class with 8 points. Next up is Enavigo and Isabella tied with 11 points each. Brisk is in fourth with 14 points and Sumalee last with 18 points.
The two-boat Multihull Racing class saw Dan Fidock’s Kata Rocks Parabellum, an Extreme 40, win both races today over John Newnham’s Kata Rocks 2 aka Twin Sharks, a Firefly 750 Sportboat. The sleek Parabellum again took overall line honours in the both races today and leads this class by three points.
Andrew McDermott’s Corsair 28 Trident won for the second straight day in the Multihull Cruising class over Frank Kastelein’s Team No Escape (Pooichat), a Leopard 40 from Sunsail, but Team No Escape (Pooichat) leads the class by two points.
Tomorrow is a lay day for all classes with racing continuing on Friday December 8th.
In this regatta, for all classes a minimum of two completed races are required to constitute a series. The maximun number of overall races for each class can’t exceed ten and the maximim number of races on any given race day cannot exceed three. If more than five races are sailed, yachts can drop their worst result.
And famed sailing photographer Guy Nowell is back again this year – his glorious images have been highlighting the beauty of the event and the island of Phuket for the past two decades with his wonderful commentary at the daily prize giving a joyful end to the days.
Forming the international jury for this event are Ben Harding (Chairman UK), John Doerr and Antonio Lamadrid (Spain). The Thai national jury are comprised of Anusron Ngamrit, Thammasak Meeusamsen and Apiwat Weidmann.
The Regatta’s sponsors, including Host Sponsor Kata Group, Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, RMA Group, Ford Motor Company (Thailand), Ricoh (Thailand) Limited, Haad Thip PCL, Pine Pacific Corporation Limited, Singha Corporation Co., Ltd., and National Telecom Public Company Limited.
For more information and result, please visit www.kingscup.com.
About the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta – Asia’s legendary yacht race under Royal Patronage
Under Royal Patronage, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is organized by the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy and the Province of Phuket.
For more information and result, please visit www.kingscup.com