IPGC Golf from Lewiinski’s

Sunday, December 7
Green Valley - White Tees
Stableford

1st Place A Flight: Graham Johnson, 36 points
2nd Place A Flight: Jim Wickstrom, 35 points
3rd Place A Flight: Jack Grindvold, 33 points
1st Place B Flight: Pete Stonebridge, 39 points
2nd Place B Flight: Colin Davis, 33 points
3rd Place B Flight: Bob Lindborg, 33 points

Near Pins: #8-Ron Colaprete and #16-Walter Baechli

While Pete Stonebridge did not exactly make it “a day that shall live in infamy” but he was the best player on the day by three clear points with his B Flight winning 39 points. Familiar visitors to the winner’s circle Colin Davis and Bob Lindborg took the remaining steps on the B Flight podium.

The latter possibly signaled the field that he is trending to good form in time for his pet Monthly Medal competition. Former professional snooker player Graham Johnson edged former professional golfer Jim Wickstrom by a single point. Happy Jack Grindvold rounded out the upper flight.

Hawaiian visitor Ron Colaprete and always-pleasant-to-see-return Walter Baelchli garnered the Near Pins.

Monday, December 1
Royal Lakeside - White Tees
Stableford

1st Place A Flight: Gordon Kerr, 40 points
2nd Place A Flight: Phil Corbin, 36 points
1st Place B Flight: John Clements, 39 points
2nd Place B Flight: Colin Davis, 37 points
Near Pin: #15-Doug Wade

Long-term English visitor Gordon Kerr started to show good form with a fantastic four better than handicap 40 points and first place in the upper Flight. Hawaiian visitor Phil Corbin, who got a hot putter on the inward nine was able to edge Graham Johnson on count back. John Clements whose improving game has been mentioned in this column in recent weeks showed he was up to it with a strong 39 points and first in B Flight. The steady Donkey took the remaining spot in B. Doug Wade, a traveling mate of A Flight silver medallist Phil, snatched the sole Near Pin.

Wednesday,
December 3
Pattaya C.C - White Tees
Stroke/Medal

1st Place: Eddie Blackwell, net 68
2nd Place: Vic Hester, net 71
3rd Place: Joe Mooneyham, net 73

A small group chose to brave the crowds and cost of Constitution Day at Pattaya Country Club. Eddie Blackwell let neither deter him from his game as he was best on the day with a net 68 off his just risen 10-handicap. The round should be sufficient to drive him back down to his preferred “single digit handicap” status. Vic Hester and Joe Mooneyham placed themselves behind Eddie, bracketing level par.

It is nearly eight o’clock at night on a Tuesday. I have forgotten I am the appointed scribe. Chicken Nugget is getting our Christmas tree decorated. So let’s go back to yesterday.

There was only one hare this week; Flying Frog. He picks his usual a-site at the flying club. A very nice a-site which is not too far out of town. The Grand Master General Kidney Wiper called the circle to order. (I wonder who will be the new Grand Master in the new year?) New shoes, I cannot remember.

Flying Frog explained the run and we got off to a good start. But the first check confused everybody. Eventually it was solved by a white dog, woof woof, and away we all went. Then we got to the boggy part. I backed off and went back with a bunch of cracks. I had a date that night and I didn’t want to mess up my shoes. Eventually I strolled in.

Uncle P. and his brother were drinking home brew. BLT’s and dogs were available. The cracks were all doing their usual grazing. Energizer Bunny exposing two of her assets, which made my BLT taste even better.

General Kidney Wiper called the circle. Dr. Pinky in for the raffle to hoo and haa’s from the bated onlookers who were expecting Energizer Bunny to do the raffle, there were lots of prizes this week. Then it was time for the usual returnees, leavers and virgins all invited into the circle for a down down.

I was going to make this scribe one of my funny ones, but because of my morose situation I cannot get into it.

Sir Airhead took over the circle for his usual entertaining 30 minutes. But why do we have to name these cracks with these lovely little names. What is wrong with ‘Reclining C.’ or ‘Shaved B.’?

General Kidney Wiper was running the circle with his usual flair, anyway it was my birthday and I had the best two days that I can remember in a long time. Hopefully I will win the lottery in the near future and then I will be happy again and be the usual happy Sir Chicken F. But now I am not. So it is good night from him.

On-On

A sad Sir Chicken F.

by Peter Cummins, Phuket

Thai Navy sailors from the Sattahip Centre of Sailing Excellence, were first and second in the IRC Two Class and second in the IRC One Class. NC Rachid Sanpakeaw and Lt. Bunpot Jaibunjong, sailing “Naval Academy Two and One, respectively, actually finished equal first, but NC Rachid took the honours on a tie (Thai?) breaker.

Malaysian entry, Peter Ahern’s “Yo!” under full power.

Royal Varuna sailor Viroj Nualkair missed the first placing in IRC One Division, by a tiny fraction and had to settle for second place in that Class which he won last year.

The Seventeenth Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, sailed from Sunday, November 30 until Saturday, the sixth of December, ended on a most up-beat note. The weather during the 2003 “Phuket Week” had been exceptional. But what made the event even more appealing was the close racing and the incredible spread of the more than 25 countries which participated on 72 craft, among the top placings in each of the classes. For example, in the Racing Division (the sea-borne version of Formula One car racing), there were six different nationalities in the first eight placings. In the American Express Banking Premier Cruising Class, it was even more pronounced, with a different nationality taking each of the seven final placings.

A ‘tight’ start line.

But, undoubtedly, the star of the show was Spain’s Vincente Garcia, sailing “Plis Play”, who beat Philippines Ray Ordovoza’s “Clariden-Karaoke”, to take top honours, with Hong Kong’s “Hi-Fidelity”, helmed by Neil Pryde, third.

A delighted Garcia said afterwards, at the Awards Presentation, “We are so very happy to win here in the Omega Asian Yachting Circuit at the Phuket King’s Cup. This is a fantastic regatta and we are very proud. The competition has been very tough and we had some great races and a lot of excitement”, Garcia said. “We sailed very well in demanding conditions and we are especially pleased as our yacht has only been in the water for two weeks, being just launched in Malaysia and now we will take her home to our European waters”, he beamed.

A beautiful Andaman sunset from the Boathouse terrace: guaranteed every evening.

The just-completed King’s Cup, the seventeenth in the series to be sailed since the inaugural in 1987, saw a total of nine classes which the Regatta Organizing Committee, under founding President Chris King, in charge again this year, felt gave all types of entries a chance to be the top of a given division and take home the coveted replica of the beautiful permanent trophy bestowed by HM the King of Thailand.

The sailors and the Boathouse staff honor His Majesty’s birthday, with candles.

“Plis Play”, with placings of 3-2-2-1-1-3, in the six races counted of the seven sailed, for a total of 12 penalty points, beating Ray Ordoveza’s Philippine entry, Clariden-Karakoa (4-4-1-2-3-1), 15 points and Hong Kong Neil Pryde’s “Hi-Fidelity” (2-1-2-1-6-4), on 16 points.

The Spanish triumph was even more pronounced when it is considered that their yacht was just finished a few days before, built by the highly-successful DK Composites yard on Malaysia’s Malacca Straits and thus there was not even time for a “shake-down” cruise which sometimes pre-empts design or structural problems. It was also Spain’s maiden entry in the King’s Cup, beating former multi-Cup - and other regional regatta victors - Ray and Neil.

Principal sponsor, Gulu Lalvani (L) greets 2003 and founding President, Chris King.

As Malaga has just been selected as the venue for the Swiss defense of the next America’s Cup Challenge, it would seem appropriate, too, that a Spanish team takes the Phuket Regatta honours back to Spain.

The Regatta, sailed over the week of HM the King of Thailand’s sixty-seventh birthday, which was Friday, the fifth of December was, from every view-point - the competitors, the supporters, the sponsors, the organizing committee, the press and the media - a stunning success.

Royal Thai Navy sailors can’t hide their delight on winning RC Twp Class.

Probably, however, the factor most responsible for such a marvelous “celebration of life” which the “Phuket Week” has become, was Mother Nature herself. The inaugural Regatta, held in 1987 as a special birthday tribute to HM the King of Thailand for his auspicious fifth cycle, sixtieth birthday, and continuing annually, set the pattern for the succeeding events for more than a decade.

Sailors clamber aboard their “yacht tenders” at Kata Beach.

That first week in December always heralded in the dry, cooler and stronger north-easterlies, absolutely ideal conditions for yacht racing off Phuket’s lovely shore-lines, coasts and surrounding islands. Thus, the timing to coincide with His Majesty’s birthday on the fifth of December, was perfect. The King, a Gold-medal dinghy helmsman himself in a 1967 Regional Games, graciously bestowed Royal Patronage on the Regatta and awarded the most handsome permanent trophy to the winners each year, through his appointed Personal representative, M.L. Usni Pramoj.

Then around 1999, 2000, the weather patterns seemed to change and there were three years of unstable, fickle and dying winds which, continuing each year, threatened to ‘scuttle’ the marvelous event. Then, this year, 2003, Mother Nature came to the rescue. The conditions were, as founding and incumbent President Chris J. King, remarked at the Awards ceremony, “back to normal”: North-easterlies blew steadily around 15-knots, days were clear and the seas were moderate.

Meantime, back to the Seventeenth Regatta, a great deal of interest focused upon the entry of Phuket’s-own designed and built the new Phuket Sports Eight which made its first appearance at the 2003 Regatta in the new Sports Boat Division and, certainly, is a positive development in what is almost certain to become an exponential surge in marine sports and the concomitant infrastructure, spurred on by the Royal Thai Government reducing the erstwhile crippling tax on the sector from more than 200 per cent to zero.

Germany’s Jeremy Muller made no mistakes in the Sports Boat Class, with his Singaporean entry “Scallywag”, registering a perfect score of six straight wins, for a total of six points, with Malaysia’s Stuart Harrison’s “Panic! (2-2-2-1-3-2) 12 points, second.

The American Express Banking Premier Cruising Class also witnessed close, exciting racing with Australian King’s Cup veteran, “Australian Maid”, helmed by Jon Wardill, scoring 2-1-3-2-2, the best six placings out of the six sailed, for 10 points, just one ahead of Belgian Marcel Liedts “Hocux Pocux 2” (3-2-3-1-2), 11 points.

IRC One Division was probably the most fiercely contested, with only the last, seventh race separating the first four yachts, by just one point between each. UK David Lindhal’s “La Samudra” (2-3-1-2-3-1), 12, just easing out Thailand’s perennial top performer, Viroj Nualkair’s “Octopussy” (4-2-3-1-1-2), 13.

The last desperate finish saw seconds between the erstwhile class leader Viroj and David. It cost Viroj the title.

ICR Two was an all-Thai triumph, as Thai Naval Academy Two, helmed by NC Rachid Sanpakeaw, racking up 2-1-2-1, for a total of six points, counting four of the five races sailed, equaling the tally of fellow-rating Lt. Bunpot Jaibunyong, Thai Naval Academy One (1-2-1-2), six points, Rachid taking the honors on a tie (Thai?) breaker!

IRC Three, which also sailed only five races, was dominated by Singaporean Bob Ashman’s “Simba” (1-1-2-2) six points, from his Island Republic compatriot, Graham Lind’s “Sumatra” (2-2-3-3), for 10 points.

The Ocean Rover Division spoke well for the printing presses (or, the “Bible”, even) when Ray Bradshaw’s Thai entry “Gladys Guthenberg” won all five races of which four were counted, from German George Johannes on “OK-LA” (2-2-2-2).

The beautiful - and immaculately maintained - New Zealand Ketch, “Long White Cloud”, launched in 1986 in Hamilton, skippered by Philip Pepperell, was built to a 1930s Hereschoff design and showed that she is a lady not only of beauty, but brains, wiping out the marvelous Classic fleet, (1-1-1-1) from USA entry, Julian Hill’s “Sanook” (3-2-2-2).

Finally, in the Ocean Multihulls, also five races-four-to-count, Australian Mark Prescott’s “Latitude 8 Cyrene” (1-2-1-1), for five points was too swift for loyal Regattarian, Radab Kanchanavanit who sails very well, indeed, and is the “MC Supremo”, at the very elegant Awards ceremony every year, held at the host hotel, the Kata Beach resort, presided over by HM the King’s Personal Representative, M.L. Usni Pramoj. Radab’s “Cedar Swan”, racked up 2-3-2-1, for eight points.

Much interest this year has been generated by the sponsorship of Omega, the hallmark of elegance in time- pieces which readily relate to yacht racing in the region where, the company considers, “sailing is more than a sport; it is a life-style where tradition and style combine with teamwork, skill and a desire to win.”

Supporting the recently-formed Asian Yachting Circuit (AYC), the Omega format embraces the four big regional regattas: The Raja Muda International (Malaysia, November), the Phuket King’s Cup (Thailand, December) and the Straits Times Regattas (Singapore,January 2004). The China Sea Race, Hong Kong to the Philippines, a little later in the year (April) closes the circuit after which the Racing Class helmsman with the best three results out of the four, is crowned the Omega Asian Champion. As a further incentive, the winner of the Racing Class in all four regattas, is awarded a magnificent Omega time-piece (obviously a ‘Seamaster’). Spain, often known for a “manana” attitude and easy sense of time, is going to be different now - at least for Vicenze Garcia who will have exact time of every second of every day, right there on his wrist.

A yacht that attracted much attention - particularly her crew when ashore - was Malaysian entry “Dewi Bayu Gotcha Lagi”, skippered by Aussie lady helm Juanita Spencer and her all-female crew of nine. Sailing first time in the just-completed Raja Muda International Regatta, this bevy of water-borne beauties sported the team name of Dewi Bayu, Bahasa Malaysia meaning “Goddesses of the Wind”. Of course, “Gotcha Lagi!” has been on the circuit for many years, though, most will admit, not sailed previously by “Goddesses”.

Gulu Lalvani’s Royal Phuket Marina has been the principal sponsor of the Regatta for the past two years and has been supported by the Kata Beach Group which has provided the Regatta “home” and nerve centre at Kata Beach for the past six years. Other perennial supporters include Mom Tri’s Boathouse, American Express Banking, Thai Marine Leisure, Teka Kuchentechnik, Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, Sunsail, Chang Beer, Phuket Magazine, Image Asia, Omega and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Supporting Clubs were the Royal Thai Navy, the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Varuna Yacht Club and other marine-related ventures.

Right on top of this enormously successful week, were two events of high significance to Thailand’s now-burgeoning marine leisure industry and the water sports sector. The first was that the Royal Thai Government, after much cajoling, particularly from the newly-formed Marine Alliance of Thailand (MAT) and with the co-operation of the Ministry which stands to gain most from this new ‘windfall,’- Tourism and Sports - finally decided to remove the prohibitive tax which was crippling the Kingdom’s development of yachting, cruising and the total marine sector. Now, with the promise of zero tax, the innumerable legions of people involved in yachts, power boats and those dependent upon the huge marine infra-structure, go forward with a renewed confidence, enthusiasm and drive.

The second big event, which opened just after the King’s Cup was the first-ever Phuket International Marine Expo 2003 (PIMEX), held from the seventh to the 10th of December at the Phuket Boat Lagoon. According to one of the principal organizers, Grenville Fordham, Managing Director of Image Asia, who is also a major supporter of the Regatta, PIMEX was a most timely exhibition and was fully booked with more than 72 international exhibitors displaying upwards of 80 craft, marine-related artifacts and other items.

It was, without any doubt, a huge success, with animated crowds, excellent on-land and on-water exhibits and a general ambience of confidence, camaraderie, marine business acumen and, just plain, good fun.

Among the marvelous beach parties which are the hall-mark of the Regatta’s social milieu, Mom Tri’s Boathouse held the traditional annual tribute to HM the King, with a beautiful candle-lit ceremony in front of the Boathouse, on Kata Beach, the occasion co-ordinated with nation-wide tributes to His Majesty to toast Thailand’s much revered Monarch on his birthday.

Like any human endeavor, the Regatta has adapted and evolved to adjust to changing situations, life-styles and classes of yachts participating. For example, last year, the start went back to Koh Phi Phi and a recent sailing started from Krabi.

This time, however, all racing took place out off the Regatta host hotel, the Kata Beach Resort and, under the direction of Sunsail’s Simon James, all the action will off and around Phuket and neighboring islands. An experienced veteran of yacht racing and cruising, Simon designed courses to suit all craft, from the fastest racing yachts to the slowest live-aboard cruisersand classics.

This year saw the return of New Zealander John McLennan as Principal Race Officer. After a continuous seven-year period, John took a year off and he returned in 2003 with renewed enthusiasm.

Perennial Regattarian, International Judge Aussie Mark Pryke, was again Chairman of the International Jury, which a Regatta of this standing requires, lending his substantial and proven knowledge and experience of the yacht racing rules and sea-lore generally, ensuring all competitors a fair and unbiased hearing of the huge number of disputes which arose during the week. Mark was ably supported by Rear Admiral Prasart Sribhadung (Thailand), Howard Elliot (Australia), Katuya Hashiba (Japan) and Britain’s Brian Willis.

Of course, especially in tough economic times, sponsorship is even more important than ever. The immutable tenet applies: “No Sponsorship; No Regatta!” The 2003 Regatta sponsors included the Royal Phuket Marina, Kata Group, Mom Tri’s Boathouse, American Express Bank, Thai Marine Leisure, Teka (Thailand), Phuket Arcadia Beach Resort (operated by Hilton International), Sunsail, Artasia Press and Image Asia, as well as many supporting sponsors as well as the managing clubs, the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, the Royal Thai Navy, the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the national authority and the Phuket Yacht Club.

But, regardless of who wins and loses, it is Phuket, specifically and Thailand generally which are the major beneficiaries of such events. As Napasorn Khakhai, Assistant Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Phuket Office - which strongly endorses the Regatta - said: “The Regatta comes during our peak (tourist) season, which are December and January”.

Thus, “the publicity generated by this marvelous event, reaches to the far corners of the world, where Phuket is now back in demand as a favored destination,” he added.

Results:

Racing Division (Place, points): 1. Vicenzo Garcia, “Plis Play” (Spain, 12); 2. Ray Ordoveza, “Clariden-Karaoke” (Phil, 15); 3. Neil Pride, “High Fidelity” (Hong Kong, 16); 4. Fred Kinmouth, Stella Minter-Ellison (Honk Kong 21); 5. Peter Ahern, “Yo” (Mal, 27); 6. Ray Roberts, “Hollywood Boulevard (Aus, 29); 7. Andreas Bienz, “Pasaya” (Switz,37; 8. Keith Moore, “Pla Loma” (Mal.38).

Sports Boat: 1. Jeremy Muller, “Scallywag” (Sing, 6); Stuart Harrison, “Panic!” (Mal, 12); David Hamilton, “Luk Loma” (Sing, 17); Scott Duncanson, “Securicor Songtam Express” (Hong Kong, 19); Mark Horwood, “Image Asia Attitude” (Hong Kong, 29).

American Express Banking Premier Cruising Division: 1. Jon Wardill, “Australian Maid” (Aus, 10); 2. Marcel Liedts, “Hocux Pocux 2 (Belg, 11); 3. George Olivit, “Big Buzzard” (Sing, 12); 4. Ian Nicholson, “Intrigue of Stornoway” (NZ, 15); 5. Suwan Poopoksakul,”X-Tream” (Thai, 16); 6. Richard Kahm, “Diablesse” (Ber, 30); 7. Velistri Ferasco, “Adriatica” (Ita, 35).

IRC One: 1. David Lindahl, “La Samudra” (Jap, 12); 2. Viroj Nualkair, “Octopussy (Thai, 13); 3. John Vause,”Ruby Tuesday” (Hong Kong, 14); 4. Rob Williams, “Di Hard” (Thai, 15); 5. Horst Lakits “Big A” (Malta, 33); 6. Stuart Anderson “Jigonda” (Hong Kong, 35); 7. John A. Busch, “Joan Marie (St. Vincent, 35); 8. Chris Pooley, “Pytheus Aura” (Can, 43); 9. Robert England,”Emerald Blue” (Thai, 44).

ICR Two: 1. Rachid Sanpakeaw, “RTN Two” (Thai, 6): 2. Bunpot Jaibunjong, “RTN One” (Thai, 6); 3. Tracy Williams “Patrice III” (Den, 12); 4. Juanita Spencer, “Dewi Bayu Gotcha Lagi!” (Mal, 13); 5. Jock Combie, “Fi Tuen” (Thai, 16); 6. Naotake Oti, “MasterBlaster” (Jap, 21); Hellmut Shutte, Blue Whale” (St Vincent, 27).

IRC Three (First eight only): 1.Bob Ashman, ”Simba” (Sing, 6); 2. Graham Lind, “Sumatra” (Sing, 10); 3. Karl-Heinz Gebhardt “Destiny” (Thai, 20); 4.Jim Ellis, “Remington” (Ita, 20); 5. Stuart Crowe, “Cinders” (UK, 20); 5 (eq.) Peter Chiltern, “Melissa” (Thai, 21); 7. George Foose, “Freewind” (Thai, 22); 8. Antonio Escribano, ”Aproache Sailing” (Thai, 26).

Ocean Rover: 1. Ray Bradshaw, “Gladys Guttenburg” (Thai, George M. Johannes). 2. “OK-LA” (Germ, John Fenn), 3. “The Four Winds” (Thai)

Classic: 1. Stephen Pepperell, “Long White Cloud” (NZ, 4); 2. Julian Hill, “Sanook” (USA, 9); 3. Claus J. Karthe, “Greensleaves”, (Ger, 12); 4. Marc Massari, “Sylvia” (UK, 13); 5. Richard Ollerhead, “Senang” (UK, 17).

Ocean Multihull (first four only): 1. Mark Prescott, “Latitude 8 Cyrene” (Thai, 5); 2. Radab Kanjanavanit,”Cedar Swan” (Thai, 8); 3. Phil Atkinson, “Fine Pitch” (UK, 10); 4. Bill Elby, “Lighten Up: (Can, 14); 5. Alister Purves, “SlipperOne” (UK, 21); 6. Yann Vincent, Papoose” (Fr, 25); 7. Marco Bourman, “Too to Tango” (Thai,27); 8. Leo Wienands, “Nixie” (Thai, 29); 9. Rick Rose, “Haaviti” (Fr, 33); 10. Merv Owen, “Mumbo Jumbo” (Hong Kong,37).