Sizzlet Byte CII World Championships in Thailand - Day 1

Alan Roberts (GBR) at the Sizzlet Byte CII World Championships © Ian Bruce

After five straight days of 15 knot winds the Championships started off with ...nothing! The competitors were sent back ashore for lunch and, at about 13:00 hrs, a light wind developed and they were back out on the water to do three races instead of the planned four. Although this was the first race of the Championship, it was officially Race 2 as the Race 1 is a carry forward of the Ronstan Series finishing position. 5 GBR boats are sailing, but are rather outclassed by THA and SIN sailors in these very hot conditions (31C).

Race 2

With wind about 5 - 6 kts, the windward/leeward course was signalled and racing got underway - eventually - but only after 2 general recalls and the use of the "I" flag on the third start. Ramos BRA, the weather boat, took the start. With the wind light and the weather leg fairly short, it was inevitable that the boats would be closely bunched down the run. The wind started to build slighty and Collin Lim moved into the lead on the second beat and held his lead to the finish. Ramos BRA was very fast downwind but could not hold the Thais and Singaporeans upwind.

Race 3

The wind was holding and the Committee set triangle/windward again and went straight to the "I" flag. The result was that the race went off on the first start. Unlike the first race which was fairly steady, there was a strong right hand shift up the first beat and Herman Nurfendi SIN was first around with a nice lead. By the time the fleet reached to bottom mark, Fabio Ramos BRA had sailed from 5th at the weather mark into 1st and rounded inside Edmond Tam SIN2. Fabio was unable to hold Edmond upwind who sailed into first at the top mark with Fabio second. Shortly after the mark, Joanne Tay SIN passed Fabio to move into second. ¾ down the run, Edmond enjoyed an almost insurmountable lead. Then just when it seemed that he would be untouchable, he did a death roll in the light conditions! By the time he recovered he had lost 7 boats because the fleet was so close.

By the time the second beat started, the wind had switched into the south, where it had been for the last 5 days, and it was a single port tack to the windward mark and a reach back to the finish. By then, it was Keerati Bualung THA in first, Joanne Tay SIN in second and Ramos BRA in third.

Race 4

With the wind back in the south and now up to about 10 kts, the Committee decided on twice around a triangle and the fleet again got off first time under the "I" flag. Alan Roberts GBR 1, winner of the first Byte North Americans at CORK, Kingston in 1993, had probably the best start in the fleet and was first around right ahead of Collin Lim SIN. Although Colin passed him, they were still leading at the start of the second beat but got too far left. Alan would end up 7th, Colin 6th. Herman Nurfendi SIN lead Sutee Poonpat THA at the weather mark. Herman went on to win the race and now stands 2nd in the Championship.

Summary

By far the most consistent on the day was Thai sailor Keerati Bualung with his 3, 1, 2 finishes. His 6 points on the day, combined with his 4th carry forward, give him 10 points and a 13 point lead in the Championship. Next most consistent were Collin Lim SIN with 15 points on the day followed by Katcha Bornstar SIN and Joanne Tay SIN tied with 16 for the day. They stand 3rd, 6th and 8th respectively.

Apart from Alan Roberts GBR 1, the British contingent have not yet been able to compete with the rest of the fleet. Age is certainly a factor as the majority of GBR entrants here are in the “grand master” category.