PHUKET KING’S CUP – Day Three report. Lay day today.

Perfect breezes at 12-15 knots on top of two whole days of strong wind had the swells riding higher today, and conditions that were way more “Rock ‘n’ Roll”.

Kevin Whitcraft’s THA72 crew has a very credible early claim on regatta glory, as does Team Kata Rocks (Peter Dyer’s Madam Butterfly) in IRC2. Premier Class, IRC1, the one-design Pulse 600 class and the Modern Classics are all tied up with joint leaders at the top of each class, so let’s see what the midweek shakedown brings.

Three races each today (Wednesday) for the full-on racing classes, and no surprise to see Kevin Whitcraft’s team killing it again today. Three more races, three more bullets (in Races 6, 7, 8). THA72 has continually finished ahead of nearest rival Team Hollywood (Ray Roberts) and leaving the other two IRC0 boats languishing (Duncan Hine/Phil Turner on Alive, and Sarab Singh’s Windsikher).

Nick Burns and Fred Kinmonth on Otonomos Mandrake took two wins today in IRC1, with Chinese team Shenzhen Seawolf (Red Rum) coming back to take the third race of the day (Race 8, by this stage of the regatta). This is the most wide-open class this year with a field full of rivals snatching at their heels; Karasu (JPN), Loco (SIN), Fujin (AUS), and it might go down to the wire when Saturday comes.

IRC2 this regatta has played host to some great strategic racing between Peter Dyer’s Kata Rocks (Madam Butterfly) and Big Boys Racing (Farrgo Express), a Chinese entry skippered by Shen Sheng. True to form they took a win each today. Another dual-header has been playing out amongst the Firefly class, between Twin Sharks (skippered by John Newnham, GBR) and Hans Rahmann’s Voodoo. The Brit and his crew took both wins today, but that doesn’t quite do justice to the duel – just 23 seconds separated them in Race six.

The International Dinghy racing sponsored by Haad Thip Pcl. continued today with winners as follows: Suthon Yampinid (Laser 4.7), Nattapong Yoang-ngam (Topper), Panwa Boonnak (Optimist Boy), Patcharee Sringam (Optimist Girl), Keerati Bualong (Laser Standard), Manat Phothong (Laser Radial), Teerada Fakkaew / Piyaporn Kaemkaew (420).

Glorious sunshine all day, reliable winds and some fairly heavy chop made for a great King’s Cup Day Three, save for the broken equipment and early retirements. Fingers remain tightly crossed that things will stay this perfect until Saturday.