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This year it all kicked off with an easy going opening party with crew weigh-in and registration

at Multihull Solutions Regatta on Thursday evening July 9. The organisers of the two events were lucky to have their events at all this year, considering the effects of three building lows developing into typhoons in the South China Sea, sucking winds from Thailand’s west coast creating winds of 30kts and gusting higher.

Phuket Harbour department put a restriction on small craft under 24m from leaving port which was amended in time to exclude Chalong Bay and the surrounding area, allowing Multihull Solutions Regatta to take place as well as the following Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek.

Just before the first regatta started a 68m Cambodian flagged container ship, the Sinaran Andaman enroute from Penang to Myanmar, lost steerage in the rough conditions off Cape Prom Threp (southernmost cape of Phuket Island) and planted itself on Koh Hae (better known locally as Coral Island), dropping containers and other deck cargo

all over the place. At the same time a barge sunk just south of Phuket off Koh Racha. The Thai Navy responded quickly, plucking 10 crew from Sinaran Andaman’s liferaft as well as rounding up all but one crew member off the barge.

See this link to a video of the rescue posted at https://www.youtube.

com/watch?v=ySbUgMCrgeU

While these dramas were unravelling in the south of Phuket, a newly delivered set of quadruplets, fresh out of the Corsair factory in Vietnam – the Pulse 600 Corsairs – were being assembled and launched in the Boat Lagoon mid Phuket Island for their maiden voyages south to Chalong Bay. The plucky crew battled the same winds of some 30+kts on the way down and miraculously survived the journey mostly intact “shaken but not deterred”. Talk about a baptism of fire for their first outing. Things could only get better they thought, but in this case the wind, rains and sweeping squalls continued right through Multihull Solutions Regatta without let up.

A custom 37ft trimaran 3Itch was stuck at Koh Lipe near its home base of Langkawi trying to head north but had to give up and return to port due to the 3-4m seas and heavy wind.

Sixteen multihulls entered in three divisions – Multihull Racing, Pescott Firefly One Design and Open Multihulls. The Pulse 600 used the regatta as a tester and exhibition regatta to iron out any bugs with the boats and crew.

Early casualties, apart from 3Itch not making it before the regatta, were the 1989 edition Formula 40 trimaran Adrenalin and Hans Rahman’s Pescott Firefly Voodoo. The owners of Adrenalin decided to sit it out due to the forecasted conditions and save their efforts for the following regatta in the hope the weather settled down some. Voodoo broke its mooring during the night before the first race, ending up on a rocky beach and in need of repairs. Both made it to Raceweek.

On the water there were a number of breakages such as steering, damaged dagger boards (they do not like hitting sand banks at high speeds), damaged rudders, some structural damage to the odd vessel, sail damage and so on – the usual you would expect for a bunch of racing sailors pushing their multihulls

in these sort of conditions. Notably one multihull suffered zero failures and that was IMAGE asia Nina, the first of the Andaman Cabriolet cats to be built by Composite Catamarans some six years ago. Owner Grenville Fordham opted to run the worn out cruising mainsail (better described as a bedsheet) rather than the much newer four-year-old square head carbon mainsail. Reason being the six-year-old Dacron sail was smaller and you could get away without a reef and at the same time improve the handicap. Had the racing main, larger by 4sqm, been carried it would have had to be reefed all the time, losing the advantage of the extra sail area and at the same time gaining a higher handicap.

That decision, along with some consistent sailing, provided dividends with a third place overall following the two Stealth machines: Asia Catamaran Hurricane, driven by designer builder Alan Carwardine and Java, a newer sistership, driven by Mick Coleman – who unfortunately occupied the bridesmaid position second place this year after winning against Hurricane in similar conditions the previous year in the same event. So IMAGE asia Nina, as she did last year, split the fleet with her third place leaving two Stealths – Galeforce and the just launched

You could say the Mult ihul l Solut ions Regatta (n inth year) and

Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek (12th Year) are pretty

wel l jo ined at the hip with the two events l inked and cover ing

two consecut ive weekends in July.

THE SIAMESE TWINS

Multihulls Solutions Regatta

Phuket and Cape Panwa Hotel

Phuket Raceweek

by Bob Mott

photos Scott Murray, Kim Mitchel l , Ghis la ine Bovy/GiGi, Hel icam Asia, Bob Mott

Wreckage of Sinaran Andaman and rescue Thai Navy.

Grenville Fordham’s Nina and crew.

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Wow behind her on handicap along with the Seacart 28, Sweet Chariot – OMR is a real leveller as well as the heavy conditions which Nina revels in!

Winners of the Firefly class were John Newman’s (John sat it out with slipped disc) team lead by Brent Gribble on Twin Sharks, followed in second by George Edding’s Blue Nose helmed by the designer himself, Mark Pescott, and Neil Eyre on Advanced Racing Team Mamba holding down third place after hitting

a sandbank and damaging her dagger board.

The lone entrant in Open Multihulls, Tatiana Bogatyzova’s Lagoon 38 catamaran Star Fruit, plodded around the course unscathed to take the only position available ‘first’. Their spirits were not dampened by the conditions and the nearly all women Russian crew enjoyed the comraderie very much – it’s about being there!

Prize presentations were Sunday night accompanied by a delicious

buffet provided by Kim, Pia and the hardworking Thai staff at the Ao Chalong Yacht Club. Talk on the night was would there be wind during Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek in a few days. www.windguru.cz predictions were not looking good.

Most visiting competitors stayed nearby just 200m away at Ao Chalong Villa and Spa a green Thai style resort who also gave special rate during the regattas

Crews generally took a break Monday if they could. Repairs had

to be done and competing boats in Raceweek normally moved from their Chalong Bay moorings to temporary set up moorings off the beach at Cape Panwa Hotel.

Tuesday was normally boat moving day with Wednesday sign in and

crew weighing and the first night’s open party. Many of the competitors made use of the special (amazingly low) regatta rates at Cape Panwa Hotel the main venue and its sister hotel Kantary Bay, staying on site where the parties were and where

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Sudu 1 – Andrew De Bruin and Zam Bevan winners. Corsair Pulse 600’s ashore after a successful world release.

Star Fruit – mostly girl crew.

Pool at Ao Chalong Villa and Spa Resort.

ACYC by night from the water.

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the boats were anchored. Not often can you participate in a regatta and look out your hotel room to see your boat at anchor. There is a lot to be said for this event formula.

Multihull numbers at Raceweek were down on MS Regatta by just one. Voodoo returned, Adrenalin was ready and the four Corsair Pulse 600’s officially entering with only one drop out being Galeforce bringing entries to 15.

Everyone was hoping for the windy conditions of Multihull Solutions Regatta to continue with a little drop off, but Raceweek was beset by calm conditions with winds rarely getting

over five or so knots for the first few days.

On race day one PRO Simon James pulled a rabbit of the hat to get one race in before the wind died. Second day saw the multihulls sent home with no racing due to lack of wind. Simon James pulled another rabbit out of the same hat on the third day, after a couple of hours of AP ashore, for those who decided to race with two very good races achieved. The last day, Sunday, produced much better winds and two races, leaving competitors more than satisfied. Simon was the PRO for both regattas so also had to deal with the varied conditions. He proves

himself to be a regular Houdini when it comes to getting races done and everyone pretty well expects it of him nowadays.

Throughout Phuket Raceweek, patience and skills were tested to their limits on the absolute opposite end of the scale to Multihull Solutions Regatta. One with strong winds and heavy seas and the other mostly gentle breezes and calm seas. It would be hard to find two regattas so suited to each other for varied weather conditions, the actual events themselves with Multihulls Solutions Regatta as a low key three-day event with easy going parties and Cape Panwa Hotel Raceweek with

its lavish surroundings of Cape Panwa Hotel’s garden by the beach venue and buffets to die for, along with some top entertainment. And it’s only the multihulls that get this double package, not the monos.

The fact that these regattas span an overall 10 days leads very much to the opportunity to have varied conditions and what you could call champagne light and heavy weather sailing, the best of both worlds.

Not a lot of change in the pecking order at Raceweek with Hurricane

taking first, Java second and David Liddell’s newly launched Wow slipping into third pushing Nina off the podium to fourth, with Adrenalin

Ao Chalong Villa and Spa Resort pool. Cape Panwa Hotel pool.

Adrenalin enjoying the lighter conditions Raceweek.

Calm following MS Regatta with visiting aircraft carrier.

Trophies MS Regatta. Stealths in a row.

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and Sweet Chariot bringing up the rear. The one-design cats had a good shuffle but still with Brent Gribble skippered Twin Sharks first, Neil Ayre’s Advanced Racing Mamba a well-earned second place and Hans Rahman’s recently repaired Voodoo holding down third.

In the Corsair Pulse 600’s, SuDu 1, Andrew DeBruin (agent for Corsair

– Multihull Solutions) / Zam Bevan (factory manager) got first; SuDu 3, Dirk Weiblen second and SuDu 4, Scott Galle, third.

With both events over, a majority of the group headed back to their mooring in Chalong Bay off Ao Chalong Yacht Club, while the new Pulse 600’s split – two going to Krabi Boat Lagoon to join John Coffin’s

See these websites for information.www.phuketraceweek.com

www.multihullsolutions.com.au

www.acyc.asia

www.capepanwa.com

www.kantarybay-phuket.com

Sailing School Krabi Training centre and two going to the Boat Lagoon Phuket, also for sail training and for hire.

Consider this: based on one multihull and six crew with twin share accommodation for 14 days (giving a few days either side to explore Phuket and acclimatise from the chilly Australia weather in July), with

Chart provided courtesy of Southeast

Asia Pilot www.southeastasiapilot.com

boat entry and crew tickets and some pretty interesting racing for just over $A600 each plus airfares of around $A900 (fare rated out of Melbourne where it is really cold) it is hard to resist. Considering the minimum wage in Australia in 2015 is just $656.90 per 38 hour week (before tax) your money goes much further over here. It’s a case of ‘Live in Your World, Play in Ours’.

Special mentions go out to PRO Simon James ‘A Man for All Seasons’ for his impeccable efforts in both regattas. Byron and Kanyarat Jones of Media Business Services, the owners of Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek, for yet another well-organised event. The owners and management of Cape Panwa Hotel and Kantary Bay Hotels the title and venue host sponsors for Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek. Also hats off to Khun Tirapongse Pangsrivongse, managing director of Kasemkij Group the parent company for Cape Panwa Hotel, for purchasing and entering Kantas Bride, a Bavaria 32. Andrew De Bruin manager Multihull Solutions Phuket the naming sponsors for Multihull Solutions Regatta. The Ao Chalong Yacht Club under which both regattas are run as well as hosting the venue for Multihull Solutions Regatta.

Tight racing Hurricane and Java.

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PHANG NGA

The Yao Island Archipelago runs north to south and divides Phang Nga Bay into two distinct cruising areas. To the west and north is Phang Nga Bay and to the East and south are Krabi and the mainland. They are part of Phang Nga province and served by ferry from Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi.Together they have a population of 14,000 mostly Sunni Muslims who live by ! shing, farming and rubber. In recent years there has been some resort development mainly on the east coast of Koh Yao Noi and the south west coast of Koh Yao Yai. We start our anchorages from the north of Koh Yao Noi with Koh Kudu and Koh Roi which are part of Ao Phang Nga National Park. It is possible to ! nd shelter anywhere in a comfortable depth o" either coast so we just name a few of the better locations.

Generally the east coast of Koh Yao Noi is of little interest and shallow well o" shore.

NORTHWEST BAY19 miles from Yacht Haven

A

This is a pretty anchorage on the outer fringe of a deep bay backed by mangrove swamps and # at ground. Anchor well out in the bay in 4-5 metres and allow enough swinging room to accommodate an onshore breeze.The northwest bay o" ers protection in both seasons, with good holding on a muddy bottom.Dinghy trips ashore are possible at high tide, where there is a beach with a few huts at the back of the bay and great trails either side of the creek. The bay dries a considerable distance from the beach at low tide so keep an eye on your timing unless you want to do the dinghy drag.

AO MUANG - THE PARADISE KOH YAO21 miles from Yacht Haven

B

Reasonably well sheltered, particularly in the southwest season, this anchorage is in 10-12 metres on a muddy bottom, tucked in 100 metres southwest of the small rocky outcrop.The Paradise Koh Yao is a boutique resort nestled in the palm trees behind the beach. There is a # oating dinghy jetty in the north of the bay and yachties are welcome to use the restaurant ashore. There is a regular transfer speedboat to The Yacht Haven several times each day.

The bay just to the north, Ao Pho Noi, is great for dinghy excursions, and features several small beaches for landing and swimming against a backdrop of mangroves overhung by towering limestone cli" s.

KOH YAO ISLAND RESORTSIX SENSES HIDEAWAY YAO NOI24 miles from Yacht Haven

C

The 56-pool-villa Six Senses Hideaway Yao Noi is built around a small hill and was the ! rst ultra-luxury hotel on the island. Situated on a tiny crescent-shaped all-tide beach between Ao Muang and Long Beach this property o" ers ! ve star services for the cruising yachtsman. The resort has built a wooden jetty on the north point for ferrying guests to and from the island and Ao Po Grand Marina.

Anchorage for the resort is in 4-6 metres on mud outside the hotel moorings near the jetty on the north point.

The established Koh Yao Island Resort is just south past the southern headland and there is a walkway through the mangroves at the back of the outcrop joining the properties.

Anchor in 8-10 metres on the muddy bottom in front of either of these stylish boutique hotels.

www.southeastasiapilot.com

KOH YAO ARCHIPELAGO

Extracted from The Southeast Asia Pilot (4th Edition)

Rocks in the channelThese rocks are visible at all tides and are

clearly marked with an isolated danger beacon. Used as a navigation aid transiting Chong Koh Yao, keel vessels should always

pass well clear to the north.

Chong Koh YaoChong Koh Yao is the passage between the Yao Islands, used extensively by local vessels en route to Phuket from the northeast of Koh Yao and the Krabi area. For pleasure vessels, even keelboats it is navigable with care on a mid to rising tide. Rule of thumb; the high tide must be at least 0.5 metres more than your vessel’s draft.

The approach from the west is to favour the north coast of Koh Yao Yai heading towards the ! xed white tower marker at 8° 5.10N, 98° 34.55E then steer 65° towards the seaward end of the commercial jetty on Koh Yao Noi before passing north of the visible rock. Once clear steer southeast to exit the channel.

A ferry service leaves several times daily from the jetty on Koh Yao Noi, landing on Phuket at the inlet called Bang Rong just south of Ao Po.

BILL O’LEARY

Koh Yao Yai (with Chong Koh Yao & Koh Yao Noi top left)

The 4th Edition of Southeast Asia Pilot contains a further eight anchorages on Koh Yao alone. To ! nd out how/where to buy the print version, visit www.southeastasiapilot.com. For the ebook version, search ‘Southeast Asia Pilot’ in App Store or Google Play.

www.southeastasiapilot.comExtracted from The Southeast Asia Pilot (4rd Edition)

SABAI CORNER AND LONG BEACH24 miles from Yacht Haven

D

The rustic Long Beach and Sabai Corner bungalows to the south also have small restaurants, operating all year round and o" ering a welcome opportunity to dine out on seafood after several days of cooking on board. However, their beaches are fringed with drying coral banks at low tide, giving limited access.

Just north of Sabai Corner is the Villaguna Boutique Resort and all are served by the concrete ring road connecting the beaches and the main ferry terminal.

Anchor in 4-6 metres o" the southern end of the small bay.

KOH NOK25 miles from Yacht Haven

E

Tucked in behind the neighbouring small islets and rocks, this spot o" ers limited protection in the northeast monsoon season.

To the west, a sandy spit runs out in shallow water towards some rocks. Excellent as a stopover on the way to the Koh Hong island group or Krabi, this beach is also good for swimming, with water much clearer than that found in the passage.