Sailing Langkawi International Regatta: Jelik pulls through despite early scare

It may be the biggest, fastest and most expensive boat competing in the Langkawi International Regatta but there some red faces on board Jelik at the start of the second day’s races yesterday.

Jelik’s keel got entangled with strings tying down a buoy just before the start of the race.

Divers were forced to untangle the mess but the incident did not hamper skipper Frank Pong and his crew from going on to win both races. Jelik leads a pack of five boats in the Racing class with nine points after two days. The juggling of results over two days has produced an interesting scenario with Jelik, Quantum Racing and Hi Fi all in contention with nine points each.

Ray Roberts and his DK46 Quantum Racing is hot on Jelik’s trail finishing a close second.

New Zealander Neil Pride and his Hi Fi also look set to give Jelik and Quantum Racing a run for their money.

In the Premier Cruising class, Malaysian entry Mata Hari took full advantage of the 15 knot winds to finish third after coming home fourth and second in two races yesterday.

The Mata Hari, with Vincent Chan at the helm, is trailing Scandia Endeavour of Whitby which has won all but one race so far.

Phoenix, skippered by Dane Neils Degenkolw, is in second spot.

By: Sharanjit Singh