Phuket King’s Cup Regatta 2024 Day 4
by Scott Murray 6 Dec 00:50 PST
30 November – 6 December 2024
A Photographic Wonderland covers Kata Bay
After a few hours of waiting under the scorching sun, Mother Nature decided to showcase her splendor, allowing those fortunate enough to be present to witness the breathtaking Phuket King’s Cup in full sail. Renowned photographer Guy Nowell captured this stunning display, and his remarkable photos are featured on the regatta’s website.
This regatta features numerous talented sailors, including Olympic athletes and champions, alongside veterans of the prestigious Rolex Sydney-Hobart race. Among the competitors are a couple of World Match Racing celebrities, notably Adam Minoprio, who is racing for Team Hollywood (he also participated in the America’s Cup), and Mati Sepp, who is leading Gern Kard.
Locally, Maxi Soh, who commands Di Hard, has made a name for himself as a Singaporean champion, having won the first Match Racing League at the Marina Barrage, the Hong Kong Match Racing International, and the Chicago Match Race Center’s Summer Invitational.
In the tightly contested Class Zero — the TP52 showdown — Ray Roberts’ Team Hollywood outpaced Kevin Whitcraft’s Vayu TH 72 by a mere eight seconds in the initial race and won the second by just ONE second, although Team Vayu clinched the first race when rated on handicap. Team Vayu has already secured the class win, but excitement is building as Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana will sail on Vayu during the final day of racing.
The seven-boat IRC 1 class remains competitive, as Nick Burns’s Blitz (HKG) won today’s first race, while Rolf Heemskerk’s The Next Factor (MAS) claimed the second. Blitz holds a slim lead of one point going into tomorrow’s races. Craig Nicholls/James Bury’s Alright (AUS) remains firmly in third place. Blitz narrowly escaped disaster at the start of the second race when it entangled itself in the anchor rope of the starting vessel. Quick thinking and nimble maneuvers from the three boats directly behind prevented a significant collision.
Mati Sepp’s Gern Kard (Estonia) has already clinched the IRC 2 class with seven boats, but the remaining spots on the podium are still up for grabs. Currently, Lee Yi Min’s (Singapore) is second with 17 points, Maksim Lisun’s Uminoko (NEU) in third with 20 points, and Kevin Mahney’s Boomers on Madame Butterfly (GBR) in fourth with 23 points.
In the Premier Class, the title is still undecided as Peter Cremers’ Shatoosh holds a one-point advantage over Thailand’s Ithinai Yingsiri’s Pine Pacific. Hans Rahmann’s Yasooda, who has won many races in his class on elapsed time, is projected to finish third overall due to handicap calculations.
Luminous-Tiburon has secured the victory in the six-boat Bareboat Charter Class, while Xiong Tin’s Mermaid from China is poised for a solid second place. However, the battle for third place remains fierce, as Yu Zhengjun’s BW’s Flyingware Sailing Team (CHN) is locked in a tie with Allen Chai’s Penghu Ocean Mists (TWN), with both teams holding 24 points each.
Igor Ginzberg’s Wind of Change (NEU) has topped the seven-boat Monohull Cruising class, but second and third places remain tentative. At present, William Wu’s Team Whitewave from China is second with 17 points, followed by France’s Philippe Dallee’s graceful Swan II in third with 19 points, and Tim A Hartnoll’s stunning Cariad in fourth with 21 points.
The six-boat Multihull class remains fiercely competitive due to the performance-based handicap system implemented by PRO Simon James. John Newnham’s Twin Sharks (GBR) currently leads this division with eight points, trailed by Andrew McDermott’s Trident (GBR) with 13 points. Ryan Merrill’s Compass Rose (THA) stands just two points behind heading into tomorrow’s races. Fang Liang Zhou’s Joy Joy (CHN) and James Baxter’s Zephyrus (GBR) are both closing in with 17 points each.
Shifting gears to the dinghy racing series: after ten races, Prin Subying continues to lead the ILCA4 U18 female class with 39 points. Paranee Muangngam follows with 49 points, while Pichayapa Kamutatira has 90 points, with all representing the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand (YRAT). In the ILCA4 U18 male class, skilled sailor Ton Rattana maintains first place (23 pts), closely pursued by Darwin Hsu (26 pts) and Ton’s twin brother Torn (39 pts), representing the Royal Varuna Yacht Club (RVYC).
YRAT’s Kan Kachachuen holds the top position in the ILCA6 Open Class with 13 points after ten races, closely pursued by RTNA’s NC Voravong Rachrattanaruk (11 pts), while last year’s champion Claudia Nazarov is tied for third with Chatree Makmul, both at 31 points.
In the Open Skiff U17 class after seven races, UWC’s Punthita Werotjanakul and Puttisun Limpanon are leading with 9 and 16 points, respectively, while India’s Eashaan Mehta trails with 20 points.
As for the ILCA/7 OK Dinghy class, NRS’ Bowonnan Chanram maintains the lead with a total of 16 points. RVYC’s Morten Jakobsen is in second place (19 pts), and RTNYC’s Chairat Dangdeemark holds the third spot with 25 points.
After seven races in the International 420/470 Open Class, YRAT’s Suthon Yampinid & Kram Chantarawinij maintain their lead with 17 points from today’s racing in Kata Bay. YRAT’s pairing of Chalisa Krittanai and Nut Butmarasri sits in second with 21 points while YRAT’s teams of Pitipoom Jaroenpon & Worrakan Saksiriklom are tied with Thanapat Siricharoen and Ardchawit Ittivorakul for third, each holding 24 points.
In the third day of racing in the female Optimist class, Prapassorn Kaewpron (25 pts) has a slight lead over Pariyaporn Chantarawong (28 pts), followed by Surapha Muangngam with 36 points, all representing YRAT. Adison Ein (15 pts) has surged ahead in the male Optimist class, with Nattapon Chailob (33 pts) and Suthinan Nakpasom (35 pts) following closely, all from YRAT.
Overall, 40 keelboats and multihulls are competing (383 sailors) in the large boat classes, while 118 dinghies (130 sailors) are taking part in the dinghy series.
The Regatta is supported by sponsors, including 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.
