Team Hollywood take unassailable lead in Phuket
>> PHUKET: Day three proved crucial for many at the 2017 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek as the top teams consolidated their positions while others scored valuable points setting themselves up for a final day showdown.
After a brief delay to the start, eight knots of breeze arrived and the 41-strong fleet were set on their way — two races for the racing classes and one for the cruising boats.
First up were the IRC I racers. While the six-strong class has seen some close racing down the ranks but at the top, Ray Roberts and his crew on Team Hollywood (AUS) have been unstoppable. Six wins from seven races gives them a clear nine point lead with just one race left in the series they cannot be defeated.
Elsewhere, the battle is on for the other podium places between East Marine Emagine (AUS), Loco (SIN) and Rerefine (AUS), with East Marine Emagine having the edge going into the final day.
Close racing in IRC II sees Phoenix finish yesterday with a 1,2 scoreline and stretch out a five point lead over the Australians on Sailescapes Farrgo Ladies while Krabi Boat Lagoon Piccolo (GBR) slot into third.
Despite a second for Lady Bubbly (AUS) yesterday in the Cruising class, they hold onto the lead while in the Multihull Cruising class DaVinci added another win to their tally and sit two points clear at the top.
In the other multihull divisions, Asia Catamarans Hurricane (AUS) slipped up with a third in the second race yesterday yet they hold onto the Multihull Racing class overall lead ahead of Thor (GBR) and Phantom V (AUS).
Twin Sharks (GBR) are running away with the Firefly 850 class — seven wins from seven races leaves them unbeatable with one race to go, seeing them extend their winning streak to five years (2013-2017).
After a slow start to their Pulse 600 campaign, Java Racing (GBR) have improved and put together a run of five consecutive wins to lead the standings, with Multihull Solutions H30 (AUS) in second and SuDu Red (AUS) in third.
Races finish today.