2009 Sailing News
Page updated
28 March, 2010
ACYC Club Sailing
Race 1 March 15 2009
With three classes on two starts, the fleet set off on the first race of the IMAGE asia ACYC 2009 series on Sunday. With a good breeze predicted for the day, a modified Course 7 with an upwind start was set to take the boats around the islands. Despite the absence of a Cruising class, Racing and Multihulls and then the Fireflys with their own start five minutes later, got off to a clean get away with a benign wind of under ten knots taking the fleet of 14 boats up to the safe water mark at Ban Nit for a port rounding with boats Pitchpoled Firefly! Cat's out of the bag!
then setting their spinnakers for
the long downwind leg across Chalong Bay down to Koh Bon. An impressive sight as those boats on the upwind leg on starboard called their rights on the powered up fleet coming back down. As the fleet approached the westward end of Koh Lon, the wind started to ease off. But surprises were in store for the unwary.
A number of the multihulls chose to go inshore towards the shallows of Koh Lon to take advantage of wind shifts and wind sheer. The fun began as they came out of the lee of the island to find an ominous black cloud lurking - a portent for the unwary.
First to be caught off guard was Moto Inzi who surprised onlookers by standing on her nose but appropriate action by the well honed crew saw her come back down. However, SEA Properties must have been spending too much time admiring this spectacle and so were unprepared for what then happened to her as the gust came through. She demonstrated in great style just how to perfect the manoeuver doing a neat end-over-end pitch pole! Twin Sharks and Typhoon seeing the fun and not wanting to play the game took quick action to drop their spinnakers.
Meanwhile the monohulls continued their racing in exhilarating conditions. With wind speed strengthening and a wet ride in store, the fleet either returned to the Chalong anchorage and for those still in the race, finished the around-the-islands and sausage route albeit with reefed sails, and, no spinnakers. Some typically cruising class boats showed remarkable turns of speed and saw them outperforming the racing fleet. Will we see them reclassified in future races?
So, stroke a Cat's fur the wrong way, she rebels - and capsizes. She can purr upside down but, if shown no respect, she will bite the hands of those who don’t know her ropes - or sheets - to pounce for another life. Fortunately for a lady in distress, there are those who come to a delicate rescue including a speedboat, which attempted to right her on three attempts and the rest of the four-member Firefly class plus Racing class member Iruvai and Typhoon from Multihulls who abandoned the race to assist. In addition, the Rescue Police who fortuitously were in the vicinity were there to render assistance along with the Tourist Police boat later. Captain Bow of Seraph sailing on Iruvai jumped ship and assisted the drowned rats to try and right the blighted cat and later with dropping the rig and the tow of the distressed hull back to Ao Chalong. Iruvai went to the rescue on Monday and Tuesday to recover all the bits, which now lie at Latitude 8 Yachts ready to be put back together.
All the help provided by those that stood by - racers, the Rescue and Tourist Police and other onlookers - demonstrates the true spirit of yachting and of the Ao Chalong Yacht Club. Despite missing out on a good day's racing, spirits were certainly not dampened, but maybe enhanced with early post race libations. Not so for those daring young men on their flying machine who overtook their own boat in their cunning stunt.
A day to remember!
| Boat |
Name |
Place |
Emerald Blue
|
Nick Band |
1 |
| Minx |
Mick Kealy |
2 |
| Windstar |
Peter Wood |
3 |
| Boat |
Name |
Place |
| Miss Saigon |
David Lidell |
1 |
| Dingo |
Richard Simpson |
2 |
As per custom wih ACYC races, everyone gets a prize - win or lose! Congratulations to all and to the winner of the IMAGE asia Encouragement Award, Peter Wood with his new boat Windstar. Also, a big thanks to those who sponsored the race and make the day possible - ACYC and the crew - for their hospitality, BBQ, cold beers and more, race official Chandran and MC Tony Knight.
The full results for the day and the performance handicap can be viewed here: http://acyc.asiaaustraliatech.com
Photos of this race can be viewed here. Click here for the ACYC Photo Gallery.
Race 2 of the IMAGE Asia ACYC 2009 race series will take place March 22. Call Tony on 08 1747 0074 and visit www.acyc-phuket.com for more information.
See you out on the water!!
Text & photos by Leslie Hand
