Jelik holds lead in King’s Cup Regatta

PHUKET: After the lay day yesterday to conduct minor repairs and regroup the troops, racing in the 21st King’s Cup Regatta resumed today. Crews may have appeared subdued in the light morning air, but underneath the determination to improve their standings over the last two days of racing was greater than ever.

The scoring team have worked tirelessly and assured everyone that the scoring system is up to date and that steps have been taken to solve the problems that have caused confusion over the past few days.

The day began with light winds that strengthened as the boats disappeared up the east coast before returning under spinnaker to the finish.

Tim Milner’s catamaran Seekronghuk was the biggest casualty of the day when the spinnaker sheet jammed just as a strong gust came through, causing the boat to capsize right at the finish line.

No injuries were reported.

In the Racing class, the smaller boats exerted some pressure on the big guns in the penultimate race. Ray Roberts Quantum Racing and Stephen Reith’s Foxy Lady III have some work to do if they are to overtake Frank Pong’s Jelik in the overall points.

Quantum Racing nailed the start and rounded the windward mark in front of Jelik. The intention was clear and despite the bigger Jelik disappearing northbound over the horizon first, it was Quantum Racing that clawed back and came out on top in Race 6.

Foxy Lady III snuck into second place, relegating Jelik to third. Four wins in the earlier races has Jelik sitting pretty at the top of the table and will have to finish worse than third in the final race to lose their present lead.

In the Sportsboat class, Morten Jacobson’s Emma Mathild XX finally scored a win over Scott Duncanson’s Phuket 8 Raimon Land, spoiling Duncanson’s winning run but with little effect on the overall standings. Ray Waldron’s The Weasel placed third, leaving them neck-and-neck with Japan’s Keisuke Nagamatsu on Platu 114.

Despite the faster boats establishing a huge lead during the Premier Cruising class race, at the end of the day David Ross’s Frangipani Girl won the handicap honors to lead the class.

Four second places in a row makes Geoff Hill’s Strewth the closest contender, but will have to put some distance between themselves to win the class.

Third place for Jon Wardill’s Australian Maid and fourth for Peter Cremers’ Shahtoosh has them waiting in the wings and ready to pounce if the leaders make any mistakes.

After a slow start to the regatta, Jeff Davidson’s Panic has dominated IRC 1, scoring four wins and a second place to take an insurmountable lead. Second place today for Tim Costello on Switchblade puts them second overall going into the final day.

Steve Manning’s Walawala claimed third place to lift their overall standing. Andrey Novoderezhkin’s Russian team on Fi Tuen have sailed well to hold onto third overall.

In IRC 2, Peter Dyer’s Madame Butterfly continued to nail the start line and excel in light-to-moderate conditions. Although they have scored four wins and two second places to win the class with one day spare, the difference in times between podium places have been very close.

Tani Bassadone skippering the heavier Swan 42 La Samudra holds an advantage in stronger winds and second place today keeps them in second place overall.

Niels Dgenkolf’s Phoenix came from behind to score third place today, but a little to late to make any impression on the overall leaders.

Fredrick Roswold’s classic IOR racer Wings continues to dominate IRC 3 by posting four wins in a row. Consistently filling second place, Dr Basil Diethelm’s Swan 44 Sarabande has secured second overall. Third place for Larry Emerson’s chartered Remington has them regaining third overall.

In the Firefly one-design class, four wins place Henry Kaye’s Mamba firmly at the top of the class. In spite of earlier problems, Roger Kingdon’s Moto Inzi is back on the pace and second place today gave them second overall.

Meanwhile, David Hill’s Voodoo Child is holding onto third place overall.

Bill Phelps’ Twin Sharks was back on the water with a patched bow and finished in third in today’s race, but remains in seventh place overall.

For the latest results visit www.kingscup.com

Click here for the full Photo Edition AY Race Report.

– Martin Rijkuris