Singapore Straights Regatta- Two dominants boats.

by Jonathan Woo on 13 Jan 2001 Race 4, the second race of today, was an identical
windward / leeward course as Race 3, sailed earlier today on the waters just west of Nongsa Point Marina, Batam, Indonesia. The
course was not the only identical facsimile of the day. In Racing Class B, the top three finishes were again - in descending order,
Kopi-O, Sampan and KT 2. With three first place finishes in as many races, it appears safe to assume that Race 5 and Race 6 held
tomorrow and Sunday, will in reality be sailed to determine who finishes second and who finishes third. Bearing in mind that each
boat is allowed one discard, Kopi-O has a perfect low-score of 3, what would appear realistically as an insurmountable challenge for
anyone else in Racing Class B.

As the wind picked up slightly for the afternoon course, the fleet was by now well aware of how their competition was sailing around
them. It was understood what needed to be done to make up ground, and more importantly for the lead boats, what needed to be
done to fend off the competition hot on their sterns. As is commonplace with winners, they know how to adapt, how to keep that
distance between themselves and the rest of the pack, and that is precisely what the top of Racing Class B demonstrated with their
1,2,3 repeat finish. Just as determined, and just as successful, was Racing Class A's front runner, Stella. Having placed 1st overall
during Race 3 earlier today, she further separated herself from the rest of the pack with an almost as strong 2nd place finish for
Race 4. Having now scored 1, 2, 1, 2 over the past four races, it looks likely that the rest of the courses for Racing A will too be a
dog fight for slots number two and three overall.

Having wrapped up the two inshore races sailed close to home here in Batam, Indonesia, the fleet heads back to Singapore and
open water tomorrow enroute to Changi Sailing Club. Tomorrow's race should prove to be the last opportunity for any of the boats in
the back of the pack to make a last minute push for a podium finish. Being a passage race, the distance covered and elapsed time
will permit greater maneuvering and greater risk taking, affording that last ditch effort to make up sorely needed ground in the
rankings. Tomorrow's race is so important because Sunday's Race 6 is similar in format to the races held today - it will be a short
course, with a lot of windward / leeward action. Tomorrow is the wildcard, and it's time to deal for many of the boats.