This was a tale of two halves.
Saturday June 10, witnessed one of the most unusual scenarios ever seen at a monthly racing event. The day started well with good winds and a bright cloudy sky creating a beautiful, cool day for yacht racing. Five, mid-sized racing yachts left the marina with fully experienced crews in anticipation of some very close racing over three courses. Perhaps the mayhem at the start line was an omen for things to come. Instead of seeing five close hauled yachts in one tight group racing away on Starboard, the first two boats were over the line early and had to turn back to be able to cross the line again. This always creates chaos because the ones over early have to weave their way back through the other boats racing hard on starboard.
To add to this turmoil Sansanook decided to approach the line on Port but met head on with Mirrabooka at full speed on Starboard with the right of way. Within seconds, a well-organized start erupted into something more resembling the inside of a washing machine. Luckily, with experienced crew on all the boats, there were no collisions and eventually order was restored and they all headed off to the first mark of the course. Things started to settle down and fifteen minutes later the lead boats arrived at the top mark without further incidents, rounded the mark and raised their spinnakers to set off downwind to the finish.
It was at this very moment that the chaos of the start line was repeated as a sudden storm passed over the fleet, ripping sails and blowing boats almost onto their sides. Such was the force of the wind that being able to sail a course was impossible and any boats not at the mark were unable to get round it. The result of all this was that eventually three boats retired with damage and one skipper decided the day would be better spent in a much safer environment back at the marina. However, two boats managed to complete the course and provide at least one race result for the day.
Sunday threatened to be a repeat of Saturday as boats left the marina looking at very black clouds on the horizon threatening to bring another storm. Luckily this was not to be and by the time the first race got underway the storm was headed north away from the racing area. The day started with winds of 10 knots and a slightly choppy sea state but provided excellent racing conditions and this continued throughout the day with winds eventually reaching eighteen knots. Three, round the cans, one hour races provided plenty of challenges and hard racing but also kept boats in close proximity throughout and all within a few miles of the marina. Races are designed so that the slower cruising boats sail a shorter course than the racing boats, albeit in the same area, so that all boats complete the course at approximately the same time.
Congratulations to all the boats and their crews. Tenacious was well sailed and a deserved winner but Iolanthe kept him honest and finished a close second. Sansanook and Graffiti gave each other a hard time all day and sailed within a few boat lengths of each other all day, with the results confirming this as they both finished with 13 points. Well done Jan Speets, on Mirrabooka, who sailed remarkably well considering he sailed single handed in quite strong winds.
Thanks must go to K Thammasak, the race officer who ran the whole thing perfectly and provided good courses and quick accurate results afterwards. FLS sponsored a few drinks for the thirsty competitors and of course none of this would be possible without the Infrastructure provided by Scott Finsten of Ocean Marina Jomtien.
Results
Racing Class
Tenacious: Terry Foster 2,1,1,1 – 5 points
Iolanthe: Nathan Masopust 5,2,3,2 – 12 points
Grafiti: Marco Belonje 1,4,4,4 – 13 points
Sansanook: Craig Donnelly 5,3,2,3 – 13 points
Cruising Class
Mirrabook Jan Speets 2,1,1,1 – 5 points
