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Junior Sailors: An Optimistic
Future
by Peter Cummins
If there was ever any doubt about the future of sailing
and yacht racing in Thailand, it was buried forever these past few weeks
with the hyper-activity of the junior sailors - next generation’s yacht
racing champions.
Under the clear and friendly guidance of Royal Varuna
junior sailing executive, Linden Phanpho and her able assistants headed by
Brunhilde Schultes, the new crop of budding ‘yachties’ thrived on a
week-long summer camp, divided into three distinct levels: the beginners,
the advanced and the older children, this last group already proficient
and moving out of the ranks of the Optimist, the little training dinghy
designed for under 16-year-olds, the world over.
 Successful
sailors earn their stripes!
A total of 25 students came from the Alliance
Francaise, the Bangkok Patana School, the International School of the
Eastern Seaboard, the International School, Vientiane and St. Andrews.
Under expert tutelage of such former Optimist sailors
as Boris Broere, Marine Paulhiac, Boss and Sam Phanpho, as well as the
Schultes siblings, Andi and Daniel, the young people had a very full
programme, indeed. Every waking moment occupied with sea lore, boat
handling, safety at sea, sailing theory and hands-on experience in the
light-to-moderate southerlies which prevailed during the week.
When not immersed, literally, in the water-borne
activities, most appropriate for the Songkran festival, the children were
kept busy with a myriad land-based activities.
The grand finale, unfortunately, did not eventuate,
for, as a real test of their newly-acquired skills, the little sailors
were to take part in the annual Pattaya Festival race from Jomtien to
Pattaya Beach. Alas, the rains came and the wind died: the only way to go
to South Pattaya was by road.
Nevertheless, the ‘graduation’ race for the
beginners climaxed in the “Nobel Prize”, although the winner in 2000,
Kristina Sandesjo, as winners in the previous 10 events, did not go to
Oslo to receive her award; rather, the splendid solid-silver “Nobel
Challenge Trophy” was presented by the donor, Anders Widen, CEO of Nobel
Communications, at the graduation ceremony on the Royal Varuna sea-front.
Second was Leona Wirtz and third Helena Sandesjo. Where were all the boys?
The awards for the advanced class went Will Hamilton
first, Emma Neales second and rising star Chris Kelly, third. The boys
fought back!
The bigger ‘kids’, graduating to Laser Radials, saw
their moments of glory disappear behind the cloud-cover which also made
the Pattaya Festival race disappear.
Young Sam Phanpho won the Victor Ludorum Trophy, based
on the best aggregate score after a year of Optimist racing, for the third
successive year.
And what’s in store for these little people? Lots of excitement. This
weekend, the Optimist National Championship of Thailand will be sailed in
Dongton Harbour, off the Sattahip Naval base. Upwards of 50 dinghies are
expected and the Royal Varuna will be represented by five youngsters who
could well bring the honours back to Pattaya. Will Hamilton, Chris Kelly,
Virginie Lacrosse, Sam Phanpho and Sila Wilke will also be competing for a
place on Thailand’s team for the International Optimist Dinghy
Association World Championships in Spain next July and the Asian
Championships in Singapore the following month.
6th Asian Mountain Bike Championship held
in Khao Kheow
Cyclists representing 16 Asian countries participated in
the 6th Asian Mountain Bike Championship held in Khao Kheow.
The grand opening ceremony for the championships were a
grand affair. Deputy Prime Minister Phichai Rattakul opened the proceedings,
assisted by the President of the Asian Cycling Confederation, Seri G.
Darshan Singh, and the President of the Thai Biking Association, General
Yuttana Khamdee.
 Cyclists
from the 16 countries represented assembled for the grand opening ceremonies
of the 6th Asian Mountain Bike Championship in Khao Kheow.
The athletes, representing their home countries, paraded
onto the field to the music of marching bands from local schools, and were
followed by the judges. At 10.00 a.m. the President of the Asian Cycling
Confederation announced the proceedings and received a bouquet of flowers,
and the baton to strike the gong, from the Khao Kheow Park twin elephants
“Jum and Jim”.
Next Chatree Rungsuwan, winner of the down hill cycling
gold medal from the 20th SEA Games in Brunei, ran onto the field carrying a
blazing torch, which he passed on to two other gold medallist from the 13th
Asian Games, Phanrong Dongsamut and Miss Banna Khamphu.
The athletes marched off the field and prepared for the races while the
guests watched a Ramanyana play performed by the Fine Arts Department with
musical renditions provided by the band from the Khamaobhirataram School.
This was followed by the world’s only twin elephants “Jum and Jim”
entertaining the crowd.
Thailand International 10s - no finer
tournament ever held
Story by Forrest
Photos by John C. C. Gibson
Last week in the Pattaya Mail we reported on the Thailand
International 10s Rugby Tournament, hosted by the Pattaya Panthers and held
on arguably the best rugby pitch in Thailand at the International School of
the Regents.
 Tip
back a pint, for we are the champions!
The Corsairs from Bangkok were the original hosts of the
Bangkok 10s, which eventually became the Thailand International 10s. But
Bangkok pulled out of hosting the tournament within 2 weeks of its opening
ceremony. They cited lack of touring and local teams forthcoming, entry fees
and the high cost of such a tournament with no major sponsor as being
reasons for postponement.
 Joint
winners share in the glory
Then, after the Pattaya Panthers offered Pattaya as an
alternative site for the 10s, many a grey hair and sleepless night ensued,
with literally tonnes of effort from club members and sponsors, action
committees and travel agents, draftees and volunteers alike. The end result
was one of the best tournaments many had ever played in, and it was thrown
together within 9 days.
 Cup
Winners
The field was in pristine condition, the roadway was
closed and covered with shade and seating. There was free beer and other
refreshments, pies chips and deep fried fish. Six international referees and
9 teams took part, including England, Hong Kong and Cambodia, with the rest
being “local”, i.e., Bangkok and Pattaya.
The local derby between the crowd favourites, Eastern
Seaboard Barbarians and the Pattaya Panthers was the first semi final and a
hard game prevailed to determine the first finalist in the tournament, won
by the Pattaya Panthers.
 Plate
winners Ram
The second semi final was between Letchworth Barbarians
(UK) and the Corsairs from Bangkok. The UK team was undoubtedly the greatest
team the “locals” had ever played against, but the conditions in
Thailand both night and day were too much for the touring team, and the
Corsairs ran out winners.
 A
big thanks to David Garred, this pint’s for you
The final between the “new hosts” and the “old
hosts” was a match for the ages. The Corsairs had not stayed in Pattaya
the previous night, opting instead to go home to recruit a reputed all star
team. The best Corsairs line up ever seen showed up for the final in a
blatant act of rule neglect, but all are sportsmen.
 Tournament
MVP
As reported last week, at the end of full time it was
12-12. At the end of 5 minutes each way sudden death it was still 12-12. A
decision was made for another 5 minutes one way sudden death, then the count
back final rule would come into play. But everything between the clubs was
equal right back to the first kick off on day 1. At the end of the final 5
minutes, it was still 12-12.
Captains went back on the rules and decided the
tournament was a draw. All teams went home happy and vowed to return to a
bigger and better tournament next year.
It looks like the next tournament for the Panthers will be 27, 28th of
May in Phuket.
Laser finishes with fish on board
Scheske Cup, Royal Varuna Yacht Club, Pattaya
Thailand 23rd April 2000
by Neil Semple, Race Officer
Traditionally a contest comprised of a single long
distance race around some of the islands in Pattaya Bay on a Sunday, this
year the Scheske Cup Regatta was extended, as it were, to include two round
the buoys races on the Saturday. But was the eponymous bestower of the cup
watching from a far and frowning on our attempt to meddle with tradition?
For there was no wind worth speaking of out of the South on the Saturday.
But there was, however, simply a huge incoming tide out of the South. The
net result was a whole load of dinghies slowly drifting north towards
Bangkok. Racing was abandoned.
On Sunday a breeze of 10 knots cam in steady as a button
from the South. Clear blue skies. This was more like it. Catamarans were
away first at 11 a.m.; the race officer taking care firstly to get some
small junior Optimist dinghies that were practising just beyond the start
line, out of the line of fire from the ‘no-prisoners taken’ Royal Varuna
Hobie 16 fleet.
One and a half hours later, Susan and David Race on a
Hobie 16 zoomed into view on the final leg, a long reach from Koh Krok, and
‘miles’ ahead of the next catamaran thus claiming first place. “What
does David have that you do not,” I ask one slower Hobie 16 sailor later.
“Skill,” comes the answer.
Just over two hours from their separate start at 11.07
a.m., the monohull Lasers come back into view of the clubhouse after going
round the islands. A right battle royal is going on between the two leading
boats of Siri Chandler and Charlie Zbinden. Siri goes around the last buoy,
near the Royal Cliff Hotel, and before a short beat to up windward and the
finish line, a mere five seconds ahead of Charlie. Charlie tacks out on port
(wind coming from the left hand side) to get clear air and to get more
speed. But, oh no! Siri does a ‘Prada’ and does not cover him and
instead stays locked on the starboard tack (wind from the right hand side).
All is not lost, however, as Charlie tacks back again onto starboard. He was
both 20 metres to windward and behind Siri. But Charlie’s sail was fuller
and he had more speed, and while he was sailing a bit lower, he was going
faster. He caught Siri up. Yet he was right behind Siri and was getting bad
air from her sail, so he tacked out on port to get clear air. This time Siri
covers. Phew. Then Charlie tacked back to starboard and Siri tacked back to
starboard too, crucially keeping herself between Charlie and the finish
line. But look out Siri! The tide is low and there are submerged rocks
ahead.
Thunk! Through the binoculars I see a Laser come to a
complete and abrupt halt. Recommended viewing but not recommended sailing.
Centreboard up to free the boat, sheets (ropes) every where, just as well
there’s no microphones on board Siri’s boat. Somehow she manages to get
her stalled boat to tack and on to port and so she heads away from the rocks
and clear water. But in the time that sorting out that mess takes, Charlie,
to windward, has gone past her. However, he does not take the hint from
Siri’s spectacular going a-ground and carries on, on starboard heading for
the breakers and another set of submerged rocks. Once again I saw this
amazing sight of a boat coming to a complete halt. Once again we are glad
that we can’t hear the monologue.
Charlie manages to extract himself from this mess in short order (must
have had lots of practice going a-ground) and tacked out onto port to remain
ahead of Siri. One minute later, with five small fish in the cockpit that he
must have picked up during his grounding, Charlie crosses the line 34
seconds ahead of Siri to claim the monohull first prize.
The Self Reliance and Empowerment Path
by Patrick Stahl, NRG Center
Chi-Gong practice activates a number of the body’s
self regulating systems which are responsible for the balanced function of
the tissues, organs and glands. The uptake of oxygen, as well as oxygen
metabolism, is tremendously enhanced by Chi-Gong practice. The positive
impact of oxygen metabolism alone has powerful implications for both
physical and brain activity. In the area of sports, peak levels of
performance can be cultivated through Chi-Gong in addition to normal
training.
In the work of individuals who have physically
demanding jobs the refinement of function that comes with Chi-Gong
practice adds to strength, stamina and endurance. Executives, whose work
is more mental, not only derive more endurance, but also increase
concentration, creativity and intuition as well. The tremendous health
risk factors of tension and stress are profoundly neutralised by the
common effects of Chi-Gong: enhanced oxygen metabolism, balancing of the
autonomic nervous system, pumping of the lymph, enhancement of the
bio-electrical field, etc.
Chi-Gong is the medicine for the healer when the
directive is “physician heal thyself”. The prescription, in China, is
Chi-Gong. Chi-Gong is referred to as acupuncture without needles. Elmer
Green, Ph.D., author of “Beyond Biofeedback” and one of the great
researchers/thinkers of the western world has said, “We have concluded
from our work with hundreds of patients that anything you can accomplish
with an acupuncture needle you can do with your mind”. The Chi-Gong
tradition in China is the discipline through which “heal thy self”
(healthy self) is accomplished. Breath, motion, intention and
visualisation when activated together through the Chi-Gong system are the
great preventive medicine that lies within.
Delaney’s support the ‘Chonburi
Project for the Development of Children and Young People’
Delaney’s are planning a charity raffle as part of the
annual Delaney’s Funhill Cup tournament to be held next Friday May 12th at
Eastern Star Resort, and afterwards at Delaney’s for the free Carvery,
prize giving and lucky draw.
The Chonburi Project, through its President Sopin
Thapajuug, is set up to develop disadvantaged Children and Young People, and
Young Offenders from the Observation and Protection Centre Rayong, aged
between 7-14 years.
The Charity Raffle (separate from the free Funhill Cup
Lucky Draw) will include some unusual prizes: Stephen Leather, best selling
author of The Bombmaker, has donated a ‘Character’ for his next book
‘The Stretch’, and the winner will be a featured character in that book;
Sture Brisholm from Scandic Hotel has donated a Harvey Penick Driver, and
Delaney’s are offering a voucher for a Free Carvery every week for a
Year.... and more!
Tickets are available at Delaney’s at B.100 or six for B.500 and are
not restricted to players in the Funhill Cup. All Delaney’s customers are
welcome to try their luck in aid of this charity project. The draw will be
on Friday 12th at Delaney’s Pattaya around 6.30 p.m.
PSC Golf outings this coming week
Now that Lewiinski’s have expanded their schedule to
offering competitions six days a week, PSC has a full program for the rest
of the month.
Lewiinski’s start the week on Sunday 7th May playing
a Stableford competition at Noble Place, leaving at the new earlier time
of 09.45am. On Monday 8th May Papasan Ray Rogers has his annual Birthday
tournament, this year to celebrate his 85th! This is at Pattaya Country
Club and afterwards at Ray’s house. Sign up at the Caf? Kronborg if it
is not too late. There are no other fixtures that day.
On Tuesday 9th May, the Bunker also go to Pattaya
Country Club, while Lewiinski’s go to Laem Chabang, both for stroke play
competitions.
On Wednesday 10th May, Hare House go to Eastern Star
for a two man scramble while Lewiinski’s go to Natural Park Resort for a
two man aggregate Stableford competition.
Two options also on Thursday 11th May, stroke play at
Noble Place with the Caf? Kronborg or Stableford at Khao Kheow with
Lewiinski’s. Friday May 12th is Delaney’s Funhill Cup at Eastern Star.
Sign-up at Delaney’s if its not already full.
There are two public holidays next week, but there are still ten
organised competitions with PSC Golf. See the full schedule in this issue
or at any of the PSC Golf venues. Details also on the PSC web site at
www.pattayasports.org
Fitness Tips: Reasons for
becoming Fatter
by David Garred
Club Manager Dusit Resort Sports Club
G’Day Pattaya,
Why starvation makes us fat: Fasting, dieting and
starvation are often considered to be good ways of losing weight. Whole
industries are based on the notion that reducing food by large amounts
over a short period will lead to a fit, svelte body. Starvation studies,
such as the now famous Minnesota Semi-Starvation Study, have shown the
fallacy of this belief. Now, a Swiss physiologist has presented a
mathematical model to support this.
Professor Lucien Giradier, from the University of
Geneva, has demonstrated the inevitability of fat gain with an extreme
loss in weight. Don’t worry about getting lost here, I’ll break it
down for you after it has been presented. This comes about because of a
greater decrease in metabolic rate long after proper eating has resumed.
In proportionate values, a decrease of 15% food intake can lead to a
decrease in metabolism of up to 20% - which can remain lower than the
baseline even after the initial 15% food intake has been restored. So,
using these values, you set yourself up for a 5% surplus.
Yep, by fasting, your metabolism will slow to the
speed/stage that once you go back to eating your normal diet you actually
require 5% less than before, so, this extra energy is stored as body fat.
This explains why animals that are starved tend to regain more weight than
those who spend all their time in the good paddock (pasture), after normal
feeding resumes.
The long-term effects of this type of dieting, such as
adopted by many types of women, could be disastrous for long-term weight
maintenance.
Implication: Fasting and crash dieting can be
counterproductive to long term weight loss.
Sleep debt and weight gain- could this explain the
shift worker / professional expat syndrome?
It’s well known that shift workers gain weight easier
than those working normal ours. What is not known is why? Eating too much
or inactivity is likely to have some influence. Many shift workers claim
they are not eating more or moving less. In an interesting approach to
this problem, researchers at the University of Chicago have examined the
effects of sleep deprivation on metabolic rate in a group of 11 young men.
The men were restricted to 4 hours sleep a night over a 6-night period
before being allowed to sleep for up to 12 hours for 6 nights. Their
metabolic and endocrine functions were compared after the two conditions
and it was found that these were much more severely disrupted after sleep
deprivation. In particular, there was a disturbance to blood sugars with
an increase in insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is known to increase
weight gain and hence may be the link between shift work and overweight.
Sleep deprivation can also cause depression and this
can lead to over-eating in some people, which may also explain a link with
weight gain. While the connection is suggestive at this stage, more
research may need to be done to find out if lack of sleep could cause
weight gain. If so, sleep medication may be useful to prevent this.
You don’t need to be a shift worker to be depriving
yourself of sleep. Your average professional expat working on the Eastern
Seaboard along with most top end GMs and CEOs will put in a 12-hour day at
work.
Once these career people go over that day they are
cutting short their chances of a 6-hour sleep at night. When deadlines
approach, sleep deprivation is a serious consideration.
Fatigue sets in and you don’t want to do any exercise
thus the ever downward spiral commences.
A walk at lunch time, dropping in to the gym on the way
home for 30 minutes or a quick couple of laps at a good pace of your pool
are amongst the only chances of keeping your metabolism up. This will slow
the rate of putting on extra weight and you know how hard it is to shift
that weight once it gets on.
Carpe’ diem
Copyright 2000 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, assisted by Boonsiri
Suansuk. |
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