Story and photos by Peter
Cummins, Pattaya
The Second Koh Samui International Regatta was an
outstanding success. Some 300 sailors, regatta managers and supporters
descended on the beautiful island, with 53 yachts, ranging from the
super-maxi Swan 80 from the Philippines to the five-metre beach-launched
catamarans.
Beach
Cat prepares to round mark.
Australia
and Hong Kong tack to the windward mark in the opener: Bangkok Airways Race.
The
flying Taipan: a new breed of Cat.
The
powerful Philippine Swan 80, “Maligaya” heads down-wind.
A
casualty of the strong winds: “Come on in, the water’s fine!”
Preparing
for the race.
Our Pattaya, Jomtien and Sattahip sailors fared extremely
well: David Bell was third in Keelboat Division Three; Damrongsak Wongtim
and Antony Chapman were second and fourth, respectively in the
Beach-launched Catamaran Class, with Bob Garner fifth and Les Nyerges sixth
(out of a fleet of 33).
Furthermore, Les Nyerges won the Catamaran Division Two
and Damrongsak won the Division Three. A great showing by our own ‘boys’
in very strong winds.
‘The Samui Week’, as it is becoming known, with
almost consensual support from the island’s private and public sectors was
virtually a “celebration of life”.
The times are depressing and the Thai tourism industry,
as in most countries, has become a ‘child of the depression’: the
invasion of Iraq, horrendous acts of terrorism, the SARS outbreak and
shrinking economies are playing havoc with tourist arrivals. Airlines are
curtailing flight schedules and laying off staff while the planes are
travelling at about half capacity. Most hotels are at about 30 percent of
capacity and many are sending staff on unpaid leave. Although this is the
low season, nevertheless, the slump is extraordinary.
Thus, an event like this shines like a lighthouse on the
dark sea of international gloom, sending a message to the world-at-large,
through the great media coverage it attracted, that there still are good
times, happy days and nights, fun and camaraderie. The Samui Week embodied
all of these.
Local Thai and Thai-based sailors comprised a strong
contingent, with more than 16 Catamarans (Nacras) entered from the ranks of
the regatta co-organizer, the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, as well as an all-Varuna
crew on Gary Baguley’s Jeanneau 36-ft. yacht, sailing out of the Ocean
Marina in Jomtien.
Close
racing featured throughout the regatta.
Away go
the keelboats.
Hong
Kong’s “Mandrake” eases off to the mark.
Jacques
Mury, GM of the Central Samui Beach Resort awards Thais, Damrongsak Wongtim
and crew.
Les
Nyerges, winner of the Catamaran Class, will soon be adding the Pattaya Mail
Plus to his world-wide TV programmes.
Catamarans
line up on Chaweng Beach.
The organizing committee this year, for the first time,
presented an exquisite perpetual trophy, designed by Waterford Crystal, to
the overall winner, Aussie Ray Roberts, with similar trophies going to
winners of the other five divisions.
A sight which became familiar during the week was Pattaya-based
Bill Gasson’s new power catamaran, “The Buzz Cat”, monitoring the
racing. This four-times Phuket King’s Cup Racing Class champion and
co-founder of the Samui event, has forsaken the trials and tribulations of a
racing yacht for the comforts and ease of a power boat. He had a leisurely
motor voyage from the Ocean Marina at Jomtien to Koh Samui and was
high-profile around the courses as one of the race managers.
Professional race officer and international judge Mark
Pryke and his fellow-Aussie Kim Thomas lent their expertise for the second
time, stamping their imprimatur on a first-class international regatta.
Again, it was the sponsorship which made this event
possible. Last year, it seemed the whole private sector of the island was
displaying Regatta Supporter signs. This time around, even more residents
came out in support. Joining the principal sponsors, Bangkok Airways,
Central Samui Beach Resort, Coconut Land and House, Santiburi Dusit Resort
and Singha Beer, were: ArtAsia Press, Central Samui Village, Chez Andy,
Impiana Resort, Le Royal Meridien, Paradise Beach Resort, Poppies, QBE
Insurance, Sunsail, Tradewinds and the Weekender Resort, to mention a few.
Ron Sparks, managing director of QBE Insurance, a
consistent sponsor of yachting and regattas for many years, could be
regarded as representative of the legion of supporters. He was very up-beat
about the event which, he feels, does so much to promote the island, its
people and its infrastructure, in an environmentally-friendly way. “We are
looking to increase QBE sponsorship in future years,” said Ron at the end
of the regatta.
The Regatta was jointly organized by the Royal Varuna
Yacht Club, the Royal Thai Navy and the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand
and all racing throughout the spectacular week started and ended off the
Central Samui Beach Resort at Chaweng Beach. In order to give the maximum
media exposure of the beauty of Samui to the large contingent of news-hounds
and TV crews covering the action - and to honour the sponsors - racing took
place, for the most part inshore for spectator appeal, designed to feature
most of the scenic spots on the island.
A Royal Thai Navy landing barge collected some 20
catamarans from Royal Varuna in South Pattaya and, with two Thai Navy yachts
from the Sattahip navy base under tow, sailed for Samui. The barge ran into
a massive storm front and had to cut the yachts loose, for they were in
danger of submerging. This was probably the indicator of the strong winds
which battered the fleets (“nicely”, as one sailor said it).
In the very opening race, less than half the Catamaran
fleet managed to finish the course. For the Bangkok Airways Ocean Race, the
53-strong fleet started off from the Royal Thai Navy committee boat anchored
in Chaweng Bay, in relatively light conditions. The flotilla tacked south
and by the time they had cleared the wind-shadow of the Samui Coast, they
were sailing into the “very teeth” of a south-westerly, averaging some
18-knots, gusting to 25, and big seas which spelled lots of action and
excitement on the way to the mark set off Lamai Beach.
The casualties had started: dismastings, some crew washed
overboard and capsizes a-plenty during the long haul thereafter to the
windward turn mark near the Hin Ang Wang rock outcrop. There, Bill
Gasson’s catamaran, the “BuzzCat”, had anchored, monitoring the yachts
as they rounded the black square buoy. The “BuzzCat” was “buzzing”
all right, as the frequent calls from the race management teams scattered
around the course ensured that all was under control.
As the last craft rounded the Hin and started the
down-wind leg to the finishing line at Chaweng, Bill sped off to rescue one
last catamaran team, dis-masted and drifting for more than an hour and a
half. The two sailors sitting on their hulls, mast and sails draped across
their stricken craft, summed it all up, very succinctly, after downing the
water and beer which Bill promptly dispensed: “Yes, we have been out here
a long time but the weather is perfect, the water is warm and the scenery is
magnificent,” shouted the skipper from his water-level perch. “By the
way, you wouldn’t have another beer or two would you?”
That set the pattern for a week of yacht-racing, partying
up and down Samui’s beaches and sheer exuberance from every quarter. The
wind persisted, though as one sailor said it: “there were enormous
wind-shifts - as much as 40 degrees. In fact, according to Antony Chapman,
one of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club contingent of Nacra sailors, “One
minute you and your crew were trapezing, hanging out there for dear life;
the next minute you were desperately scrambling for the leeward side as the
sails back-filled and the boat is about to come down on top of you!”
Ah, this is the ‘stuff of legends’ (at least nautical
ones), to use a great clich้. But the Thai teams, used to such
unpredictable wind-shifts from their sailing in Sattahip’s Dongtan Bay,
thrive on such conditions.
Finally, the Central Samui Beach Resort Race sailed
around Chaweng Bay, the last of the six which comprised the 2003 Second Koh
Samui International Regatta, Aussie Ray Roberts sailed “Hollywood
Boulevard” to a clear win over Philippine maxi, “Maligaya”, skippered
by Andres Soriano and Malaysian Peter Ahern’s “Yo” in the Keelboat
Class One, finishing also in that order in the overall final.
In Keelboat Class Two, Singaporean Melissa Olivit’s
“Big Buzzard” beat Aussie Greg Coops’ “Abraxus” and Steve
Walker’s “Next page”, out of Singapore, also finishing in that order
in the overall rankings.
The Class Three battle saw Mark Jewell’s Singapore
entry, “The Dogs II”, continue on his winning ways, to take the overall
honours in five straight wins. Scott Duncanson’s Thai entry “Somtam
Express”, second on the day, also took second place in the final.
Third-placed Catherine Fong’s “Attitude Eight” out of Phuket, had to
concede third overall to Pattaya entry David Bell’s “Marara” which
finished fourth on the day.
Certainly, one of the highlights of the week-long racing,
was the fierce competition between the top beach catamaran sailors, with the
new Australian-designed and built Taipan 4.9, mostly out of Singapore,
pitted against the Royal Varuna Yacht Club’s fleet of Nacras, with the
odds heavily in favour of the Taipans.
There were many from Varuna, such as Jens Huhn, who came
to the regatta - and, indeed, supports many events - not necessarily
expecting to win, but giving their all for the joy of sailing and the
camaraderie which was so evident at Samui.
Aussie Daniel van Kerckhof finished the last race with a
first placing, consolidating his superiority in the Cat Class, while a
superb second placing by Thai sailor Damrongsak Wongtim vaulted him to
second place overall, on a count back, ahead of New Zealander Scott McCook,
sailing out of Singapore, who finished third on the day.
Admiral Krayim, addressing the closing ceremony on behalf
of Admiral Daweesak Somabha, the honorary chairman of the Regatta Organizing
Committee, emphasized the support which the Royal Thai Navy renders to this
and other regattas throughout Thailand. In his dual role as
commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy and the Yacht Racing Association
of Thailand (YRAT), Admiral Daweesak placed the resources of the Navy and
YRAT firmly behind the regatta. Together with the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in
Pattaya, “This support has ensured the success of this event which brings
so much credit to the lovely island of Samui and her people,” the admiral
informed the gathering.
The Second Samui Regatta will be known henceforth as the
“windy week”. Wind speeds averaged some 20 knots peaking, at times, to
40. It was a true test of “man and machine”, as well as the race
management and the rescue facilities, which excelled on all counts.
As just one example out of several gear failures,
dismastings and capsizes (Cats) during the week, Thai yacht, Schle Wood-Thanan’s
“Pasaya” while having a wild ride before a wind reading 26 knots,
registering 16 knots of boat speed, suddenly found the asymmetric spinnaker
looking like streamers at a carnival: totally blown out.
Samui children also had a share in the regatta and during
the awards dinner presentations were made to the budding artists, and the
winner’s painting will serve as the logo for next year’s regatta. The
paintings were then auctioned, with all revenues donated for the welfare of
the children of Samui.
There was only one thing in the minds of the some 300
sailors preparing to return to the ‘four corners of the world’ from
which they had come: “WE shall return next year,” said their spokesman,
“and bring a lot of others who have not had the pleasure of experiencing
this marvellous event, the beauty of Thailand, her people, her culture and
her customs.”
The Third Koh Samui International Regatta is already
“off and running” and, next year, tourism and the marine environment
will again be a major beneficiary. It is interesting to note here that Thai
teenage icon, Chulajak Chakrapongse has just initiated a conservation
campaign to help people understand how vital the seas are to all of us.
| Final Results of the
Second Koh Samui International Regatta (counting five races out of the
six sailed, for the final tally)
Keelboats Class One: 1. Ray Roberts, “Hollywood
Boulevard” (Aus, 80 points); 2. Andres Soriano, “Maligaya”
(Philip, 12); 3. Peter Ahern, “Yo” (Mal, 14); 4. Frank Pong,
“Mandrake” (HK, 17); 5. Schle Wood-Thanan, (Thai, 18); 6. Sam
Chan, “Freefire” (HK, 31); 7.Gary Baguley, “Magic Roundabout”
(Thai, 33).
Class Two: 1. Melissa Olivit, “Big Buzzard”
(Sing, 7.0); Greg Coops, “Abraxas” (Aus, 11); 3. Steve Walker,
“Next Page” (Sing, 13); 4. John A. Busch, “Joan Marie” (USA,
23).
Class Three: 1. Mark Jewell, “The Dogs II”
(Sing, 5.0); 2. Scott Duncanson, “Somtam Express” (Thai, 12); 3.
David Bell, “Marara” (Thai, 16); 4. Catherine Fong, “Attitude
Eight” (Thai, 24).
Catamarans (Counting five races out of the six
sailed, for the final tally): First 20 only: (N = Nacra; T = Taipan).
1. Daniel van Kerckhof (Aus, T, 6.0 points); 2. Damrongsak Wongtim
(Thai, N, 12); 3. Scott McCook (NZ, T, 12); 4. Antony Chapman (Thai,
N, 26); 5. Bob Garner (Thai, T, 35); 6. Les Nyerges (Thai, N, 36); 7.
Peter Herning (Thai, N, 37); 8. Jim Boyer (Aus, N, 39); 9. Alex Skaria
(Thai, N, 42); 10. Yves Felix (Thai, N, 50); 11. Aaroon R. (Thai, N,
51); 12. David Lee (Sin, N, 53); 13. Alain Brancart (Thai, Hobie Cat
16, 71); 14. Jan Holldorf (Thai, N, 78); 15. Sutee Poonpat (Thai,
Hobie 16, 80); 16. Suwan P. (Thai, N, 83); 17. Jeremy Curnow (Thai, N
Inter 17, 90); 18. David Stanton (Sing, T, 98); 19. Roy Copp (Samui,
N, 112); 20. Claus Dorfner (Thai, N, 116). 54);
7. Bob Garner (Th, T, 60); 8. Yves Felix (Th, N,
60); 9. Les Nyerges (Th, N, 67); 10. Peter Ole Herning (Th, N, 67);
11. Alex Skaria (Th, N, 69); 12. Aroon R. (Th, N, 74); 13. Sutee
Poonpat (Th, Hobie Cat, 80); 14. Jeremy Curnow (Sin, N, Inter 17, 90);
15. David Stanton (Sin, T, 98); 16.
There were also three divisions in the Catamaran fleet with Aussies
Les Nyerges and Daniel van Kerckhof winning Division One and Two,
respectively, and Thai Navy sailor Damrongsak Wongtim, Division Three. |
ABSOLUTELY, Khun Chulajak.
