It was more of the same on Day 2 of Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek. In fact, it was more of the same and then some, with winds blowing to 15 knots, 2 metre swells and lots of action on the race track.
Sirius joined that action today bringing the fleet upto 36 boats and the Classic class to a commendable three.
Cruising and Charter/Bareboat classes were sent off around the southern islands of Phuket while the Classics were sent around Lone Island. All other classes completed a windward/leeward before enjoying the stunning cruising grounds off Phuket's southeast coast taking in Bon, Hei and Aeo islands.
Like an unstoppable train, Bill Bremner and his crew on Foxy Lady VI took everything in their stride. A bullet in the windward/leeward gave them confidence and a comfortable lead allowing them to take a few risks in Race 2, sailing in close to the islands.
Report Foxy Lady Racing, “We took some chances rounding the first island and cut the corner inside the submerged “phantom” rock and it gave us some decent gains at the halfway point. ” They went on to make further gains and win the second race of the day by one minute on corrected time and remain unbeaten in the series.
Elsewhere in the class Oi! and Island Fling traded second and third places while two fourth places today sees Blue Note close the gap a little on Fujin.
Australians are ruling IRC Racing II. Roland Dane and his Aussie crew on Jessandra II includes local sailing talent Scott Duncanson and Mia Gillow, and with two more wins today they show the international and local crew mix is proving to be a winning formula. While the winning margins on corrected time are getting larger, keeping them honest is the Australian crew on the Mumm 30 Foreign Affair who, with two second places today, now sit second overall.
Hedonist, helmed by Richard Barnhurst, while quickest over the course again today in the Cruising class but can't convert that into the handicap win, and for the third time are bridesmaid to Mike Downard's Far 1104 Sail in Asia Pinocchio.
Following a slow start to the Regatta with a fourth place in the first race on Day 1, Ian Lodewycx's Venture have scored one win and add another to their tally today. More than 40 minutes was the winning margin on corrected time and Venture now sit top, tied on points with Little Eva who slipped down to third in today's distance race.
Two fifth places today for Grenville Fordham's Nina in Multihull Racing opened the door for the Corsair 24 Bullet, the smallest in the fleet, and the 40-foot Adrenalin, to make up ground. All three are now tied on 16 points in third place overall.
Leading the series is Alan Carwardine's Asia Catamarans Hurricane who lost their first race today but their 2,1 scoreline keeps them two points ahead of Race 1 winner, John Coffin's Java.
The one-design Firefly 850 class is turning into a two horse race and while Advanced Racing Mamba continue to nail the starts Twin Sharks are successful at reigning them. In today's first race, however, they ran out of race track and Neil Ayre's Advanced Racing Mamba won by six seconds, their first win of the series.
Defending champion Twin Sharks, skippered by John Newnham, were back at them in Race 2 and scored a comfortable 40 second margin win to bolster their position at the top of the standings.
Last year's Classic class champion, Sirius, skippered by Simon Morris, were on the race course for the first time today and wasted no time making up for having missed yesterday's racing. A win over Seraph sees them trailing Seraph and Aventure by a single point, with both tied for first place.
Organised by Media Business Services, the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek takes place over four days off Phuket's southeast coast, finishing on Sunday 20th July.
