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The Official
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Quantum wrapped the spinnaker on the second hoist and may have seen their advantage disappear. Then Jelik missed the gate and had to quickly gybe back to correct the error. Nail-biting stuff! The final windward work in 20 knots of wind on Bass Harbour may have been a little overpowering as crews strived to control the back winding mainsails and skippers kept their foot on the pedal. Eventually it was the bigger 75 foot Jelik that crossed the line 14 minutes in front of the smaller 46 foot Quantum Racing. Was this enough after handicaps are applied? A big question on the assembled media's mind.
Onshore the computers were running hot as the results were being calculated. Eventually it was ROBERTS on Quantum Racing by a little under 6 minutes to be crowned overall champion for the second year in succession. PONG's fight back on Jelik was very commendable and added great excitement to the event. Rolf HEEMSKERK's (AUS) Farr 40 YO!2 came back to claim third place after another broken halyard to finish up third overall.
After trading places over eight races in four days David LINDAHL's (GBR) Swan 40 La Samudra came to the fore in the fresh breeze to win the final race and claim overall victory in IRC 1. Ng Heng LI (MAS) on the Farr 1104 Gapurna Mat Salleh finished second, only one point behind and the best of the two RSYC youth teams entered. Mohd Faiz NORIZAN (MAS) on Gapurna Mas Ayu II finished third and provided enough close competition to keep the three boat class interesting throughout the event.
Mike DOWNARD's (GBR) Sail in Asia team from Phuket went into the final Sports race with a slim one point lead and had to choose either to cover the opposition or go flat out and try for first place. After a close start they came off the line in front and decided on the latter. Leading for the entire race Sail in Asia crossed the finish line with under 3 minutes to spare. Their closest rival, Aussie Warwick HEATH on MYCQ was breathing down their neck all race and ended up second overall. Mohd RAZALI (MAS) on Royal Malaysian Navy 2 put up a good fight all regatta to finish up with third overall.
In the under 25, class within a class, HEATH on MYCQ scored their eighth win to record a clean sweep. Hazman HAZIN's (MAS) Malaysian Yachting Association team, Teiki BALLIAN 's (THA) South Thailand Youth Team and Benjamin MUI's (SIN) SMU Team have traded places all week to end up in that order.
At the end of racing yesterday Roger KINGDON's (GBR) Moto Inzi had a big enough points advantage to win the Firefly One design on their debut outing as a class. With 18-20 knots of wind these super quick catamarans scorched around the course. Unfortunately for KINGDON a slip on the deck saw him reach for the winch and release the sheet, catching a finger in between to forcibly remove the tip of the finger, all in one swoop. Quick action by the crew and Race Committee had him off the boat and ashore to the Langkawi hospital within 10 minutes. Bill PHELPS (THA) on Twin Sharks went on to win the race and Chris JONGERIUS's (THA) newly launched The Frog slot into second place the only finishers today. Henry KAYE (GBR) chose to return Mamba early to Phuket as the results were finalized, finished up second overall and must be congratulated for bringing everyone together and getting the class underway. No mean feat in Asia to be the first of its kind.