Thais, Chinese claim share of limelight
PHUKET: As the 2017 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek came to an end yesterday, fleets of Thai and Chinese sailors stole the limelight by clinching podium places for the first time on the wind-starved final day.
Racing was delayed on the last day as the morning breeze did not arrive. However, after two hours on shore, the postponement flag was lowered.
Having already won the IRC 1 series on the penultimate day, the final race was inconsequential for Ray Roberts and his crew on Team Hollywood, who easily claimed the title with a 10 point margin.
After staging a late comeback in the series, Loco (Singapore) struggled in the light winds yesterday and had to settle for third overall behind East Marine Emagine (Australia).
Talk of the day was Ramrod — sailed by an all Chinese team they scored their first podium finish of the series, a third place in the final race.
Japan’s Phoenix finished the series with a win and defended their IRC II title comfortably.
Despite close racing with just seconds separating them at times, Sailescapes Farrgo Ladies (Australia) had to settle for second overall with the fast finishing Krabi
Boat Lagoon Piccolo (Britain) in third.
Lady Bubbly (Australia) claimed the Cruising class title with a win in the final race, while the all-Thai team on Kantus Bride made it onto the podium for the first time with a second place in the last race.
Asia Catamarans Hurricane (Australia)
defended their Multihull Racing title with a final race win and DaVinci (Australia) secured the Multihull Cruising trophy.
A new record was set in the Firefly 850 class with British team Twin Sharks defending their title and making it five wins in a row at the Phuket Raceweek.