Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2012 – Race Report 1

Straight into it with a vengeance
By AsianYachting MultiMedia

With 10-15 knots of wind blowing down Kuah Harbour, it was no time to worry about the festive season excesses and straight back on the horse for two or three races depending on which class they were entered. It certainly pays to come out fighting and post a few early wins to put themselves in a good position for the rest of the regatta. PRO Simon James choose courses inside Kuah Harbour for the good wind and flat water, that certainly provided a spectacle for the media and quick times for the competitors.

Aussie Marcus Blackmore’s hot shot team on the chartered TP52 Hooligan came fully prepared and consequently notched up three wins in a row. In hot pursuit Neil Pryde’s Welbourn 52 Hi Fi clocked off with three second places and needs to find a little extra speed if they are to overcome Hooligan. The newest DK47 Uranus skippered by Mohamad Razali Mansor praised his crew work for securing two third places in front of their Malaysian Armed Forces sistership Utarid skippered by Ishak Jab. Frank Pong’s 75ft Reichel Pugh Jelik II took line honours with the two 52 footers uncomfortably breathing down his neck.

In the IRC 1 class Ben Copley’s Club Swan 42 Katsu and Rick Pointon’s J130 Jing Jing went blow for blow at the front of the fleet but when handicaps were applied it was Vincent Chan’s Titan 36 Mata Hari that eclipsed them both and score two wins for the day. Rick Pointon’s Jing Jing had to settle on two second places. Robert van Paridon’s Beneteau First 44.7 Tantrum and Ben Copley’s Club Swan 42 Katsu traded third and fourth places to end up tied on seven points for third place.

A change for the books in IRC 2 has Stuart Williamson’s Oceanis 523 Skandia Endeavour Of Whitby taking the daily double on both races over Niels Degenkolw’s defending champion IOR 3/4 Ton Xyacht Phoenix that has blown the opposition away in past years. Not to be outdone John Kara’s Dehler 10.6m Skybird secured two third places in front of his Royal Selangor Yacht Club counterparts Jeff Harris J 92 S Nijinsky and Jeremy Camps Pele Peterson 10.7 Cabaret 6.

A Singapore / Malaysian battle is brewing in the Sports Boat Class. Christopher Lim’s Singapore Management University (SMU) and Mohd. Masyuri B Rahmat’s Malaysian Armed Forces traded first and second places to end up tied on points at the top of the scoresheet. Khairul Nizam Mohd Afendy Malaysian Yachting Association / KFC scored two third places to round out the order. Unfortunately Angus Rankin’s RQYS had a crew overboard which resulted in withdrawing from the racing today.

Capturing the daily double in both races today, Andrew Stransky’s own design Fantasia takes a commanding lead in the Multihull Class. Showing a good turn of speed James Wilding Dufour – Nautitech 475 Mind The Gap slipped in with two second places. James Milski’s Schionning 14.60m Sea Level and Grenville Fordham’s 11.6m Andaman Cabriolet Niña traded third and fourth places to end up in that order.

Mixed results in the Club Cruiser Class has juggled places on the leaderboard. With a 3, 1 scoreline Gavin Welman’s Hallberg-Rassy 53 Rascal finishes the day on top. In the reverse order 1, 3 Morten Ringvold’s Sun Odyssey 37 Haffiman with youngsters from the Kedah Sailing Association are in second place. Defending champion Charles Hay’s Jeanneau 45 Smystery managed 2, 4 to cling onto third spot with Nicholas Smith’s Ericson 38 Free Wind a point further back in fourth place.

In the Ocean Rover Class Henning Lenz and his crew on My Toy were absolutely elated as it is the first time they have finished two races in one day, let alone win both races. Thomas C Gerard’s much bigger Warisan Duyong trailed close behind to secure second place.

At the afternoon press conference PRO Simon James explained that harbour and outside courses will be used on alternative days except on Thursday when the Round the Island course will be attempted.

The RLIR 2012 is now available on mobile devices. Logon to http://m.langkawiregatta.com to get the latest race updates and daily highlights or using more traditional methods all the info is available at www.langkawiregatta.com.