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Thailand's Royal
Varuna Yacht Club at half year: thriving
July and August are the months when yacht racing slows
down in Thailand. The expatriate community re-locates, it is holiday time for the schools
and, of course, this year, was World Cup time. Nevertheless, any rumours that the Royal
Varuna Yacht Club - the Kingdom’s oldest, biggest and most active yacht racing
association - was ailing and not sailing, were totally unfounded; on the contrary, Royal
Varuna at mid year was thriving.
Peter Cummins reports from Pattaya
The Royal Varuna Yacht Club is not only alive and well; it is prospering.
Through the long hiatus during which many Varuna sailors - and, indeed, it seemed most of
the rest of the world - had succumbed to World Cup fever, the waters of Pattaya were not
quite as active as usual.
Nevertheless, the racing continued unabated, there were training camps for
students from some of Bangkok’s schools, there were "Cat" and Laser clinics
for the novice and expert alike, and preparations for the forthcoming Laser Asian Pacific
Championships to be held in October, gained momentum.
A welcome influx of new members, many drawn from among the residents of
the Eastern Seaboard, brought added enthusiasm and, together with new, easier commuting
from Bangkok to Pattaya, the regulars are starting to arrive in droves, certainly infusing
new life into Varuna, after the usual mid-summer slow-down.
No sailing results can be reported without the name Helms writ large, and
so it was again. The 1998 Singha Gold Cup, traditionally sponsored by Boonrawd Brewery,
had everything EXCEPT the sponsor ("Singha Gone," one competitor suggested).
But the racing went on, regardless, with Patrick and Bianca Helms’
Lasers first and second respectively in the Mono-hull Division, followed by the van
Hellemonds, resurrecting an ancient Enterprise, to finish third.
Thereafter, it was a procession of Lasers - Charlie Zbinden, Jim Robb and
rising Laser light, Sunti Kanchanapundu, in fourth to sixth places.
In the Multi-hull Division, it was a battle of the two Peters, with the
bigger one - Herning - winning on his solo Nacra 16 Square. The lesser Peter - Bates -
sailing his last race at Royal Varuna before leaving for a new assignment in Auckland,
had, one could safely say, ‘petered’ out. Peter and crew Juliet, the erstwhile
terrors of the Hobie Cat fleet for more than two years, had to accept second place as
their parting gesture. Thereafter, were Steve O’Brien (Nacra 16 Sq) third, John
Marten/Alexis Welsh (Hobie Cat 16), fourth and Murray Maunder/Les (HC-16) and Anders/
Olivia Widen (Topcat), equal fifth.
Last week's "Cat
Clinic", conducted by Varuna Hobie Cat aces Murray Maunder and John Marten. Photo
Peter Cummins.
The next event, the "One Design Series", was a clear case of
"deja vu", as the dreaded Helms siblings, teenagers Patrick (18) and Bianca (15)
swept the Mono-hull Division again, with Charlie Zbinden, Morton Jacobsen, Royal Varuna
sailing secretary Marco Miagostovich and Phatra Marine Products MD Cheerut Sudasna filling
the minor placings, in that order.
The Multis took a beating at the hands of the flying females on their
flying ‘feline’, as Leone Duson and Antje Whittle brought their ‘Cat’
into first place, ahead of John Marten/Alexis Welsh, also sailing a Hobie Cat 16.
Ho Hum! The 1998 Summer Series, spread over two months, was a replica of
the other two, as the Helms and Charlie Zbinden took the top three places in the
Mono-hulls, with Shin Suenaga and Dawisee Sukarom (Europe), fourth and fifth.
Steve O’Brien changed the scene slightly from the previous events,
winning the Multi-hull Division in his Nacra 16 Square, followed by Alexis Welsh/Don
McKenzie (HC-16) and a brand-new star in the Multi-hull firmament, young Harry Ghoos,
coming third on his solo-sailed Topcat.
Meantime, Changi Yacht Club’s - and multiple Phuket King’s Cup
Catamaran champs - Scott McCook and Alice Lim arrived at Royal Varuna to import, rig and
unleash the latest power machine on an unsuspecting Royal Varuna membership - the red hot
Nacra 17.
Looking ahead, Royal Varuna Yacht Club Flag Commodore Lawnin Crawford,
last week announced that already entries for the Laser Asian Pacific Championships were
being received from Japan, Guam, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and elsewhere around
the Asia-Pacific region. The event will be held off the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, South
Pattaya, towards the end of October.
Lawnin expects upwards of 80 competitors, including some of the
world’s top-ranked sailors in this, one of the most strictly controlled classes in
international yacht racing.
Australian Paul Millsom of the Laser International World Council, the
organizing authority, is well pleased with the prospects for a great international event.
Paul was an organizer of and competitor in the 1984 Laser Pacifics and World Masters
Championships which brought more than 100 craft to Thai waters, also sailed off the Royal
Varuna Club. So successful and enjoyable were those events that Laser International was
keen to secure Thailand again as a venue - even though it has been 15 years to wait.
Paul’s only lament this time around is that there is no Masters
Championship now that he has reached the qualifying age for the Grand Masters. Last time,
he was just too young!
Everyone a winner in 2nd Las
Vegas Open
More than 80 golfers were each treated to special prizes as
the much anticipated 2nd Annual Las Vegas Open golf tournament took place on Friday,
August 7th at Phoenix Country Club.
These prizes were above and beyond the 24 technical prizes awarded to the
winners in two divisions. And on a perfect day for golf, many good scores were turned in
making those who won the technical prizes truly worthy.
Svein Vistung was crowned overall champion by winning Division I, followed
closely by Steve Hovi in second in Division I.
Roland Piechoki earned the Division II title, with a great performance by
Malcolm Claire earning second place in Division II.
In a first for the tournament, Jampa shot the round of her life to win the
"Ladies Championship". Still new to the game, she nonetheless outscored the
entire field.
Also a first for the tournament, Papasan Ray Rogers donated a special
prize for "Best Team" performance, won by Paul Ovens, Jampa, Richard Dumas and
Paul Moore.
The Best Gross in Division I was earned by Steve Mascari with his natural
5 over par 77. John Cahill took Division II Best Gross honors with a creditable scratch
93.
Paul Ovens had the best front nine in Division I, earning a trophy for the
19 points he carded to start his round. Banjob, wife of PSC Golf Chairman Mike Franklin,
put together 22 points on her front nine to take Division II honors.
Paul Moore carded 23 points on the way in to win Division I honors for
best back nine. Dave Walsh caught fire, also scoring 23 points to win best back nine
Division II.
Near pin prizes in Division I were won by Rick Evens on Ocean #5, Stan Fry
on Ocean #7, Svein Vistung on Mountain #4, and Mark Adair on Mountain #8.
Near pin prizes for Division II went to Mark Gorda on Ocean #5, Gordon
Tarapaski on Ocean #7, that famous golfer "nobody" on Mountain #4, and Dave
Walsh on Mountain #8.
Long drives in Division I were earned by Jumpee on Ocean #9 and Sven
Bertleson on Mountain #9.
Long drives in Division II were earned by Paul Moore on Ocean #9 and
Richard Dumas on Mountain #9 (who, by the way, out drove all the Division I players as
well!)
All golfers were treated to a delicious buffet at the "always
fun" prize giving presentation at Las Vegas following the tournament.
PSC Golf Chairman Mike Franklin awarded Peter at Las Vegas with a special
plaque in thanks for his contribution to the Pattaya Sports Club Charity Classic last
month.
Special thanks go to Peter at Las Vegas and Richard Livingston for once
again putting together one of the "most fun" golfing events on the Pattaya
calendar.
Final Note: At press time, T-shirts were scheduled to be ready for pick-up
by Tuesday. All golfers on the list need only stop by Las Vegas to pick up your
commemorative shirt.
Seaboard Gourmet Products (SGP)
makes a clean sweep
Again the PSC Sunday fishing tournament on July 26th had a
very good turnout. Four boats were entered with nineteen anglers on board. A good day for
fishing, and some very nice fish were landed. The five largest fish checked totaled 35
Kilograms, along with 10 smaller fish.
First place went to SGP, (Seaboard Gourmet Products) fisherman Greg
Paterson who landed a 24 Kilogram Eagle Ray. Captain Dang piloted the boat to where the
fish was landed off Koh Phi.
Second place also went to an SGP fisherman, Bob Ramsay, who landed a 5.5
Kilogram Pompano with Captain Noud at the helm, also off Koh Phi.
Teams who participated were:
Boat #1: PESCO Team, with Carl Engel, John Morgan, Jerry Owens, George
Warford, & Angela Engel.
Boat #2: SGP (Seaboard Gourmet Products) with Middy Campbell, Jens
Paterson, Greg Paterson, Mick Peirce, and Bob Ramsey.
Boat #3: SGP with Jeff Heng, Alan Brown, George Sechler, and Rey Elicot.
Boat #4: Sugar Shack with R. Valentine, Neil Sandylands, D. Nance, J.
Thomas, and M. Hart.
The next tournament is scheduled for Sunday August 9th., then again on
August 23rd. Join the fun!
Each boat entered pays an entry fee of 600 Baht to the Pattaya Sports
Club.
Entrance fee must be paid the day before the tournament starts and listing
name of boat captain, and names of fishermen on entered.
Each team hires their own boat. No limit on number of fishing men or
fishing women on board.
All tournaments start no earlier than 12:01 a.m. and weigh in starts at
5:30 p.m. at the Pattaya Municipal Pier and closes at 6 p.m.
The Pattaya Sports Club Will award certificates to the winners for each
tournament. The fishing committee has established: All Game Fish = Weight X 1.0. Sharks,
skate, rays, etc. = Weight X 0.5
Reserve your boat early because the boats are hard to get on Sunday. If
you need boat captain telephone numbers call 038-410-228 or better fax 038-426-121 or
e-mail http://www.pattayasports.org for information.
Registration and fees can be left at the following places: the Poteen
Still on Soi Yamoto in Central Pattaya, the 60s BAR, on Soi Pattayaland 2 in Central
Pattaya, the Bull Ring Bar on Soi Yodask, in North Pattaya, and Atlantis Café on Soi 15
in South Pattaya.
Biffo at Bira for Thailand
tourers
The Thailand Touring Car Championship rounds at Bira
International were very closely fought all last weekend. Race leaders and round winners
were exceptionally varied and no one driver was dominant.
Toyota Team Thailand works driver Natavud was very impressive starting
from the rear of the grid (26th) in both heats and finishing with a 5th and 8th in a
relatively underpowered car. However, even more impressive was Apatorn who went from 23rd
to the winners circle in the first event. In the second heat he was unable to make as much
headway after much panel rubbing and had to be content with 4th.
Grant Supaphong was another driver with mixed fortunes, coming from 7th in
heat 1 to lead the race, only to lose out to Apatorn on the run to the finish as his tyres
over-heated. In the second heat he was physically displaced by Apatorn, but this time
slewing across the track and hitting the wall to expire half a lap later with a
spectacular cloud of smoke on the main straight.
Tananchai was the most consistent with two 3rd places while Chonsawat had
one win in the final heat, with Ek-Prawat following him home.
In the Honda City R One Make Race, Mana scored a flag to flag win, closely
shadowed by the Budweiser car of Amata, with Jaras a distant 3rd. Anothai, who had
impressed in early practice, had a miscue at the start and had to settle for 5th.
The FMSCT Big Bike series was an all-international finish with three
different makes represented on the podium. Japanese rider Koji Kaminao on the Suzuki
taking top slot, followed by Thai rider Viroj on the Repsol Honda (Mick Doohan
"replica") and Italian Emilio Malucchi on the Kawasaki 3rd.
Steve Mascari takes first
Kronborg Monthly Mug
1st: Steve Mascari, net 66 (gross 70)
2nd: Graham Faithful, net 66 (gross 80 - lost on count back)
3rd: Mark Adair, net 71 (gross 78)
Natural Park Resort played host to the 18 golfers who took part in the
first "Kronborg Monthly Mug", which was scheduled to be played at Great Lake on
the last Thursday of every month. However, due to previous commitments by Great Lake,
Natural Park was chosen as a replacement for this tournament only, and what a good choice
it turned out to be. The course is in excellent condition, the greens in particular are
among the best in the region and are a credit to the course management.
The Monthly Mug is a stroke play competition (Svien Vistung please take
note) in which the winner of the mug is entitled to ask each fellow competitor to fill the
mug with beer once only in the course of the following month.
Conditions on the day made for perfect golfing weather, and apart from
Frenchman Roland Piechoki, whose careless practice swings on the first tee nearly led to
the waterloo of one of the organizers, the competition went off smoothly.
Sven "Laughing Boy" Berthelsen complained of leaving seven
birdie putts short of the hole, although it is hard to consider an 85 foot putt as a
birdie opportunity, but to each his own.
One player who never had such problems was the first Kronborg Monthly Mug
winner Steve Mascari, who shot a gross 70 off a 4 handicap with a back nine total of 32,
which consisted of 3 birdies on the trot at 10, 11 and 12. Excellent golf and a deserved
winner.
However, for Steve to lift the mug, it did take a count back over Graham
Faithful, who shot a very creditable 80. Bad luck Graham and well-played.
Third place went to Mark Adair who came in with a net 71 off a 7 handicap,
which by any standards is good golf. Unfortunately, Mark couldn’t make the
presentation ceremony back at Café Kronborg, so his third place winnings were imbibed by
those who could. Cheers Mark.
"Noddy" Moyle, the Mighty Midget from Oz playing in his
penultimate game before going home, won a PSC shirt in the lucky draw. He then
"whinged" it was too big for him (maybe he’ll grow into it).
After the prize giving, Gez Tracy, a member of the PSC Executive
Committee, presented Songkran with a certificate of thanks for the Café Kronborg’s
contribution to the PSC Charity Classic on behalf of the Charity Committee.
Banana produced his usual plates of delicacies for all golfers in
attendance, and the beer flowed.
The next Kronborg Monthly Mug is Thursday, August 24th and all PSC members
with an official handicap are welcome to take part. Sign up at the Café Kronborg.
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