14th ASEAN Optimist Championship at Subic Bay, Philippines

Photo ©: George Hackett

The 14th ASEAN Optimist Championship was recently held is Subic Bay, Philippines from the 19th to the 24th of November. The conditions were on the medium to heavy with gusts up to 25kts. Since the course was set as close to the beach to avoid the heavier airs, the shifts were in the range of 15 to 30 degrees usually clocking to the left on the beats. This put a premium on pin starts as the beat from the gate to the first mark favored being left of middle. However, from the bottom mark to the gate, it paid to hit hard right as those that tacked early lost heavily.

The countries attending this regatta were Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Selangor, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. Each country had five or more skippers while Hong Kong's Eva Leung was invited to help put together a seventh team for the Team Racing part of the championship.

The last two days of the regatta was spent on Team Racing with Singapore sitting out as the top seeded team. After the eliminations, it was Singapore versus Malaysia and the Philippines versus Selangor in the semi-finals. Basically, it was over for Selangor at the start as one their boats started outside the gate. In fact, the gate had been giving problems to almost all the coaches at this regatta. I believe this was the first time a gate had been used. In the other semi flight, Singapore showed great team work in disposing of Malaysia.

In the finals, the flight for third and fourth was a real barn burner. Selangor seemed to come out of nowhere and were able to catch one of Malaysia's top sailors in a penalty situation and then held her in last to score an upset victory. In the mean time, the flight for first and second saw the Philippines, a team with no real team racing experience, lead Singapore to the bottom mark going into the last beat to the finish. All of a sudden, two of the lead Singapore boats dropped back and in true team racing fashion were able to hold two Philippine boats that allowed a better scoring combination. Singapore deservedly won the team racing event.

The fleet event saw thirty-four boats complete twelve races. There was no question that Singapore was a well coached team. Four of their five boats were in the top ten. Teo Wee Chin dominated the fleet with only 23 points and doing no worse than twelfth.

In second was a real surprise as this kid did the whole regatta with two impacted teeth, port and starboard. Emerson Villena of the Philippines showed the true meaning of "no pain, no gain". Emerson is one of three brothers sailing in this regatta.

In third was Chew Xian Jian of Malaysia who again proved Ed Baird's theory that consistency wins races. In fourth was Nurul Maisara Bt Mohd Isa of Malaysia who also won the girls division for this regatta. This regatta however was not a good one for SEA Games Silver Medallist Sandra Lili Yin as she could only muster up a sixth.

To help liven things up a bit. The jury headed by Masa Ishi, Reg Maynard, Tim Bechtel, and Allan Lundey got together with the race committee and came up with their own set of awards. For always being last, making the time limit, and mixing it up with the big boys at the start, H Tet Khaing Thein of Myanmar got the Optimistic Award. A future sea lawyer and professional witness, Nurul Maisara Bt Mohd Isa got the Star Witness Award. For always wedging themselves up against the committee boat and getting the ear drums blasted, the Wedge Brothers of Singapore, Teo Wee Chin and Maximillian Soh each got a door wedge and a set of ear plugs. Maximillian was also awarded the Sportsmanship Award. The most Improved Sailor went to Hong Kong's Eva Leung. And the Buddy Socks Award went to Chew Xian Jian of Malaysia and Emmanuel Amadeo of the Philippines.

Masa Ishi of Japan who has umpired two America's Cup said that this was the best awards event he had been to ever. The fact that the speeches were kept short and light hearted and the fun awards put on big smiles all made the evening a success.