Pytheus Aura in startling regatta win

PHANG NGA BAY: The most startling result in this year’s QBE Phang Nga Bay Regatta was surely the victory by Pytheus Aura in the Racing class. Last year the boat managed only a third place in the Cruising A class. Summersalt made it two in a row by winning the multihull class, while Tag repeated its second place in Cruising A, and Rock ‘n’ Blues and Fat Cat repeated their respective 2nd and 3rd places in Cruising B. The first race, on Sunday, took the yachts from Rai Ley Beach to Koh Chong Lat, on the northeast side of the bay. On Monday, the second leg was between Koh Chong Lat and the Natural Island Resort on the northwest side of Phang Nga Bay. On both days, light air saw many of the 29 boats run out of time while still short of the finish line. Yesterday, however, saw good breezes for the final race from the Natural Island Resort to the Yacht Haven Marina in Phuket, and all yachts finished. Results were as follows: Racing Class 1. Pytheus Aura 2. Fi Tuen 3. Antigua 7 Multihulls 1. Summersalt 2. Papillon 3. Securicor Fine Pitch Cruising A 1. Platu 112 2. Tag 3. Simba Cruising B 1. Blue Moon 2. Rock ‘n’ Blues 3. Fat Cat