Published: 08/12/2011
From left: Kata Rocks, Piccolo and Endeavour of Whitby enjoy fabulous sailing conditions on the third day of the 25th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta yesterday. Credit: Guy Nowell
PHUKET : Local hopeful Wiwat Poonpat took the lead in the IRC 2 after securing two wins on the third day of the 25th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta yesterday.
Skippering the Royal Thai Navy 1, Wiwat was on seven points, one better than Singapore’s Bill Bremner while overnight leader and defending champion Peter Dyer’s Team Kata Rocks dropped to third on 13 points after five races.
With the wind expected to blow in the remaining two days, Wiwat said his team stood a good chance of winning the title for a fifth time although he has five new crew members.
The competition remained tense in the IRC 1 Class after six races.
Yasuo Nanamori of Karasu was on eight points while David Ross’ Kukukerchu stayed second on 12 points.
Three-time defending champion Matt Allen was on 26 points, 18 points behind the leader, while King’s Cup president Kevin Whitcraft dropped to seventh on 31 points in the 13-team competition.
“We have been struggling. Today we lost a crew member who is sick,” said Whitcraft.
“With only two days to go, a top five finish would be nice for us.”
In the IRC Zero Class, Hannes Weimer’s Team Premier strengthened its lead by winning two races and finishing fourth in the other.
The UAE team scored seven points total, four better than Hong Kong’s Sam Chan, who had two second and one third finishes.
Hi Fi skipper Neil Pryde landed his first win in the 25th King’s Cup Regatta when he crossed the finish line first in race six. With 12 points, the team stayed third in the four-team class with Hong Kong’s Frank Pong, who has competed in the event since 1998, eight points behind leader Weimer.
The best performance of the day was in the Multihull Class when skipper Alan Carwardine’s Sidewinder triumphed in all three races.
Sharing him at the top of the table on 15 points was Mick Coleman’s Da Vinci. Defending champion David Liddell’s Miss Saigon, who led the race after two days, dropped to third on 19 points.
In the Premier Class, Titania of Cowes, skippered by Richard Bobbs, was the leader on five points after four races. He finished second in race three and first in race four.
In the Bareboat Charter, skipper Oliver Heer’s Sail Plane remained leader with nine points.
