Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek - Day 3
by Duncan Worthington 21 Jul 2018 13:31 BST
19-22 July 2018
Close racing amongst the 40-footers in IRC I - 2018 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek © Guy Nowell / Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek
They say "bad things come in threes" and today, Day 3 of the 2018 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek, was clear proof that good things also come in threes as today was the third day of fantastic sailing in a row, and with 1-and-a-half metre swells on the outer course the downwind runs proved to be a surfers paradise where gains were made, and lost.
Sixteen knots and lumpy seas saw the Race Officer start the Firefly 850 and Pulse 600s outside and send them into Chalong Bay for some flatter water while the rest of the fleet enjoyed some spectacular racing on the outer course.
Two windward/ leewards were the order of the day for the IRC classes and in IRC I Ray Roberts' Team Hollywood added two more bullets to their unblemished record. While Roberts was streaking away into the distance, the four 40-footers were thriving on the close racing with just metres in it on-the-water. In the first race, following an issue with a spinnaker drop on the first run, East Marine Emagine slipped back and crossed the line in fifth, correcting out also in fifth. Loco sailed well, crossed the line in second and corrected out in third while Aquari beat Ramrod over the line by just five seconds claiming second place on handicap in the process.
With their spinnaker tangled at the end of the first downwind leg, the all-Russian crew on Megazip broached, recovered and then struggled to free themselves. Finally, after dropping the spinnaker they struggled to regain their rhythm and DNF'd the first race.
Aquari initiated some urgent repairs to their steering system between races and then went on to claim their second place of the day ahead of Loco in third.
Four 40-footers up against a TP52 is a tough challenge and as a result, the organisers have introduced a special IRC I – 40 Division to the results sheet. Reviewing the six races so far, it's clear how close these four are on-the-water and on handicap. Aquari currently sits top of the standings while Loco and East Marine Emgaine are tied on points with Loco in second based on countback.
Two more races for IRC II and two more wins for Phoenix means they are undefeated and carry a 10-point lead into the final day. Despite two DNS' yesterday, Prime Factor were back out on the course today and quick into their running with two second places, and with the discard now in play they sit second overall.
A slow start for Sailescapes Farrgo Ladies in Race 1 hurt them and although they managed to sail over Krabi Boat Lagoon Pinocchio to cross the line ahead, they head to settle for fourth on corrected time. They fared better in Race 2 claiming third place and with that are third in the overall standings with just one day to go.
It can take some serious breeze to get the cruisers throwing spray and today, they came into their own – surfing waves and flying off the top – putting on a show for the international media corps on queue. And with this new found love of speed, there was some shaking-up of the results sheet. Sand Groper got on the podium for the first time with a third in Race 1 while Lady Bubbly scored their first place of the series in Race 2. A 1,2 for Beaux Esprits see them remain firmly at the top of the standings while a 2,3 for Venture puts some space between themselves and Linda to remain third overall.
Watching the trimarans in the Multihull Racing class surfing the morning rollers was a sight to behold with Fugazi setting a blistering pace in Race 1 to cross the line first and correct out in first place. Just 20 seconds behind was Bladerunner IX. The tables were turned in Race 2 which now means both are tied on points with the break in favour of Bladerunner IX, leaving plenty to play for tomorrow.
Two third places for Cosmo sees them sitting comfortably in third overall.
A little slow off the start in today's first Firefly 850 race for Twin Sharks didn't do them any damage in the results stakes as they sailed well to win the race. At the second start Twin Sharks and Voodoo were close to "rubbing" at the pin-end. Voodoo bared away, performed a 360 and Twin Sharks sailed off in to the distance and with it, claimed another bullet. That leaves the five-time defending champion with an eight point lead and one hand on the trophy.
Voodoo recovered well in the second race and finished the day with a 4,2 remaining second overall, ahead of Blue Noze in third.
The Race Officer rattled off three fast and furious races for the Pulse 600s which shook up the standings. A 1,3,4 for Pixalux wasn't the outcome Mick Tilden and crew would have wanted, especially as a 2,1,1 for SuDu Red sees them narrow the gap to a single point while a 3,2,2 for Multihull Solutions H30 keeps them in third overall and comfortably ahead of SuDu Grey.
Organised by Media Business Services, the 15th Anniversary edition of the award-winning Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek races over four days finishing on Sunday 22 July, 2018 at Cape Panwa Hotel.
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