The Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC) began in the early 1990's as the Ao Chalong Cruising Yacht Club (ACCYC). Established by several locals to get people together for cruising purposes, its first 'home' was Pan's Lighthouse. The Ao Chalong Yacht Club was formed several years later and offered Sunday races, giving it a more competitive nature.
The club officially moved into new premises in 2009 in the Chalong area off Chao Fa Road close to Flints-One Bakery and Fisherman Way Business Center. A beachfront location with dinghy storage, an open-aired restaurant and bar, make it an idyllic place in which to gather after a Sunday race, socialize and have a casual meal. To see more about ACYC, click
here and to see race reports and social events of the 2009 season, click
here.
ACYC holds Sunday races two times a month, a total of 16 races for 2010, from March through November with breaks for regional regattas for keel yachts and multihulls with a length overall of greater than 6 metres. The racing season for 2010 is divided into two series with Andaman Cabriolet sponsoring Series 1 and Tamarind Villa Services sponsoring Series 2. See the
sailing programme for more information.
ACYC Club Sailing
The first race of Series 1, the Andaman Cabriolet series, was held March 7. See photos from the race
here and the race report below.
Race Report 1 - Sunday March 7
Race 1 in the Andaman Cabriolet ACYC Racing Series 1, saw a fleet of nine boats with crew ready and willing to get out, shake out the dust and embrace the season. Obstacles to depart from the yacht club at the scheduled time to make the 11:00 start served only to postpone race commencement until noon. But then a 15 minute delay. And then, "where's the wind"? Check the masthead indicator, pick a point on the compass and if that fails, moisten your finger and hold it up! At least time and wind conditions
Wind to fly a hull for Moto Inzi? Later.
gave a Simone crew member to
go up the mast in a mercy mission of retrieval!
Despite fickle and uncooperative winds, which marred the start and early stages of the course, the fleet headed on an out-of-the-book, Scott Duncanson-planned course that offered both a wind out of the sails fight and later an entertaining, fruitful and welcomed play.
Never bashful and timid, Moto Inzi led the troops and the five-member multihull class out the start, never losing her lead to complete the around the markers and through the gates course taking line honours and winning her class and celebrating in good winds to fly a hull after the finish. The second Firefly, The Frog, was in hot pursuit, with Typhoon next over the line and Miss Saigon third. Although the trimaran gained speed over the cat, corrected time gave Typhoon the third place podium. Meanwhile, Da Vinci Niña, in a move involving a slow cruise with family on board to the start, secured her last place position in Multihulls finishing with a torn spinnaker.
With just three boats competing in the Monohulls, top places of wine were guaranteed. Simone with her cast of racing and regatta veterans took the early lead and sailed to first place despite a pre-race mast climb and a spinnaker stymie after rounding a mark. The slick Jeanneau completed a fine act with a finish sitting on the windward rather than the leeward side. As for the remaining two, Chetak sailed into second with Iruvai and its cast and crew a comfortable third.
A good first race and more to go!
| Boat |
Name |
Place |
| Simone |
Roger Harris |
1 |
| Chetak |
Jim Kane |
2 |
| Iruvai |
Mark Horwood |
3 |
| Boat |
Name |
Place |
| Moto Inzi |
Roger Kingdon |
1 |
| The Frog |
Chris Jongerius |
2 |
| Typhoon |
Matt McGrath |
3 |
Thanks to the ACYC crew for putting on a tremendous post-race buffet and for providing the cherished cold beers. Cheers to Start Boat Onyx and to Kathy de Cruz for getting the fleet around the course and to Commodore Mick Kealy for presenting the awards.
The full results for the day can be viewed here. Overall results for the series and the performance handicap can be viewed at http://acyc.asiaaustraliatech.com
Photos of this race can be viewed here.
See you out on the water!!
Text & photos by Leslie Hand
ACYC Series sponsors:
Series 1: |
Series 2: |
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