2016 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek - Day 3

After a short delay this morning when the PRO kept the fleet onshore, the AP was down at 09:45 and the fleet headed out to a start line off Lone island for the third day of racing at the 2016 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek. Some of the best wind-strengths of the regatta so far greeted the sailors but with 180 degree swings it turned into a tactical lottery and for almost 100m on their start approach the Cruising/ Charter class were flying spinnakers expecting a downwind start.

PRO Simon James made the most of the better breeze to send the fleet on a longer course today with IRC Racing I, Multihull Racing and Firefly 850 Sport off around Bon Island while the rest rounded a mark set just before. The softening wind and huge wind shifts, however, became too much and after their respective island/ mark roundings, all classes were sent direct to the finish – a single race for all classes today.

Having shared the spoils in IRC Racing I yesterday, today's single race was won by some clever tactical sailing from Ray Roberts and crew on Millennium Racing, who despite racing the older of the two TP52s, lead Oi! around the course to claim the daily double and establish a two point lead at the top.

Millenium Racing has opened up a two point lead in IRC Racing I after their win on day 3 of Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek - photo © Infinity Communications

Emagine continued where they left off yesterday in IRC Racing II adding a second bullet to their series tally, and with that move above Loco in the overall standings. Loco finished second on the day while the Beneteau 44.7 Fujin out-performed the rest of the class over the longer distance and scored their first podium, third place.

Having to start the second race late yesterday due to the wind meant that some of the IRC Racing III fleet finished after the stated time in the Sailing Instructions, and were thus given FPA (Finishing Place Awarded). For Phoenix, that meant a three point score due to finishing less than a minute after the official cut-off. It didn't, however, hamper the crew's spirit as they bounced back today with a seven-plus-minute win on corrected time from Sailescapes Farrgo Express in second – their second podium of the series – and the Farr 30, Foreign Affair, in third.

In the One Design Platu class it was all change at the top as yesterday's big mover, Clement Lim and his crew on Phuket Boat Lagoon Weasel, had to settle for third. Today's win went to Kev Scott's Absolute One Design who lead around the course to finish exactly 11 minutes ahead of nearest competitor, the all-female crew on Phuket Boat Lagoon Fox lead by Liz Schoch.

Picking the shifts and getting a few breaks saw a shake-up to the leaderboard today and in Multihull Racing the consistently second-placed Java, read the conditions best and after more than two-and-a-half hours of racing, won by a 50 second margin on corrected time from Top Cat in second, relegating series lead Asia Catamarans Hurricane to third on the day.

The Japanese crew on Mil Grace in the Firefly 850 Sport class sailed strong to finish third and knock some of the regulars off the podium but John Newnham and his crew on Twin Sharks showed their class in all conditions to dominate the race. Second place went to Voodoo who remain in the hunt with one day to go.

The one-design Corsair Pulse 600's sailed to script with Pixalux, SuDu 4 (Yellow) and Multihull Solutions H30 one, two, three, again.

Organised by Media Business Services, racing concludes tomorrow with the final prize-giving and Gala Dinner at Cape Panwa Hotel, presided over by Mr Kalin Sarasin, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Sponsors and partners of the 2016 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek include: Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket, Kantary Bay Hotel Phuket, Amazing Thailand, Sports Authority of Thailand, Mount Gay Rum, Baan Mai Khao Phuket, Chang International, Finca de Malpica, Illuzion, Phuket Island Radio, aBOAT Magazine, Cape+Kantary Magazine, Esquire, IMAGE Asia, Luxury Society, One Coast, Phuket Magazine, SEA Yachting, Town & Country Thailand, Absolute World Group, Asia Catamarans, International Law Office, ISS Security Services, North Sails, Phuket International Hospital, Sailescapes, Electrical Marine, Phuket Boat Lagoon, Krabi Boat Lagoon and Quantum Sail Design Group.

Supporting authorities include the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Sports Authority of Thailand, Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and Phuket Yacht Club.

For more information, visit www.phuketraceweek.com.