Daisy: A new star is born

She is only a 15-year-old schoolgirl but, when she mounts her windsurfer, this little lady is all woman. Desiree Christine Vogt, alias ‘Daisy,’ has recently taken up windsurfing and joined the Club Loong Chat at Jomtien Beach. After a few ‘sallies’ forth (or, should that read ‘Daisies forth’), Daisy entered the Club’s Beginners Championship - and won: her very first race.

Now this very pretty teenager is not content to rest on that victory. So, Daisy entered her second Beginners Championship, just last week - and won that too! The Jomtien-Pattaya circuit is rife with rumours that the new windsurfing sensation is heading for Sydney Harbour next year!

Daisy has joined the burgeoning ranks of classy Optimist sailors coming out of the International School of the Eastern Seaboard whose progress has been reported diligently (of course!) through the pages of the ‘Best of the East’- “The Pattaya Mail”, no less. The last report on Sam Phanpho and his fellow-Optimist sailors was filed in the issue of August 12 - in living colour, too.

I talked to Daisy - or, rather, I LISTENED - to her and her charming parents last week and the makings of a good story were there. Being totally addicted to the joy and beauty of sailing myself, Daisy’s account of her developing ‘love affair’ with that tiny surf-board had a familiar ring to it. It reminded me of my youth (yes, I WAS young, once), taking to sailing in the chilly, uncompromising waters of Southern Tasmania where, certainly, one learned very quickly to keep the boat upright.

Daisy was a little more fortunate in that her first encounter was in the more hospitable seas off Turkey, during a family holiday some two years ago. “I was too shy to go out on the water when we came back to Pattaya,” she said, remembering that the first attempt to sail here took her way off shore without visible means of returning. “I vowed never to step on a surfboard again, after that.”

Now the problem is to keep her off it! “It is a fun sport,” says Daisy who, like the many other beginners, has thrived under the tutelage of such experts as Patis Waiwong and others of the Loong Chat Club. “Even the Olympic squads practising at Jomtien look after we mere novices,” Daisy added.

The genesis of a life-style

It is generally conceded that the windsurfer - like its big brother the Hobie Cat - was conceived in the rolling waters of California’s Pacific Ocean. An aeronautical engineer named Jim Drake is regarded as the inventor of what has become a lifestyle for millions of aficionados world-wide - a total cult of the young and active from Australia to Zaire.

Interviewed by the “Bangkok Post” here at Pattaya in the late 1980s, the personable Jim Drake recounted the hours which he and three other colleagues - fellow aeronautical Fred Payne of California, Newman Darby of Ohio and British Peter Chivers - had all tried various forms of windsurfing and pooled their collective knowledge to start this sporting revolution.

The chance meeting between Jim and Hoyle Sweitser, a champion (wave) surfer of his day, set the project in motion. The windsurfer has continued to evolve - to become faster and lighter, as hi-tech materials replaced the old plywood of early days. In February 1990, a French national, Pascal Maka set a world windsurfing speed record. Off the French Mediterranean town of Ste. Marie de la Mer, Pascal clocked a breath-taking speed of 42.91 knots per hour. That, in lay terms, is 79.47 kilometers per hour and fast enough to be served a speeding ticket at most land-based locations around the world.

The “Big Three” of Club Loong Chat Beginner’s Championship: Daisy (left), Siwaporn (center) and Naiyana (right). Photo Marion Vogt

Although our young Daisy is not quite “up to (that) speed”, to coin a phrase, she assures me that she is working on it. “But, there are some minor things in the way at the moment - like study, examinations, the need to graduate...” Right on, Daisy!

The universal appeal of windsurfing is readily understandable. Anywhere that there is a stretch of water, be it a lake, a river or the mighty oceans of the world, it is instantly accessible. The boards are light and portable, requiring no maintenance and can be launched in seconds.

Thailand’s windsurfers are a clear example of the availability and access to waterways - for rich or poor. The Thailand Windsurfing Association has evolved into a powerful lobby and the Jomtien windsurfers are among the world’s best, winning many regional championships and consistently making a good showing at the Olympiad. Yet, less than two decades ago, the hardcore of Jomtien windsurfers were regarded as “beach bums”, preying on tourists. The windsurfer was the vehicle which changed a whole lifestyle.

And now for Daisy

We seem to have lost this lovely young lady somewhere along this text. Since 1990, the Vogt family has lived in Pattaya where Daisy’s parents, Michael and Marion manage the Thai Garden resort and its famous Moon River Pub Country and Western Restaurant.

Whether Daisy becomes an Olympian windsurfer or not is really immaterial at this point. What is more relevant is her attitude to her new-found love - an enthusiasm reflected by many over the decades. “It is a fun sport which, after a while, is no longer a sport. It is more like an endless ride, because there are never two days the same: the wind and the sea have an infinite variety,” the young lady gushed.

Jenne de Rosney, a beautiful, svelte French lady who turned windsurfing into a top-level profession in the past decade, has pointed out that “windsurfing is fun and should be kept fun. Don’t build a huge philosophy around it. Just take your equipment, go sailing... and enjoy life,” she says.

Jenne should know: Arnaud, the husband she adored, an aristocratic - and marvellously eccentric - Frenchman, disappeared in the Taiwan Straits while sailing a windsurfer between China and Taiwan. He had done several such crossings, including from the United States to the former Soviet Union, across the gruesome Bering Straits and another from Cuba to Florida.

Arnaud’s philosophy was that a boardsailor could help unite fiercely hostile neighbours. After her tragedy, Jenne very quickly gave up competitive racing and concentrated on modelling and fashion design. Now, as we have noted, she goes windsurfing for fun.

So Daisy, there you have some role models. To quote again the “father of windsurfing”, Jim Blake who, now a septuagenarian, still windsurfs, but contends that “the young and hot-blooded windsurf better!”

Jim’s legacy for all youngsters is: “Unlike other water sports, windsurfing is exciting because it is fast, very individualistic and builds up strong character in youth. It creates excellent habits, the patience and ability to weather storms and struggles in life, as one would in mastering the giant waves, the sudden gusts and the tempests.”

Over to you, Daisy!

Bowling for charity

The Pattaya Administration Committee, led by Phatana Chaleumchat, held a Charity Bowling Tournament.

Winners of the various categories received awards from Somphan Phetrakul, Chairman of the Chonburi Good Samaritan Commitee in Banglamung.

60 teams took part in the tourney, each kegler competing for the Deputy Minister of Communications H.E. Sonthaya Khunpleum Award. Chonburi Member of Parliament Chansak Chavalit-Nititham opened the tournament.

The winner of the H.E. Sonthaya Khunpleum Award, with the tournament’s overall individual high score, was Khun Rungsak from the Grand Sole Hotel. Women’s high score was rolled by Khun Phatrajit Sri Mola from Saha Union Company Ltd.

Khun Phatrajit Sri Mola also achieved women’s high series, while Khun Yothin won men’s high series.

A booby prize was given to the Pattaya Community Administration Committee.

Wheels fall off Ferrari challenge?

The wheels may have metaphorically fallen off Ferrari’s challenge for the World Championship at the Belgian Grand Prix, but they literally fell off the two BAR’s of Villeneuve and Zonta. Both drivers survived the 300 KPH crashes that totally destroyed the cars and gave their mechanics a sleepless night as they built two cars from the spares carried to the circuits.

Ferrari with Irvine and Salo were never on the pace all weekend and Irvine’s 6th place in qualifying has been his lowest grid spot all season. In the race, he had a great start to move into 4th and held that position all the way, despite some challenges from Ralf Schumacher in the Williams.

At the pointed end it was, however, a McLaren walk-over, despite Hakkinen fluffing the start and a touch between the drivers at the first corner. Scotsman David Coulthard had made the better start and after the little touch-up from his teammate was then never headed. He had an answer for every turn of speed that the Finn could muster and eased off at the finish to still be 10 seconds in front. Hakkinen in turn was 23 seconds in front of Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the Jordan with Irvine 11 seconds astray in 4th.

The drivers of the day were undoubtedly Coulthard and Alesi. Coulthard who showed that he did have “tiger” and was not afraid of Hakkinen, and Alesi who stormed through the field in the Sauber from 16th on the grid to finish 9th. Alesi is not one to cringe from any situation and the sight of him pulling out three abreast into the chicane and passing the other two F1 cars was certainly the overtaking manoeuvre of the year.

David Coulthard won the Belgian Grand Prix for team McLaren.

The race for the Formula 1 crown is still very open. If Michael Schumacher returns for the next race at Monza he still has a mathematical chance of taking the title, but realistically the title will be fought out between Hakkinen, Irvine and Coulthard. The current standings are Hakkinen 60 points, Irvine 59, Coulthard 46 and Frentzen 40. With 40 points up for grabs between now and the end of the year it is very interesting. Ron Dennis, the McLaren boss is still saying he is not making team orders for his drivers, so Hakkinen cannot expect Coulthard to pull over for him. Meanwhile, in the Ferrari camp Jean Todt must be wondering if Schumacher can perform miracles.

PSC Golf in September

On Sunday 5th September, Lewiinski’s go to Eastern Star leaving at 11:00 a.m. On Monday 6th September PSC Golf from the Caf้ Kronborg goes to Natural Park Resort while the Splinter Golf Group from the Green Bottle goes to Khao Kheow, both playing Stableford.

On Tuesday the 7th Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker plays Stableford at Sattahip and Lewiinski’s goes to Sriracha to play stroke.

On Wednesday the 8th of September Hare House play a pairs medal at Natural Park Resort, leaving at 08:30, and the Green Bottle also goes to Natural Park Resort for stroke play leaving at the later time of 09:45.

On Thursday 9th September, PSC Golf Caf้ Kronborg goes to Eastern Star playing stroke, and on Friday September 10th there is a choice of Century Chonburi from the Green Bottle or a return to Eastern Star with Hare House, both playing Stableford.

Looking ahead to Friday 1st October the Delaney’s 2nd Inaugural Irish Open takes place at Great Lake. Full details and entry forms at Delaney’s (see Kim), and PSC Golf venues, or see Mike Franklin.

The full September Schedule can be seen at PSC Golf Venues, at Delaney’s, in Pattaya Mail and at our Web Site at www.pattayasports.org.

Siam provides real test for low handicappers

PSC Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker

Siam Golf & Country Club was this week’s venue for a combined stroke play and Stableford competition.

This was the largest turnout of the year and the lower handicappers competed in stroke play.

This great course provided a real test and Swede Sture Brisholm came out the winner at 1 over par. Joint second were the consistent Hannu Kamila and American John Kendal with 3 over par.

The higher handicappers, allied with the extra shots, came out very well in the Stableford competition.

Mick Jones, playing off a 35 handicap, proved victorious with 42 points, followed in second place by Welshman John Hopkins (31) with 39 points. Bill Jones (25) was third on 37 points.

Successful on nearest the pins were Steve Graine, John Kendal, Joe Smiley and Bill Jones.

Big week for Dabber - Lord of the Flies

PSC TAGGS... golf from the Hare House

Wednesday, August 25 - Siam Country Club (Two Man Scramble)

1st: Mike Dabonovich & George Jackson, 68 net
2nd: Moe Deverdenne & Terry Summers, 70 net
3rd: Steve Lockhart & Harry Riley, 70.8 net

A water-logged Natural Park Resort necessitated a last minute change to Siam Country Club for the TAGGS Two Man Scramble competition on Wednesday, August 25. This is the second time in as many weeks that Siam has benefited from a sudden venue change by the gentlemen from the Hare House.

Making his tenth straight appearance on the podium in a pairs competition was Englishman George “One Ball” Jackson. George teamed up with Canadian Mike “Dabber” Dabonovich and won the red handled Knotted Putter Trophy with a net 68. They probably weren’t thinking too much about winning when they had bogies on three of the first four holes. They then settled down and finished the remaining holes at even par for a gross 75. With their handicap allowance of seven shots, the 75 translated to a net 68.

In second place was another Can-Anglo team. Canadian Moe Deverdenne and Englishman Terry Summers shot a net 70. Unlike the winning team, Moe and Terry started off well and finished the front nine with a gross even par 36. They must have stopped off for some liquid refreshment at the turn, because they made bogeys on the first four holes on the back nine and they had to settle for a golf shirt instead of a trophy.

In third place, TAGGS newcomer Australian Steve Lockhart paired up with Englishman Harry Riley and finished with a net 70.8.

Friday, August 27 - Great Lake Golf and Country Club (Stableford)

1st: Mike Dabonovich, 39 points
2nd: Dale Drader, 38 points
3rd: George Jackson, 38 points

Canadian Mike “Dabber” Dabonovich became “Lord of the Flies” as he swatted his way around Great Lake for 39 Stableford points and won the TAGGS competition on Friday, August 27. “Dabber” shot an 89 off his twenty handicap and took home his second first place trophy in three days. These two wins have to put Mr. Dabonovich at the top of a short list for likely winners in the forth coming Canadian Open.

In second place was fellow Canadian Dale Drader. Dale and everyone else who played Great Lake had to battle the elements all day. No, not the rain nor the wind. It wasn’t rain clouds that darkened the sky, it was the swarms of flies. Is there a pig farm near Great Lake?

In third place and continuing to play extremely well was George “One Ball” Jackson. George won a two man scramble with “Dabber” at Siam on Wednesday, and on Friday at Great Lake, George had thirty eight points. He lost out on second place in a count back.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.