Young sailors battle for honours at Eastern Seaboard Regatta

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Panwa Boonnak took first place in the Optimist class.
Panwa Boonnak took first place in the Optimist class.

The annual Eastern Seaboard Regatta was run at Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Pattaya from the 21 to 23 October.  Altogether there were 63 youth sailors out on the water in the Optimist and Laser classes.  The wind was fairly light most of the time, and with a strong tide it made the conditions difficult for both the sailors and the race team.  However all 9 races were held for the Lasers and 8 races for the Optimists to give some good tight racing.

Panwa Boonnak won the Optimist class ahead of Jedtavee Yongyuennam by winning the last race and taking the series by one point overall.  Suthon Yampinid dominated the Laser 4.7 class, winning all but one race while Sophia Montgomery finished second.

In the Laser Radial class it was very close at the end with Sasha Romanyk just hanging on to a one point lead and taking the series ahead of Farida Vernon – this was despite Sasha breaking her mast on final day.

(Photos: Ben Montgomery and June Nazarov)

Light winds and a strong tide made for tough racing conditions.
Light winds and a strong tide made for tough racing conditions.
Sasha Romanyk (left) receives her trophy from Chris Dando after winning the Laser Radial class at the annual Eastern Seaboard Regatta.
Sasha Romanyk (left) receives her trophy from Chris Dando after winning the Laser Radial class at the annual Eastern Seaboard Regatta.