No wind for big boats, but plenty for smaller ones
>> PHUKET: Conditions were more suitable for water skiing than sailing on the Andaman Sea off the southwestern tip of Phuket yesterday with the lack of wind leaving the large fleet of keelboats and multihulls unable to race on the fifth day at 32nd Phuket King’s Cup Regatta.
After being almost becalmed for three hours with little or no wind on a glassy sea, officials sent the keelboats and multihulls back to shore and cancelled the day’s racing in the 11 classes of boats.
However, the 107 young sailors contesting the International Dinghy Classes were able to race close to shore off Kata Beach in slightly better conditions than the bigger boats experienced further out to sea.
Races are being held in the Optimist boys and girls, Laser 4.7, Laser Radial, Laser Standard and 420 classes.
Once again, young Thai champion Panwa Boonak left the field in his wake and leads the overall standings in the boys’ Optimist.
Panwa, who won the 2018 Optimist Asian and Oceanian Championships at the Ngwe Saung Yacht Club and Resort in Myanmar, is way out in front after winning all 10 races held so far in the class.
In second place is promising young sailor ML Weka Bhanubandh.
In the 420, which is a team event, Chanokchon Wangsuk and Piyaporn Khemkaew maintained their lead after 11 races ahead of second-placed Intira Parnpiboon and Paliga Poonpat.
The 32nd King’s Cup Regatta ends today.