PRESS RELEASE RACE DAY 4

Langkawi, 12 January 2018 – Day 4. THA72 blitzed the course again in the racing class today after they came second yesterday, followed by Alive and Uranus. THA72 is now the overall leader in the racing class after 5 races.

No change in the IRC1 class with Mata Hari securing the first place again ahead of Char Chan. Mata Hari is now leading the class.

Phoenix tops the table in the IRC2 class and won all 5 races so far.

Gerhard Pils’ Fetz Ma, the smallest boat in the Multihull class, crossed the start line first. Fetz Ma was able to retain the lead and came first in the class, followed by Tantrum Too and Allegro. Fetz Ma is now topping the table after 5 races.

Fortissimo X took top honours again in the Club class. Last year’s winner VG Offshore, skippered by Rama Menon, came second today following a less than satisfactory performance in the first three days. Overall leader in the Club Class is Southern Breeze 3, which only managed sixth place today.

The Ocean Rover class had an interesting race and swapped all places. Chantique, which won 3 out of 5 races, came last today while Indulgence that came last in all previous races came second today. Linda, skippered by Woodrow Jack Christensen, won today’s race. Chantique, skippered by A’Dale Adham Ayahudin, now tops the table in the Ocean Rover class.

Boats, skippers and crew had been waiting all morning for wind until Principle Race Officer Simon James decided at about 1pm to give it a try. Races started as soon as the first full class arrived at the starting area.

Five starts were scheduled to race at Kuah Harbour, Racing class and IRC1 on course 1iii, IRC2 on course 1ii, Multihulls on course 14, Club and Ocean Rovers on course 15.

Race 1 – Racing class had a clear start at 14.05, Race 2 – IRC1 clear start at 14.10, Race 3 – IRC2 clear start at 14.15, Race 4 – Multihulls clear start at 14.20 and Race 5 – Club and Ocean Rovers clear start at 14.25.

After a brief puff in the early afternoon, the wind died again and there was no chance for a second race. Racing Class, IRC1 and IRC2 finished the whole course while Multihull, Club and Ocean Rovers had their courses shortened due to the dying wind.

Tomorrow (Jan 13) is the last day of the regatta, and all the teams hope that the wind is good enough for at least 2 more races.