Black Betty (Aus) crowned winners of 2013 Coronation Cup
Four days of great sailing in the Gulf of Thailand came to a close today with the final day of the 2013 Top of the Gulf Regatta producing some top sailing. Held at Ocean Marina Yacht Club, Pattaya, Thailand, the ninth edition has been one of the best yet.
More than 250 boats and 500+ sailors of over 30 nationalities competed for class bragging rights and the prestigious Coronation Cup for the one-design Platu class winners.
The Platu class finished their series today with two races, while for others a single race brought down the curtain on a successful Regatta. PRO Dennis Thompson set Windward/Leewards for all.
Black Betty and crew on their way to winning the Coronation Cup at the 2013 Top of the Gulf Regatta.
With a large contingent of Australian sailors taking part across fleet, and a growing number of Singapore entries, both Australia and Singapore were big winners this year.
Competing for the prestigious Coronation Cup were four Australian boats in the 16-strong class, with two Aussie crews and one from Hong Kong battling it out at the top on the final day.
Defending champions Easy Tiger IV, skippered by Chris Way, had a slow start to the 10-race campaign this week but managed to score a bullet in Race 8 to raise their hopes. However, it was not enough and they missed out on the podium placing fourth overall.
It was the two Australian entries Black Betty, skippered by Gary McNally, and Problem Child, skippered by Brian McMaster, that battled down to the wire. Quality racing across the entire one-design fleet with clean hoists and drops, and tight roundings today, made for a fitting finale to what has been a spectacular series.
In the end it was the consistency and four first place finishes by Black Betty (19) that made the difference, with them being crowned 2013 Coronation Cup champions at the final prize-giving and Gala Dinner at Ocean Marina Yacht Club.
A 1,2 on the final day was not enough to secure the title for Problem Child (22), but they were a worthy runner-up and Andrew Moore’s Tigrana (25) placed third.
In IRC Racing 2, it was Rolex Sydney Hobart regular Matt Allen and his crew on Ichiban (6), who scored six firsts from seven races to be the clear class winner, beating local favourites Royal Thai Navy 1 (11), skippered by Cpl. Wiwat Poonpat, who finished second overall. Dean Rheault’s Souy 1 (20) finished third.
Singapore Management University had three teams racing in the Regatta this year – two in the Platu class and one in IRC Racing 3 – and it was Hi Jinks (6), skippered by Peiquan Chung in the latter that finished the Regatta undefeated and were crowned class champion. Second place went to the all -Thai team on Sansiri Ooh la la (15), skippered by Patinyakorn Buranrom, and third to Tai Two (19), skippered by Sadunori Osada.
In IRC Racing 1 it was another Singapore boat Foxy Lady (8), skippered by Bill Bremner, that placed second on the last day which was enough to secure the overall class win. Thai team Wan Marang (11), skippered by Kevin Whitcraft, finished second and David Ross’ KukuKERchu (15) were third.
David Liddell’s Miss Saigon (8) were back to their winning ways today in the Ocean Multihulls class with a first in the last race to place first overall. Despite a late surge Sonic (11), skippered by Kirati Assakul couldn’t make up ground on Miss Saigon and settled for second overall with Scott Galle’s Black Swan (14) in third.
The Top of the Gulf Regatta is organised by an Organising Committee with support from the Ocean Marina Yacht Club, Royal Varuna Yacht Club and the Royal Thai Navy, and is held under the auspices of the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand.
The Top of the Gulf Regatta is unique – it is the only multi-class sailing event of its kind in Asia – and incorporates the Coronation Cup and the Thailand Optimist National Championships.
The 2013 Top of the Gulf Regatta welcomes the support of leading global brands and local businesses, including Host Sponsor Ocean Marina Yacht Club, and Presenting Sponsor of the Thailand Optimist National Championships, Sansiri PLC. Co-Sponsors Boon Rawd-Singha Beer, Jaguar Land Rover. Sponsors Thai Airways, Siam Winery – Mont Clair, Kingdom Property, Gulf Charters and Tourism Authority of Thailand. Suppliers/Sponsors include Krungsri Bank, Minor Group – The Pizza Company and Dairy Queen, QBE Insurance, Coca Cola, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, GFS foods, Lucaris Glassware, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, Buzzcats, Pure Na Jomtien and MRI-Media Representation International. Media Partners include Mix 88.5 FM, SEA Yachting, Pattaya Mail, The Big Chilli, Yachtstyle, Helm Superyacht Magazine and Guy Nowell Photography. Supporting Authorities include Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, Royal Varuna Yacht Club and Pattaya City.
