It was a colourful scene at Kuah Harbor, with spinnakers in shades from bold reds to vibrant rainbows set against a moderate breeze of 6 to 12 knots, coming from 055° to 060°. The day’s course took sailors from Bass Harbor to Kuah Town back and forth, with boats leaving the dock at 8.30 am and the first race commencing promptly at 9.30 am.
As the day progressed, the breeze softened, and the rising tide brought a stronger current into play, testing the sailors’ precision and adaptability. Despite these shifting conditions, all classes powered through and successfully completed two races.
Principal Race Officer (PRO), Simon James skillfully orchestrated two windward-leeward courses, with the second race extending into a longer, one-lap challenge. The well-synchronized crews and sharp instincts of experienced skippers ensured the yachts stayed competitive, keeping the momentum alive and the action on the water intense.
Race Highlights by Class
Racing Class:
Noppakao Poonphat’s Vayu claimed the first place for Race Day 3. Rolf Heemskerk’s The Next Factor showed impressive speed and strategy, taking second place and Nick Burns’ Blitz settled in third place.
IRC 1 Class:
Kazuki Kihara’s Char Chan continued its dominance, maintaining the top spot in the IRC 1 class. Vincent Chan’s Mata Hari held steady with second and third place finishes in Races 6 and 7, respectively. Meanwhile, Maksim Lisun’s Uminoko did not start (DNS) either race due to problem with the propeller, underscoring the unpredictable nature of sailing.
PSC-IRC 2 Class:
The standout in PSC-IRC 2 class was Niels Degenkolw’s Phoenix, claiming first place in both Race 5 and Race 6 to secure the overall lead. Muhammad Izzad’s PDRM Sailing Team/Fortissimo delivered a strong performance to take second, with Jeremy Camps’ The Blue Angel rounding out the top three.
Multihull Class:
In the Multihull division, John Newnham’s Twin Sharks was unstoppable, finishing first in both Race 5 and Race 6. The Firefly 8.5m catamaran is proving to be a top contender for the title. Twin Sharks was followed closely by Dougal Jackson’s Haruki and David Liddell’s WOW.
Club Class:
Dash emerged as the clear winner in the Club class for the day, with Wind of Change helmed by Ilya Strakh and Selwyn Enoch’s classic Suraya in a close battle for the remaining podium spots. Strategic zig-zag tacking played a crucial role as skippers navigated the shifting winds.
Sports Boat Class:
Sports Boat division was dominated by the RSYC Racing Team, securing first place in both races of the day. Asmawi Azman’s Navy 2 held onto second overall, while Mohd Akiyuddin’s Navy 1 came in third.
