The Spanish yacht Plis Play today won the Phuket King's Cup, the second event on the Omega Asian Yachting Circuit, with a three point margin over Clariden Karakoa from the Philippines and Hi Fidelity from Hong Kong.
After two regattas on the Omega AYC Hollywood Boulevard retains a one point lead over three boats tied in second on the table - Hi Fidelity, Yo! and Stella Minter Ellison.
Skipper Vincente GARCIA said,
"We are so very happy to win here on the Omega Asian Yachting Circuit at the Phuket King's Cup. This is a fantastic regatta and we are very proud. The competition has been very tough and we had some great races and a lot of excitement. We sailed very well in demanding conditions - and we are especially pleased as our yacht has only been in the water just two weeks! She was launched two weeks ago in Malaysia and now we will take her home to our European waters".
As the fleet headed out to the start of today's single race the result was far from certain and the breeze was blowing at around 12 knots. Hi Fidelity had said a small prayer hoping for winds of this speed and it seemed the wind gods were listening. This was her ideal conditions. She needed to finish at least three places ahead of Plis Play to win the Cup.
The start was another tense one with so much at stake. But both Hi Fidelity and Plis Play got good clean starts. Soon Plis Play's length showed and she stretched ahead of the fleet. And then the winds suddenly picked up with one yacht recording 23 knots on the course. The wind gods had turned a deaf ear to Hi Fidelity after all and she found herself bowled by gusts she was not geared for. But these conditions were perfect for Clariden Karakoa and she moved into her element.
By the finish it was Clariden Karakoa ahead of Stella Minter Ellison and Plis Play with Hi Fidelity fourth on corrected time. And with that the curtain came down on another Phuket King's Cup and Spanish arms were raised in celebration at a great victory.
In the other divisions Australian Maid won the American Express Premier Cruising Division, La Sumudra IRC1, Royal Thai Navy 1 in IRC2, Simba in IRC3, Gladys Guttenburg in Ocean Rover, Long White Cloud in Classic and Lattitude 8 Cyrene in Ocean Multihull.
The 800 competitors and followers will gather tonight for a Royal Awards Ceremony at the Kata Beach Resort and one last party. And then the fleet will move on in January for the next leg of the Omega Asian Yachting Circuit, the Singapore Straits Regatta.
Looking at the Omega AYC rankings after two events it is very tight. Ray ROBERS and Hollywood Boulevard (AUS) remain one point ahead of three other yachts: Hi Fidelity (HKG), Stella Minter Ellison (HKG) and Yo! (MAS).