Kathu the village in the centre of Phuket Island rolled out it’s annual Street Culture Parade today the start of three days of of fun and entertainging Thai cultural events. Please take the time to look at the gallery of fun and colourful pictures.
The 2012 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek got off to a lively start last night with Presenting Sponsor Mount Gay Rum hosting the opening party and entertaining the crowds with Polynesian-themed dancers. Supported by unlimited Mount Gay Rum – ‘the sailors rum’ – the Regatta welcomed a national first as the event was the platform to launch into Thailand the new Mount Gay Rum Extra Old. Well-received by over 500 guests, the party was a tribute to all that’s good and popular about sailing.
Thirty-four boats registered, competing over seven classes and divisions, including a good spread of racing, cruising, charter and multihulls, made up the 2012 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek fleet. Day 1 looked looked set for some good competition as predicted winds of 10-12 knots gusting to 15, arrived on cue.
Race Officer Simon James announced Windward/Leewards (Course 2) for IRC Racing, Firefly One-Design and Multihull Racing, while IRC Cruising and Classics were sent on longer round-the-islands courses – Course 13 and Course 19 respectively.
The 13-strong IRC Racing fleet is split into three divisions: IRC Racing I, Sportsboats and IRC Racing II. All three divisions were on the startline together as the Race Officer got the Regatta underway. The all-new Katsu (Ben Copley), an Aquila Reichel Pugh 45 built in China, was the one to watch and they took an early lead off the line in Race 1. Katsu lead upwind and downwind, rounding the leeward mark ahead of Wan Marang (Kevin Whitcraft) in second and Jing Jing (Rick Pointon) in third.
Katsu continued to lead around the course in Race 1 and secured line honours, only to loose out on handicap to Jing Jing who sailed a solid race. Wan Marang finished in third only 25 seconds behind Katsu on corrected time.
Katsu got off to a poor start in Race 2, fearing OCS she ducked back behind the fleet as the rest bunched at the pin-end of the line. On the downwind leg Katsu had made up some ground on the fleet and rounded in second close behind Wan Marang. However, Wan Marang managed to hold off Katsu’s charge to take line honours but lost out on handicap to Jing Jing who took their second bullet of the day.
In the Sportsboats class, the Welbourn 25 Brace Brace Brace (Paul Murphy) lead the fleet around the course to take line honours while Surf Patrol (Ray Waldron) and Longitude (Rolf Heemskerk) had a close on-water battle matching each other tack for tack. At the first leeward mark rounding, a poor spinnaker drop by Longitude saw Surf Patrol sneak past and go on to beat Longitude around the course and also on corrected time.
In Race 2, Brace Brace Brace made a good start and took an early lead. Surf Patrol and Longitude continued their ‘Battle Royale’ racing within a few boat lengths of each other around the course. Brace Brace Brace stretched their lead and took both line honours and the handicap win making it two from two on the Day 1.
In IRC Racing II, seven closely-matched boats and a number of regional regatta winners with crews from all corners of the world lined up at the start. Competition was expected to be tough and on-the-water the racing was close. Regatta regular Skandia Endeavour of Whitby (Stuart Williamson), took the first win on corrected time from line honours-winner Ruby Tuesday (John Vause). Third place went to Phoenix (Niels Degenkolw), with only four minutes separating the top three on corrected time.
Stuart Williamson and his crew on the Bermudian Sloop Skandia Endeavour of Whitby continued their winning ways in Race 2 with a win in the second race from Phoenix who switched places with Ruby Tuesday.
IRC Cruising were set on Course 13: south around Bon Island and back around Lon Island to port, and on to the finish. Asia Marine Kinnon, skippered by local sailing stalwart Andy Dowden, got the best start leading the fleet off the line. However, the Oceanis 423 Dreamtime (Rob Azzopardi) soon find their way and moved to the front of the pack to race off and secure line honours and the win on corrected time. The well-known Sparkman & Stephens design Remington (Jim Ellis) placed second ahead of Sail in Asia (Mike Downard) in third.
Five boats lined up for the Firefly One-Design class, including winner of the recent Phuket Multihull Regatta Voodoo (Hans Rahmann). True to form, Voodoo lead off the line with 
Twin Sharks (John Newnham) close behind. The Frog (Neil Ayre) tacked early with Twin Sharks following and Voodoo covering. As they rounded the leeward mark for the first time, there was a traffic jam as The Frog and Twin Sharks, and Phoenix (IRC Racing II) battled for position on-the-water. Voodoo went on to win the race and set the standard for the rest of the one-design Firefly’s to beat. Moto Inzi (Roger Kingdon) finished second and Twin Sharks third.
After a last place in the first race, Premier Cru (Peter Dyer) got off to the best start in Race 2 for the Firefly One-Design class but lost ground on the course as Voodoo, Moto Inzi and Twin Sharks powered past to finish 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
A highly competitive fleet of six multihulls registered for the Multihull Racing class. The much anticipated newly-launched Stealth 11.8 Cat ‘Hurricane’ (Alan Carwardine) suffered damage on the way to the anchorage the day before and scored a DNS. Sweet Chariot (Henry Kaye) and DaVinci (Mark Pescott) surprised the rest of the class with a dash from behind to lead off the start at the pin-end. However, Miss Saigon (David Liddell) soon made up ground and lead on the approach to the downwind mark. A poor spinnaker drop saw Sweet Chariot round first and go on to claim line honours. DaVinci forced Miss Saigon wide as they approached the finish and the two crossed together. However, on corrected time, DaVinci took the bullet ahead of Charro (Damien Kimball) and Nina (Rob Cullen).
In Race 2, Sweet Chariot again got the better start and seasoned skipper Henry Kaye went on to put space between them and the rest of the class. Sailing well, Kaye and his crew secured another line honours but lost out to in-form DaVinci on corrected time, while Nina again finished third.
The four-strong Classic class stretched their legs on a single islands course: around the southern islands of Hae (Coral Island) and Aeo. Classic boat racing is a rare sight in Asia and Classics is a class that has been well supported at the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek since the Regatta’s inception.
The stunning Hans Christian 38T McBob the Boat (Joe Gruba) took line honours today but was beaten on corrected time by Sirius (Simon Morris), who after racing for almost three hours beat the grand dame of the fleet, Seraph (Captain Bao), by only 30 seconds on corrected time.
Winners were presented their trophies at a beachside prize-giving and party at the Cape Panwa Hotel. Races continue tomorrow.
The 2012 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek Title Sponsor and Host Venue is Cape Panwa Hotel. The Presenting Sponsor is Mount Gay Rum. The supporting Host Venue Sponsor is Kantary Bay Hotel and Co-Sponsor the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Official Suppliers include AirAsia, Budget Car & Truck Rental, Charter Catamaran, Cholamark Boat, Gybe, Mont Clair, Pryde Group, The Moorings, Phuket Beer and Rodenstock. Media Partners include 91.5FM, Asia Pacific Boating, China Boating, Cape+Kantary, Helm Superyacht Asia Pacific, LifestyleAsia, MyDestinationPhuket, The Nation, Phuket Gazette, PGTV, Prestige, Russia-RTV channel and SEA Yachting. Island Partners include ISS Security Services and Phuket International Hospital. Island & Industry Supporters include Phuket Boat Lagoon Marina, Electrical Marine, Krabi Boat Lagoon, Sunsail and Quantum Sail Design Group.
Website: www.phuketraceweek.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/phuketraceweekregatta
Photos: www.phuketraceweek.com/high_res_media_download.htm
Media Contact:
Duncan Worthington (English)
Infinity Communications
Tel: +66 (0) 81 893 4006
Email: bdm@infinity-comms.com
It was another fabulous day here at the Kata Group Sports Ground in Phuket, Thailand for Day 2 of the Kata Group International Cricket 7s, the first event of ACST Phuket Cricket Week 2012.
The Vagabonds arrived for the first match of Day 2 short of players and soon recruited 3 young cricketers from around the ground: Ta, from PCDC Natives, Suburadip from the Singapore Slingers and Aiden from the CBB’S. The young recruits were not to be a good omen for the Vagabonds however as the Galahs won the match with a score of 3/42. Hersey so kindly once again contributed to the fundraising for the Phuket Junior Cricket Development Fund with his 2nd duck of the tournament.
The CBB’s once again set a cracking pace with a total of 1/68 versus the Thailand Rugby League. Ritchie Oliver once again showed his prowess with the bat retiring on 35. Bec Gray was the only bowler to take a wicket on the Thai Rugby League team, with figures of 1/7 in a losing cause as CBBs cantered to a win.
The Lesmurdie Mazenod boys and the Singapore Slingers were next to face the heat with Lesmurdie setting a challenging 52 runs for victory. They also achieved their first duck for the tournament so graciously adding to the coffers for the PJCD fund. Unfortunately for them it was not to be the plucky Slingers game as their final score fell well short of the mark with a total of 34.
Next up, NCL came out shooting with a breezy score of 0/58. Akram with 19 runs and and Faruque with 23 led the charge, both not out. The Mighty Spires from the UK answered with 4/46, not enough to take the victory. Athar and Jenel from the NCL team both ended with bowling figures of 2 wickets for 3 runs.
Game 5 of the day saw the Rowdies take on the Chennai Super Sevens. Batting first, the Rowdies set a modest total of 5/23. Ram & Vonky of Chennai both posted impressive bowling figures of 1 wicket for 2 runs from their overs. The Chennai boys cruised to victory, reaching their target with 2 full overs to spare, earning themselves a bonus point in the process.
In the next match up, the Mighty Spires posted a competitive total of 49 against the Singapore Slingers, with Jonathon top scoring on 13, closely followed by David on 12 not out. Once again the sundries were the top scorers of the game with both teams posting 13 and 14 extras. The Slingers gave it their all, but unfortunately couldn’t reach their target. They ended their run chase with a valiant 41 with T2 once again top scoring with 11.
In the last Shield division game of the day the Thai Rugby League took on the Vagabonds. Thai Rugby League made a solid 41 from their allotted overs. In response the Vagabonds took the win after scoring 0/ 45, earning them the victory.
The battle continued to reach the top 8 positions for Cup & Plate honours with the NCL coming out to face the Lesmurdie Mazenod team. The game featured the least amount of sundries for the entire day of play, Lesmurdie having 3 and NCL 0. The game was won comfortably by NCL with a score of 1/48 against which the Lesmurdie lads could only muster 11 runs for the loss of 3 wickets.
In the final completed match of the day, the local Thai boys of the PCDC Natives scored a modest total of 13 runs. This was knocked off by the Chennai lads with three and a half overs to spare. Whilst it was a short game, it was played with the positive spirit for which these Phuket cricket tournaments have become known. The PCDC lads still walked from the pitch with a smile on their faces and a spring in their step.
Unfortunately, due to rain, play was stopped during the match between the Da Bang Boyz and PCDC Natives. Both this game and the final scheduled match of the day between the Da Bang Boyz and the Rowdies will be played tomorrow morning.
On Finals Day of the Kata 7s the top 8 placed teams will compete in Cup and Plate divisions, they are: The Rowdies, P.C.D.C Natives, Singapore Slingers, NCL, Dabang Boyz, The Mighty Spires, Lesmurdie Mazenod and Chennai Super Sevens
The four bottom placed teams: The Galahs, CBB SCs, Thailand Rugby League and The Vagabonds start the days play in the Shield Division.
For more information: www.phuketsixes.com and here
