Phuket King’s Cup Regatta 2024 Day 2
by Scott Murray 3 Dec 08:39 PST
30 November – 6 December 2024
Kevin Whitcraft’s Team Vayu TH 72 and Ray Roberts’ Team Hollywood exchanged positions during today’s two races in Class Zero at the 36th Phuket King’s Cup. Team Vayu TH 72 secured victory in the first race, a windward-leeward format, while Team Hollywood triumphed in the second, which was an island course. Steve McConaghy’s Aftershock, an ex-Australian Olympian, finished third in both races within the three-boat class.
Principal Race Officer Simon James repeated the same starting sequence as Day 1, initiating racing with six rolling starts: IRC Zero was first, followed by the Premier Class, IRC 1, and IRC 2. The Bareboat, Cruising, and Classic classes started together, with the Multihull fleet being the final group to cross the start line.
Nick Burns’s Witchcraft (HKG) had an impressive day, winning both races in the seven-boat IRC 1 class. Craig Nicholls/James Bury’s Alright (AUS) took second in both races, although it crossed the line first in each. Sandy Farquharson (AUS) managed third in the first race, while Rolf Heemskerk’s Next Factor (MAS) finished third in the second race.
Mati Sepp’s Gern Kard (Estonia) achieved its third consecutive victory in the seven-boat IRC 2 class. Maksim Lisun’s Uminoko (NEU) took second place, while Lee Yi Min’s (Singapore) brand-new J99 Jolt finished third in the class.
Peter Cremers’ Shatoosh claimed first place in the Premier Class today based on corrected time, with Thailand’s Ithinai Yingsiri’s Pine Pacific taking second among the three boats. Hans Rahmann’s Yasooda crossed the line first but ultimately settled for third after applying the handicap.
In the six-boat Bareboat Charter Class, Japan’s Luminous-Tiburon secured its third consecutive win, followed by BW’s Flyingware Sailing Team from China in second, and Taiwan’s Penghu Ocean Mists in third.
France’s Philippe Dallee’s Swan II claimed top honors in the seven-boat Monohull Cruising class. Igor Ginzberg’s Wind of Change (NEU) finished second, while William Wu’s Team Whitewave from China took third. Notably, Lijia “Lily” Xu, who won a gold medal in the Laser Radial event at the 2012 London Olympics, is participating on Team Whitewave.
John Newnham’s Twin Sharks (GBR) notched its third straight victory, establishing a strong lead in the Multihull class. Andrew McDermott’s Trident (GBR) came in second, and James Baxter’s Zephyrus took third. Among the competitors is Brigadier James Baxter, OBE, the owner and skipper of Zephyrus, whose impressive service history includes being Director of the NATO Advisory Team in Macedonia and receiving decorations for work during the Balkans conflict.
After four races, Prin Subying leads the ILCA4 U18 female class with 12 points, including one drop. Paranee Muangngam follows with 21 points, while Pichayapa Kamutatira is in third with 29 points, representing the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand (YRAT). The ILCA4 U18 male class is similarly dominated by Thais, with Ton Rattana leading (4 pts), closely pursued by Darwin Hsu (9 pts) and Wasawat Puengpradit (10 pts), all from the Royal Varuna Yacht Club (RVYC).
The ILCA6 Open Class also features a Thai sweep, with YRAT’s Kan Kachachuen at the top with three points after four races and one drop. He is followed by RTNA’s NC Voravong Rachrattanaruk (5 pts), and last year’s champion, Claudia Nazarov, is currently in third place with 9 points, being the daughter of prominent naval architect Albert Nazarov.
In the Open Skiff U17 class, UWC’s Punthita Werotjanakul is leading (4 pts), followed by India’s Eashaan Mehta (8 pts) and UWC’s Andries Kosuge (9 pts).
The ILCA/7 OK Dinghy class also showcases three Thai sailors at the top: NRS’ Bowonnan Chanram is first after four races with one drop (3 pts), RVYC’s Morten Jakobsen had a notable performance placing second (5 pts), and RTNYC’s Chairat Dangdeemark is third with eight points.
In the International 420/470 Open Class, three Thai teams occupy the top positions. The YRAT duo of Chalisa Krittanai and Nut Butmarasri leads with three points after four races and one drop. They are followed by YRAT’s Pitipoom Jaroenpon & Worrakan Saksiriklom, and YRAT’s Suthon Yampinid & Kram Chantarawinij.
The first day of racing in the female Optimist class was another Thai success, with Surapha Muangngam in the lead (8 pts), followed by Pariyaporn Chantarawong (10 pts) and Prapassorn Kaewpron (16 pts), all from YRAT. The male Optimist class had Thais dominating as well, with Sorawit Naksuk in first (10 pts), followed by Suthinan Nakpasom (12 pts) and Nattapon Chailob (15 pts), again all from YRAT.
After two days of sailing in the SV-14 Open Class, the team of Suraphong Chitkhong & Mak Sarawat from Ocean Marina Jomtien leads with a net total of five points, considering one drop race. The team of Montri Nakchuai & Nils Degenkolw is next with 8 pts. Tied for third place are the teams of Nikkon Kaewnoi & Suppachart Sooparnich and Tanat Upatising & Sorawit Suwannapat, both with 8 pts. Each disabled sailor in this class teams with an able-bodied sailor. Mr. Degenkolw is the only non-Thai competitor, and his long-standing relationship with Khun Montri includes Montri’s time as Nils’s boat boy before a tragic car accident rendered him paralyzed ten years ago. Despite this, Montri has continued sailing with Nils on his X-yacht Phoenix.
In total, there are 40 keelboats and multihulls competing (383 sailors) in the big boat divisions, while 118 dinghies (130 sailors) are racing in the dinghy series.
The Regatta’s sponsors include the Host Sponsor Kata Group, Amazing Thailand, Centara Hotel & Resorts, Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, RMA Group, Coca Cola Haad Thip PCL, Garmin Thailand, Ford Thailand, RICOH (Thailand), the Singha Corporation, and National Telecom Public Company Limited.
For further information and results, please visit www.kingscup.com.
