Sea yaching vol 7 2 by Easy Branches Co., Ltd.

Southeast Asia's yachting and marine industry magazine

CONTENTS Regional News & Boat Reviews Catch up on who’s doing what, when, where and how in Southeast Asia’s marine scene. We also look at a Hanse 355 Asia Marine recently received in Phuket and a highperformance, low-priced Varianta Aquacraft is touting. Then on page 52, check out Bavaria’s latest Vision 46, as promoted by Elite Yachting.

Royal Langkawi International Regatta celebrates a decade of success

Scott Murray jumps from boat to boat snapping away at the RLIR, but when he came down sick, he relies on the insightful reporting of Captain Marty Rijkuris to relive the action of this regatta.

A Sailor’s Courage Anthony Taylor profiles Gary Baguely whose successful battle with testicular cancer has been an inspiration to many. Gary actually became a classic case study in oncology training, and helped with the research and development of more effective treatments.

Bay Regatta, fifteen years on The Bay Regatta – Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi is now run by the Ao Chalong Yacht Club. The ACYC has altered the course slightly to take better advantage of the wind, but the region’s karst topography still wows all who take part in the event. Heralded Downunder sailing scribe Kevin Green reports, while Rolien snaps away at the glory of the Bay.

www.seayachting.net

Southeast Asia's yachting and marine industry magazine

CONTENTS 44

DaVinci Yacht Charters steps forward for the Bay Regatta Italian restaurant DaVinci is dipping its toes into the yacht charter market. Partners David Roberts and Mark Norris explain why and tell us why it was important for them to be the major sponsor of the Bay Regatta.

Mad Hatter Challenge & Matchrace Thailand series Morten Jakobsen brings us up to speed on the Matchrace Thailand series and the Mad Hatter’s Challenge taking place off of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Pattaya.

Asia Superyacht Rendezvous Every mid-December in Phuket, the extremely well off show off their big and little toys. With reporting from Jules Kay and Tina Hsiao we take a look back at last December’s Superyacht Rendezvous, who made an appearance and what they did during the festivities.

King’s Cup Thai sailors rise to occasion

Sustainable Marina Development

If we are not talking about dinghy racing, we sometimes forget to mention all the great Thai sailors competing in the local regatta scene. This piece takes a look at some of the key Thai performances during the latest King’s Cup regatta.

Southeast Asia has the opportunity to forge a new path in marina development and take a firm step away from the mistakes of the past in the Mediterranean and the ongoing “monster” developments in China now. Find out more from New Design Associates (NDA) CEO Emmanuel Delarue as interviewed by our Singapore correspondent.

www.seayachting.net

Regional

NEWS

ASIA MARINE, agent for HANSE YACHTS, delivered its first Hanse 355 to Phuket A Hanse 355 recently arrived in Phuket after the most unusual trip from the Hanse Yachts shipyard in Greifswald, Germany. Patrick, the French owner, decided to get her across Europe via waterways and motored through Poland, Germany, Luxemburg and finally France, reaching Marseilles after a six-week romantic passage. “Nothing like Europe in spring”, said Patrick, who then sailed from Marseille to Corsica and finally on to Genoa from where the boat was shipped to Phuket. Asia Marine , Hanse Yachts agent for Thailand, received this elegant grey hull, teak decked 35-foot sloop in Phuket in late November 2011. After a quick importation procedure she was immediately included in Asia Marine’s Bare Boat Yacht Charter fleet and was at work for Christmas. She hasn’t stopped since.

The trip via waterways across Europe.

The boat Tabuteau Managing Director of Asia Marine “It is the 5th model that we have delivered in Asia,” says Vincent Tabuteau, who brought a Hanse 545 to Phuket 18 month ago. “I am impressed by the creativity of the Hanse engineering teams. Model after model, from the Hanse 315, Hanse 630, Hanse 400, Hanse 545 and now Hanse 355, the brand has made no compromises on its original concept but have improved the performances, fittings and design. It is truly remarkable.” Elegance, speed and superb sailing characteristics are standard as are the self-tracking jib trademark of Hanse Yachts. There is enough space in Hanse 355 for you and your family; plenty of storage space and, on request, there are one or two aft compartments. The modern yacht furniture design with round shape is obviously based around practicality; you will fell

Regional

NEWS 13

at home aboard on your Hanse. Three choices of forward cabin arrangements are available and this boat is equipped with the traditional 3-cabin layout with 1 head. “The owner of this Hanse 355 wanted a comfortable boat which could also be maneuvered single handed. The boat is perfectly adapted for tropical living,” says Tabuteau. She is very popular for charter as it is a good alternative to heavier monohulls, especially for the regattas. As we know Hanse yachts are good racers. Remember the Hanse 400 S/Y Venture who won the King’s Cup regatta in it sclass last year. ASIA MARINE LTD is the HanseYachts dealer for Thailand, and has delivered five Hanse models to Phuket, the Hanse 315, 400, 545, 630 and now the 355. Through ASIA MARINE Ltd the smaller models are proposed for bareboat charter. Inquire for a sea trial or your next holiday cruise at hanse@asia-marine.net or call Vincent Tabuteau +66(0)81 827 60 75.

Specification: Hanse 355 LOA Hull length LWL Beam Draft Displacement Ballast Engine Fresh water Fuel tank CE Certificate Mast length above WL Total sail area Main sail Self-tacking jib Rig

Design Interior

10.59 m | 34 7 10.50 m | 34 4 9.60 m | 31 5 3.55 m | 11 6 1.92 m | 6 3 (standard) 1.52 m | 4 9 (option) approx. 6.36 t | approx. 14,021 lb approx. 1,845 kg | approx. 4,068 lb (std) approx. 1,925 kg | approx. 4,243 lb (opt) 13,3 kW / 18 HP approx. 240 l approx. 90 l A (ocean) approx. 16.43 m | approx. 53 9 approx. 64.86 m | approx. 698 sq ft approx. 35.25 m | approx. 379 sq ft approx. 29.61 m | approx. 319 sq ft I 14.10 m | 46 3 J 4.20 m | 13 8 P 13.18 m | 43 2 E 4.45 m | 14 6 judel / vrolijk& co Hanse Yachts Design

Regional

NEWS

Hainan Rendez-Vous sells out

Hainan Rendez-Vous again mesmerizes China’s millionaires with superyachts, private jets and every other category of ultra-lifestyle luxuries as organizers have announced that exhibitor and sponsorship slots for the pioneering event have entirely sold out. Taking place for the third consecutive year from April 5th to April 8th on the idyllic shores of Sanya, the Hainan Rendez-Vous 2012 comprises Asia’s largest yacht show, a private jet exhibit, and showcases of luxury brands, fine art and international real estate. Visitors to the glamorous four-day affair also enjoy a steady flow of stunning entertainment, seminars, fine dining, parties and celebrity appearances. Last April’s Hainan Rendez-Vous drew some 15,000 elite visitors from across greater China, as well as a who’s who of the international yacht and private jet industries and throngs of reporters from overseas and domestic media. Indications are that an even greater spectacle and fanfare will surround the 2012 edition, for which organizers are using a special purpose barge to extend the show out over the water, adding over 1,000 more square metres of exhibition area. Over 130 yachts are expected to moor in Sanya harbour for the event, a good number of them sailing all the way from Europe. The fleet will include at least five 50metre plus yachts in the Marina. More than 300 VVIP guests will be zoomed to and from the show aboard private jets, and the presence of 21 of the world’s most advanced private aircraft have been confirmed for the show’s static display at Sanya Phoenix International Airport. Organizers say that the overall exclusivity of Hainan Rendez-Vous will be raised to a whole new level at the 2012 edition, with more private VIP parties and rare brands that are the ultra-lifestyle world’s absolute cr me de la cr me. A new and exciting highlight for the 2012 show will be “Design for Mobility”, an exhibit curated by the founders of Born Designers, the famous yearly gathering of avant-garde creatives in Courchevel, France. The exhibit will bring several internationally acclaimed designers to Sanya, along with the latest design concepts for land, sea and air travel. Also making a visual splash will be the show’s fine art showcase, once again curated by famous Paris and Shanghai gallery owner Magda Danysz. More details on participating artists and their works will be revealed soon. Further activities and attractions under planning include an art forum, a wealth seminar, special VIP and VVIP lounges, gala dinners and after parties, and other surprises. Stay tuned for further details that are sure to be exciting, because when China’s elite come together anything can happen, and Hainan Rendez-Vous 2012 is where the party takes place.

Getting the most from your batteries and battery charger By Shane Granger, Captain HV Vega

RIGHT WAY

BATTERY CHARGER SENSOR

goes here BAT. 1

BAT. 2

BAT. 3

BAT. 4

BAT. 5

NEGATIVE POSITIVE

WRONG WAY POSITIVE

BAT. 1

BAT. 2

BAT. 3

BAT. 4

BAT. 5

BATTERY CHARGER SENSOR

NEGATIVE

Quite a few problems with premature battery death and loss of capacity can be traced directly to the way a battery bank is wired into the system. Rule number one is always make sure your cables are twice the suggested size and that the connectors are both crimped and soldered. Rule number two has to do with how the batteries are grouped electrically. A look at the illustration shows a right and wrong way to do this. The correct way feeds the positive into one end of the line and the negative from the opposite end. This forces the batteries to receive an equal charge. Doing it the wrong way tends to charge the first battery fully while the last one never reaches a full charge. Rule three says always place the charger sensor on the positive terminal of the last battery in the line. If you place it on the first battery then that battery will reach full charge before the others and cut the charge rate before the others have fully charged. By placing it on the last battery in line it will not cut back the charge until the entire battery bank is fully charge. In the illustration I assumed a simple 12-volt battery bank but the same principles also hold true for 24-volt banks.

Regional

NEWS 15

SEAT BOAT

LAP MARINE

Regional

NEWS

Boat Asia celebrates 20th anniversary in 2012, strengthens its position as Asia's leading boat show with new luxury yacht charter segment Boat Asia 2012, Asia’s leading boat and lifestyle show, returns to Marina @ Keppel Bay from 12-15th April 2012 in what will be the 20th anniversary of the event. Supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, Boat Asia in conjunction with strategic partner Marina @ Keppel Bay is the showcase in Asia for luxury yachts up to 50 metres. Boat Asia has grown and played a central role in developing the boating industry in Singapore and the region, with a firm commitment to promoting the business of yacht dealers and their brands as well as marinas. Boat Asia 2012 is expecting an anticipated crowd over 15,000 visitors and over 100 exhibits from the Asia-Pacific, Europe, US, Middle East, and China. “Amidst a highly volatile economic outlook, particularly in Europe, luxury yacht brands recognize that the serious growth prospects lie in still-booming Asia, where much of the real purchasing power lies,” Said Herman Ho, Managing Director of TMX Show Productions. Boat Asia has provided these brands and their dealers and distributors with the opportunity to make quality sales contacts amongst high net worth Asian clients from India, China, Singapore and South East Asia. With a 19 years track record, Boat Asia 2011 saw a whopping USD 30 million in boat sales sealed within a four-day period. Over 10,000 quality visitors passed through the show’s gates and serious business was transacted, such as the sale of a tri-deck Horizon superyacht for over US$11 million. In 2012, Boat Asia will once again feature stunning line ups from leading yachts brands such as Azimut, Beneteau, Chaparal, Cranchi, Fairline, Ferretti, Gulf Craft, Horizon, Leopard, Meridian, Monte Carlo, Nautor Swan, Pershing, Riva, Riviera, Robalo, Sunseeker and many others. At the waterfront, Boat Asia 2012 will also return with its highly popular Lifestyle concept, featuring prestigious brands such as Gaggenau, Audi and Mumm Champagne in addition to a wide range on on-land exhibitors from resort operators, charter companies, clothing and fashion brands, swimwear and sports and nautical watches. Off-the-water activities will include car displays and test-drives, a nautical fashion and swimwear show at the waterfront promenade, jazz performances, wine and whisky tasting and an exclusive timepiece showcase. The event will also partner with some of the leading private members clubs in Singapore. “Boat Asia 2012 this year have a special focus on the growing interest in luxury charters from corporations and private banks and will, for the first time, feature an exclusive luxury private yacht charter segment,” said Herman Ho of TMX Show productions, himself an avid boater. The event will also showcase the increasing use of ‘green’ technologies in boat building and design. Yacht enthusiasts both old and new who are keen to get their feet wet are urged to set sail for Marina @ Keppel Bay from 12-15 April 2012.

About TMX Show Productions Pte Ltd TMX Show Productions Pte Ltd (TMX) acquired Suntec Integrated Media (SIM) in November 2007. TMX focuses on conceptualising and managing specialised sports and lifestyle events for (targeted) industries and market segments. Boat Asia (conferred the Best Boat Show in Asia by the prestigious Christofle Asia Boating Awards 2007) is Asia’s leading leisure boat and luxury lifestyle event. For more information on TMX, visit www.tmx.com.sg.

Regional

Go Boating Thailand delivers the first Majesty Yacht to Phuket From an order placed in September 2011, the new Majesty 56 arrived via water on her maiden voyage from Singapore during Mid November. This boat, being placed under a shared ownership programme, was heavily modified to cater for her three owners very different usage styles. The flybridge layout was modified to add extra seating and lounging areas, plus a larger Bimini shade, and a tender lift was added to launch and retrieve her Sea Doo Jet ski, or 3.4 M RIB. Fishing and diving set ups were added as two of the owners are heavily into diving. The tender lift makes for easy boarding with tanks and diving equipment. With a three-cabin, three-head, layout and excellent use of space, this 56ft Majesty feels more like a 63-footer once aboard. Her crew are cared for very well as there is an aft crew quarters for two with shower and toilet facilities. During her first three weeks of use through December TRILOGY as she is named, clocked over 115hrs of use. Trips to the Similans, and Koh Lanta have already been undertaken along with the usual more local destinations around Phuket. Powered by twin Volvo Penta D12 800’s TRILOGY cruises very happily at 23 knots. Tropical spec air-conditioning was fitted as standard keeps her owners cool and comfortable. Majesty Yachts are capable of taking on customer special requests, when it comes to the main deck, bridge and lower level custom layout changes. For more information about Gulfcraft and its range of Majesty Yachts from 44ft - 135ft please contact: Go Boating Thailand Co Ltd. RPM Marina. Phuket., 0870566301, www.goboatingthailand.com.

SEA Regatta/Boat Show Calendar 2012 Royal Langkawi International Regatta (Jan 9-14) Singapore Straits Regatta (Jan 26-31) The Bay Regatta, Phuket (Feb 1-5) Neptune Regatta, south of Batam (Feb 5-11) PIMEX, Phuket Boat Show (Mar 29 – Apr 1) Hainan Rendez-vous, China (Apr 5-8) BoatAsia, Keppel Marina, Singapore (Apr 12-15) Singapore Superyacht Show, One degree 15 (Apr 27-29) Top of the Gulf Regatta, Pattaya (May 4-8) Samui Regatta (May 28-June 2) Six Senses Phuket Raceweek (July 18-22) Borneo International Yachting Challenge (July21- 27) Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta, Port Klang – Langkawi Malaysia (Nov 16-24) King’s Cup, Phuket (Dec 1-8)

Hull Marine

NEWS 17

Regional

NEWS

Thailand is No. 1 sailing destination in Asia Thailand leads in Asia, attracting international sailors year-after-year

Thailand was voted the favourite sailing venue and best regatta location in Asia in a survey conducted at the 2011 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta of international sailors from around the world. Thailand was voted as having the best sailing grounds and destinations due to an ideal geography, good weather conditions and beautiful scenery. The sailing survey was undertaken by the Top of the Gulf Regatta (www.topofthegulfregatta.com) in co-operation with the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta (www.kingscup.com), with the aim to find out sailing trends in the region, provide useful information in helping to attract more sailors to the region, and to improve facilities and services in the region. The survey found that of the sailors who came to the 25th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, 53% were resident in Asia and 47% lived outside of Asia. Over 27% of the survey respondents were found to have been sailing in Thailand for more than 10 years, while 53% are relative newcomers – sailing in Thailand for only 1-3 years. The survey found that Thailand is a popular sailing destination for international sailors, with many returning numerous times to enjoy the cruising grounds and sailing events Thailand has to offer. There are five major regattas in Thailand that local and international sailors are aware of and have participated in, including the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, Top of the Gulf Regatta, Phuket Raceweek, Samui Regatta and the Bay Regatta – Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi. Thailand’s Andaman Coast, home of the Phuket King’s Cup, Phuket Raceweek and Bay Regatta is well established as a cruising and regatta destination. On the opposite coast, the Gulf of Thailand, the Top of the Gulf Regatta continues to grow attracting a large mixed fleet of 200+ boats each year from youths sailing in dinghy classes, to beach catamarans, multihulls and the big boat monohull fleet. Of those surveyed, 62% have, at some point, brought their boat to Thailand from another country. The most popular ports of entry were found to be (in order of popularity): Phuket, Samui and Pattaya. Of those yachts coming to Thailand from overseas, 60% stayed approximately one month while 40% stayed approximately six months. Asia continues to be a popular sailing area with 32% of the respondents saying they have been sailing in Asia for more than 10 years, 14% for 4-6 years and 40% were newcomers (having sailed in Asia for only 1-3 years). When asked how they found out about regatta’s/sailing events in Asia, 74% of respondents said “Friend/ Sailing community”, followed by 54% who said “specific event website”. One of the aims of the survey was to find out what kind of people, and from where, attend the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, and other sailing events in Thailand. It was found that participants in the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta are truly international with 32% from Europe, 23% from Australia and New Zealand, and 20% from Asia, as well as strong participation from US, and Russia.

Regional

New Island Spirit 36 Catamaran introduced and built in Thailand Island Spirit Catamarans has built an excellent reputation over the years for their great sailing beautiful cruising catamarans. Now with the move of their manufacturing facilities to Thailand, the first boat produced in Thailand will be the new Island Spirit 36. Available in a 4 cabin charter version, 3 cabin cruising version and a tropical day sail version with a starting price of only $230,000 USD FOB factory Thailand. More details can be found here: www.islandspiritcatamarans.com

Advanced Technology

Using Lightweight Resin Infused Composite Structure the hulls and decks of all IS-CATAMARANS are vacuum-infused under a negative pressure of -1 atmosphere. Using hi-density DIAB Divinycell pvc closed-cell foam core, high-quality ISO vinyl ester resins. The Vacuum Infusion Process created a hull & deck that is at least 35% lighter weight, and far stiffer, than any comparable boat manufactured by traditional single-skin hand-lay or vacbagging techniques. These new catamaran designs are ideal for the sailing conditions here in Thailand where it sports a very open design to provide maximum airflow in the hot tropical climate and being locally manufactured provide the buyers with easy access to the factory during the build process as well as optimizes after sales support here locally in the region. Gulf Charters Thailand is proud to be representing the new Island Spirit Catamarans in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. The Island Spirit 36 is available for order now in your preferred version. Gulf Charters is also offering two incentive programs with the Island Spirit 36 for initial customers: Fractional Ownership: Through the Gulf Charters fractional ownership program a customer can purchase a 1/4 share in the catamaran with the yacht being managed by Gulf Charters for the owners. While it is not in use by the owners it is available for charter which will offset the ongoing cost of ownership. Charter Management Program: Gulf Charters manages a fleet of yacht in the Gulf of Thailand, any customer who would like to purchase the 4 cabin charter version of the IS 36 can add that to the Gulf Charters fleet and earn a great return on their investment. Please contact Ron Patston of Gulf Charter at ron@gulfchartersthailand.com or +66 87 940 0816 for more details on these programs.

Asia Marine

NEWS 19

Varianta – High Performance & Low Price

he concept of Varianta is to produce a yacht that is fast, fun to sail and priced extremely inexpensively. The result is Varianta’s which are good value, high quality, easy care, robust, light and fast. Both the Varianta VA18 and VA 44 are pedigree designs from the board of the America’s Cup winning designers Judel/Vrolijk and range of the Hanse Group’s vessels. The VA 18 offers exhilarating sailing with a smile on your face with her healthy sail plan and performance hull. Being trailerable, the VA18 offers flexibility of use and ease of maintenance. Ideal for the sailor requiring a simple boat to take for a quick sail, she’s proving a great training boat and an excellent training vessel. She is supplied ready to sail with mainsail, roller jib, sheets, halyards on board and her ex-factory price ready to sail without engine is Euro 8.812,91 ex VAT.

Technical Details LOA: LWL: Beam: Draft: Std: Opt: Displ: Ballast: Mainsail Furling Jib Gennaker:

5.75m 4.87m 2.40m 1.15m 0.80m 710kg 230kg 14m2 7.5m2 29m2

The VA44 is a boat that offers on performance and basic liveaboard accommodation. Far from over equipped, she is set-up on the basis of requirements rather than options. The Varianta 44 is ideal for the racer who is happy to do some no-frills recreational sailing or cruising. She’s a fast sailing yacht; efficiently adjustable with mainsheet traveler, solid boom vang, backstay, German mainsheet system with a headsail can be reefed quickly. Above and below decks she is spacious and for the family easily zoned with forward the children’s room and aft for the adults. While below decks a minimalist approach has been taken, each owner is has the ability to add equipment they view necessary for their chosen use. In her standard configuration, her price ex factory is under Euro 85,000. She comes with a limited range of extras and the option for a second aft cabin aft.

Technical Details LOA: LWL: Beam: Draft: Std: Opt: Displ: Ballast: Engine: Std: Opt: Fresh Water: Fuel: Mainsail #105% Gennaker:

13.33m 12.00 4.16 2.23m 1.79m 9,800kg 3200kg 40hp 53hp 280l 120l 57m‚ 48m‚ 140m‚

For information: Email: sales@aquacraft-thailand.com Phone: +6681 891 9653

arcus Blackmore and his Hooligan team joined the only two other crews who have who the Royal Langkawi International Regatta’s Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy, those being Peter Ahern, who won the event the first three years it was run, and Ray Roberts who won it the previous six. This year, Hooligan, which chartered the TP52 Team Premier (the King’s Cup IRC Zero winner) won seven out of ten races in its first time sailing the RLIR. Gracious in defeat Neil Pryde’s Welbourn 52 Hi Fi put up a good fight for second place, but Hi Fi will have to return as the RLIR is the only regatta it has not won on the Asian circuit. Two third places on the final day for the Malaysian Armed Forces DK47 Uranus skippered by Mohamad Razali put it in third overall and sunk Frank Pong’s 75ft Reichel Pugh Jelik II down to fourth. The two new Navy DK47s may have been outclassed in this company but the match practice will come in handy when they compete at other regattas against similar-sized yachts. Heading into the RLIR, Regatta Technical Chairman, Ahmad Zailani Bashah said, “Langkawi is known as a world-class sailing venue with excellent warm weather, the best wind conditions and good tropical waters. The wind speed in January always fluctuates between 8-20 knots and we are sure these wind conditions will continue. The Kuah Harbour race and coastal race always provides two different scenarios for sailors. We have strong wind conditions with flat waters in Kuah Harbour, as well as strong wind conditions with choppy waters in coastal areas. All participants can look forward to a challenging and fascinating sailing experience.” On the last day, racing indeed started at eight knots from the northeast and gradually climbed to fourteen knots which enabled PRO Simon James to complete the schedule of races for all classes. The return of bright sunshine and blue sky bought colour back into the scenery and turned the racing into a photographers’ delight. Three races for the IRC 1 class on the final day bought the tumultuous battle to a natural conclusion. Rick Pointon’s J130 Jing Jing won the first race and despite closing with a third and fourth-place it held on for victory to capture the LADA-IRC Challenge Trophy. A gallant effort by Vincent Chan’s Titan 36 Mata Hari to race a smaller boat with the bigger 40-footers nearly paid off but it had to

RLIR – A

Decade of Success â&#x20AC;&#x153;Regatta organizers in Australia could take a page or two out of the organizers manual here and bring back the camaraderie that comes with social functions after the racingâ&#x20AC;?, said Hooligan skipper Marcus Blackmore.

Thirty-six boats divided into five classes signed on for the 10th running of the RLIR.

settle on second overall just one point shy of the leader. On the last race, Ben Copley’s Club Swan 42 Katsu was finally able to convert line honours into a handicap win but comes to late in proceedings and left them trailing in third overall. All week, Stuart Williamson’s Beneteau 34.7 Skandia Endeavour Of Whitby and Niels Degenkolw’s IOR 3/4 Ton Xyacht Phoenix had chased each other around the course and ultimately it came down to the wire. In the first race on the final day, John Kara’s Dehler 10.6m Skybird came to the fore leaving Degenkolw’s Phoenix in second and Williamson’s Skandia Endeavour Of Whitby in third. A loud cry of victory came from Phoenix as they crossed the finish line, but PRO Simon James informed them there was another race. This time Williamson’s Skandia Endeavour Of Whitby made no mistake and struck back with first place. As a nervous Degenkolw’s crew on Phoenix slotted in behind them for second place they managed to keep hold of the overall lead and still defend the IRC 2 title to validate their early celebration. First and third place finishes on the day for John Kara’s Skybird was enough to put it in third overall. The hotly-contested Sportsboat Class came down to the last 100 metres; coming into the final race Christopher Lim’s Singapore Management University (SMU) held a slender one-point-lead over Mohd. Masyuri B Rahmat’s Malaysian Armed Forces. On the long downwind Lim’s SMU was in close quarters with Khairul Nizam Mohd Afendy Malaysian Yachting Association/KFC and Rahmat’s MAF trailed well behind. After rounding the mark a tight match racing tacking duel between the leaders allowed Masyuri’s MAF to close in. All three rounded the top mark together and went gybe for gybe to the finish. After the last gybe, Lims SMU held halfa-boat length lead and the windward berth. A little extra coaxing and picking up a little wave saw Masyuri’s MAF surge ahead as they crossed the line with the bow just ahead. The win tied the two teams on 10 points and on count back Masyuri’s MAF took victory and the Langkawi Sports Trophy by having the same number of wins and more second places than Lim’s SMU, which picked up the consolation prize for winning the Under 25 trophy. Khairul Nizam Mohd Afendy MYA/KFC ended up third overall. Not content with already clinching the Multihull Class, Andrew Stransky’s Fantasia went out and added two more wins to make it seven in a row and run away with the Malaysian Multihull Challenge Cup in their first attempt. Two second places for Grenville Fordham’s 11.6m Andaman Cabriolet Niña kept them in second overall but Nina had to surrender the title it had won two years in a row. Although James Wilding Dufour Nautitech 475 Mind The Gap finished up with two fourth places on the final day, it had done enough in the earlier races to maintain third overall.

In the Club Cruiser Class, Nicholas Smith’s Ericson 38 Free Wind fought back into contention to be within one point of Charles Hay’s Jeanneau 45 Smystery on the final day. As the 10-knot wind strength suited both boats this put pressure on both skippers to produce. Getting a good start put Charles Hay’s Smystery slightly ahead, a spot they maintained till the finish and by correcting out less than a minute in front of Smith’s Free Wind, they were able to defend the title and took home the RLYC Commodore’s Cup again. With the tussle going on in front Gavin Welman’s Hallberg-Rassy 53 Rascal ducked and weaved their way into third overall. Henning Lenz 10.36m My Toy returned to form and triumphed over his adversaries in the final race to win the Ocean Rover Class. Second place on the final day went to Datuk Richard Curtis’ 100-yearold Bristol Pilot Cutter Eveline, but contesting in only two races left them in third overall. Third place for Thomas C Gerard’s Terengganu built Warisan Duyong and competing all regatta has them finishing in second overall. This year the Tunku Abdullah Sportsmanship Award, in honour of the memory of the founding Chairman and first RLYC Commodore Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah, was won by Jelik II. Skippered by Frank Pong, they were singled out for their sportsmanship qualities and determination shown throughout the regatta. The winner was picked by nominations submitted by the participating skippers and crew each day throughout the regatta. While there were a standard criteria and list of qualities to be looked out for by all participants the winning team was picked on pure sportsmanship qualities and not race results or management. An Estonian basketball player visiting his sister in Langkawi heard about the regatta and came down to the club to see if he could join in somehow. Short on crew Grenville Fordham invited him on Andaman Cabriolet Niña and when we ran into him at the second night’s party he was elated to be here, has met many new people and glad he got involved with the sailing activity. Best holiday he has ever had Summing up, the Rear Commodore of the RLYC and Chairperson of Regatta Advisory Committee Y.M. Tunku Soraya Dakhlah binti Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah said, “The regatta complements the government’s effort in positioning Langkawi as one of the world’s most widely recognized islands and tourist destination under the Langkawi Five-Year Tourism Development Master Plan”. The islands duty-free status will go a long way in achieving thatr target. (Source: Captain Marty’s Asian Yachting News) http://www.langkawiregatta.com

A combination of harbour and outside courses were used including the round the island race over the four days of racing.

Gary Baguely:

A Sailor’s Courage B

orn in Melbourne in 1953, Gary Baguley began his life-long love affair with water sports at the age of six upon joining his local swimming club. At the time, this was recommended by his doctor to help control his asthma, so the scene was set and the fuse was lit. During his childhood, family holidays at the beach were common place, however at the age of eight, he obtained a Sabot dinghy in need of restoration (similar to today’s popular Optimist fleet), which would become the first of many yachting projects through out his career. Upon completion of this “back yard”

Story by Anthony Taylor Photos by SM

renovation, the Sabot became the focal point of his sailing for the following two years together with his younger brother and family friends. Gary’s family built their own holiday home on the coast at around this time, and at the age of 10, his father purchased a Mirror dinghy which was sailed almost every weekend at the holiday home with a number of friends from the local swimming club. At the age of 13, the family upgraded from the Mirror to a Moth, which incidentally would later be developed into the rather radical hydrofoil version still seen racing today. The Moth would become Gary’s first racing boat when he joined the local

At the age of 24, Gary took part in the first Sydney to Hobart race in 1977. sailing club at the age of 16 and began to compete. The Moth was short-lived in his racing scene and was swiftly replaced by a Dehavilland Corsair, a 3-man dinghy which became the main focus for the following two years. At the age of 18, Gary’s father entered the Laser dinghy scene, however, Gary and his brother obtained a Cherub, which is a twoman skiff type rig. This would last for around year until he went to university at the age of 19, resulting in a temporary break in sailing with the exception of some occasional crewing on larger keel boats.

Upon graduation, aged 23, Gary reentered the sailing scene on a 14' skiff together with his brother-in-law. In the same year, Gary married, and a year later the couple had their first son, Gavin. While all this was going on, he was recruited by “Fosters” in Melbourne as an engineer which would become his job for the following 10 years. Gary started to crew on Bacardi which was a Cole 43. At the age of 24, Gary took part in the first Sydney to Hobart race in 1977. Subsequently, together with the owner/ skipper John Gould, he undertook the building of a new Bacardi, which was a

Gary survived cancer at age 28 to compete in the Murray Marathon, a five-day, 400km single-handed kayak race. Peterson 43 design, to try and qualify for the Admirals Cup. During this time, Gary’s second son Adrian was born (he is now one of the directors of Blue Seas Marine). Bacardi was not ready in time for the 1978 Sydney Hobart, however in early 1979, the boat competed in the Inaugural “Round the island race” in Tasmania. In the 1979 trials for the Admirals Cup, Bacardi came 4th, however only the first three would qualify. Later that year, Bacardi reentered the 1979 Sydney Hobart and finished in second place. Tragedy struck at the age of 28 when Gary was diagnosed with testicular cancer which was the same year as the birth of his daughter Jacquelyn. Not unlike the famous cyclist, Lance Armstrong, this didn’t keep Gary down for long. Following 11 months of treatment and operations, he joined a local kayaking club to re-build upper body strength

and as no surprise to his close friends, a year later at the age of 29 he competed in the 1982 Murray Marathon, which is a five-day, 400km single-handed kayak race. He also returned to work. At age 30 with his 2 sons (Gavin 7, Adrian 5), and his daughter Jacquelyn aged 2, he re-joined the Safety Beach Yacht Club sailing smaller boats and bought 2 “North Bridge Jnrs” and a NS14. For the following 2 years, Gary would not only teach his children how to sail but be the Junior Sailing Coach for the club as well. At the age of 33, Gary, his wife and the three children all moved to Penang, Malaysia, to follow a new career opportunity with Ansell establishing new production facilities. This ended sadly in separation with his wife and family returning to Australia two years later while Gary remained in Malaysia.

Windsurfing then became a big part of Gary’s life and would remain so for some years to come. In addition to the windsurfing (as well as his work), Gary took over the Penang Swimming Club’s Sailing Section where he managed the club and led the club to all major events. At the age of 38, Gary re-located to Thailand with his same company and together with his recently married second wife. The windsurfing continued for the following two years before his sailing career would take another tack at the age of 40. In 1993, Gary joined the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Jomtien. The boats of choice at this location at the time were the Hobie 16s and Nacras, of which he began importing the occasional one or two from Australia for friends and club members. Three years later, Gary established his own company in Thailand called Blue Wave Water Sports together with a partner primarily to import Nacras, then switching to hobie cats three years later. Incidentally, there was a new addition to Thailand’s sailing fleet with the

arrival of 28 Platus to the Pranburi Marina (near Hua Hin), which he visited every two months. Although now smaller in numbers, this fleet has re-located primarily to Ocean Marina, Jomtien. On the corporate side, Gary Left Ansell in 2001 aged 48 to focus on engineering consultancy which would continue for the following six years until in 2007 he decided to devote all of his working time to Blue Wave Water Sports. The following years saw the growth of Blue Wave from an importer of beach cats to a wider scope of activities including a fleet of five charter boats namely Hunters, Sea Wind Cats, a Beneteau 32, Fun 24 and a Platu. The charter boat strategy however took a turn in March 2008 with the acquisition of El Coyote focusing more on corporate team building events as well as training. El Coyote is a 53' Holman & Pye design sloop rig providing sufficient space and accommodation for large charter groups, and it can actively compete in the monthly races organized by Ocean Marina Sailing. July 2009 saw the split of Blue Wave

Gary and crew on El Coyote.

BSM is the official sponsor of the annual Koh Si Chang race; El Coyote sponsors its own El Coyote Cup; and Gary helped initiate the Pattaya-Koh Chang non-stop overnighter in 2010. RETROSPECTION Looking back on the cancer scare, Gary recalls, “I was very lucky that I was very fit and new test drugs were available to try out on me. The new chemo drugs were very aggressive and a lot less refined and harsher than they are nowadays. I was clinically dead twice during operations for complications from the treatment but luckily they were able to revive me and I’m still here and active. “I actually became a classic case study used in the oncology training and helped with the research and development of more effective treatments that have resulted in this condition being a very treatable form of cancer nowadays. “Although not publicly known, I have also been active for many years in offering support to newly diagnosed cancer patients to help them build a positive attitude towards their treatment and remove the mental anguish that is always associated with the initial diagnosis. Just knowing someone personally who has been through the process and is still around and active 30 years after the event provides them with an important positive outlook.”

Water Sports with the departure of Gary’s partner. The company was re-branded BLUE SEAS MARINE (BSM) and is located at Ocean Marina. BSM has now become one of the leading companies in Thailand for yacht maintenance, rigging and spare parts on one side of the business, while on the other hand is now the leading distributor of hobie cats to the resort and recreational markets employing 15 people at two sites within the grounds of Ocean Marina. Since being in Thailand, Gary has participated in all the Top of the Gulf and Samui Regattas as well as being a key player in the monthly club racing as a founder member of the “Ocean Marina Sailing Group”. BSM is the official sponsor of the annual Koh Si Chang race, which is always a popular weekend for cruisers as well as racers, and the crew of El Coyote sponsors their own independent event once a year, the El Coyote Cup. Gary also played his part in initiating the inaugural Pattaya-Koh Chang non-stop over night race in 2010. El Coyote won both times so far. For more information on Blue Seas Marine, you can check the web site at www.blueseas-marine.com, or visit the office’s at Ocean Marina.

Stunning scenery, competitive racing and a different exotic island every night makes The Bay Regatta a sublime event, reports Kevin Green.

The

Sublime Bay

n Thailand’s busy racing scene the Bay Regatta is unique and has drawn returning sailors for over a decade, in fact 15 years for some participants. Its uniqueness lies with the breathtaking location of the limestone stack studded Pang Nga Bay where these huge karsts are used as marks of the passage-orientated courses. Originally conceived to attract visiting and local cruising yachts, and to capture racing action against stunning backdrops, the Bay Regatta has been described as “a party that sails around”, yet another unique characteristic;

and this year was to prove no different. Attracting sailors from all around the world, who came to charter both multihulls and monohulls, a 43-yacht fleet anchored near the The Village Coconut resort on palm covered Mah Phrao Island for the five day sojourn. Taking place in Phuket’s “high” season, a time of milder northeasterly winds, unlike the stronger SW monsoon conditions, the event has a reputation for light airs. Organized by the Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC), with racing run by the very experienced race officer Simon James, a

Anchoring at a different location every evening, mark of the course was an iconic limestone

convivial briefing took place in the grounds of the The Village Coconut resort before the opening party commenced. A veteran of many Bay Regattas, James obviously knew what participants needed – clear sailing instructions, well illustrated course guidelines and a generally friendly and fun approach to the racing. “I don’t really want to hear about protests and please do not bump into the committee boat!” were words that had everyone clapping. Thanks to the manageable size of the event plenty of friendly banter ensured over huge flagons of Chang Beer as sailors enjoyed a sumptuous buffet of Thai and international food.

Fast multihulls and new trimarans Anchoring at a different location every evening, there is plenty to see and the first mark of the course was an iconic limestone stack several miles to windward. Our 13-boat multihull fleet was an interesting mix, which included two Phuket built Andaman Cabriolet fast cruising cats, four Phuket built Firefly 850s, a new Marc Lombard designed Seacart 26 trimaran with America’s Cup style reverse bows, as well as a variety of cruising cats. My job as bowman on ACYC Commodore Grenville Fordham’s 38-foot Andaman Cabriolet, Niña, gave me a good view of the mixed fleet as we bashed away north in the 12-

there is plenty to see and the first stack several miles to windward.

knot northeasterly breeze. The horizon was filled with the jagged shapes of mist-covered islands and the foreground dotted by longtail fishing boats. Fishing floats and fish traps lay all across the channel, ensuring that a good lookout had to be kept. Up far ahead the race leader Fantasia, a home built 51-foot cat, was striding away while being closely pursued by the carbon sailed DaVinci, a 39-foot Andaman Cabriolet; sister ship to Niña owned by the regatta’s main sponsor, DaVinci Yacht Charters. At 700 kg lighter than Niña, and helmed by Firefly designer Mark Pescott, DaVinci was out to give Fantasia a run for its money.

Back on board our boat Niña, well down the fleet, the fickle wind had us tacking on headers and carving a course through the fishing float minefield until our luck ran out and we spun in a circle – a sure sign that we’d been snagged. Cursing our luck but aided by the fisherman and his wife we extricated the net undamaged from our dagger boards, gave the man a couple of cold cokes and resumed the chase. But it was in vain as the dying breeze, which traditionally blows early but only until around midday, left us stranded to study the amazing cave formations and tiny secluded beaches at Koh Phanak Island, several miles short of the windward mark.

Originally conceived to attract visiting and local cruising backdrops, the Bay Regatta has been

Changeable weather At this northern most point of our voyage about five miles in the distance jutted the tall peaks of Koh Ping Kan, more famously known as James Bond Island (from the movie set, The Man with the Golden Gun). Traditionally, the fleet had sailed up here but these confined sheltered waters invariably held little wind but had plenty to see. Islands of particular interest near the top of the bay include Koh Pan Yi, known as the Sea Gypsy village. Actually a Muslim fishing village built entirely on stilts it is a popular tourist stop and with shallow anchoring according to the cruising guide, the Southeast Asia Pilot. Not far away from it, at the Koh Khao Khao some of the caves have drawings dating back to Neanderthal times. On board, the sun baked Niña the outgoing tide was starting to push us south

and with little prospect of wind we cranked up the twin outboards. “We may not have done much in the race but we should win the best anchorage spot at the Paradise Resort”, I shouted from the foredeck. But up ahead the clouds were gathering and one by one the distant islands were obscured. A boom of thunder was followed by forked lightning as the wind rose then heavy rain crashed upon us, obliterating any visibility as we sped past the Koh Roi anchorage towards the towering mass of Koh Yao Noi and its northern sheltered bay. Using the iPad with Navionics charting installed I watched the screen as we skirted shallows before laying a course for our anchorage. Within an hour calm had descended on the anchored fleet as we waded ashore for the evening’s buffet and prize giving. As the

yachts, and to capture racing action against stunning described as “a party that sails around”.

popular local jazz singer Bonnie belted out hit after hit the complimentary gin, rum and other spirits kept the sun burnt revellers mellow. Our second passage race the next day turned out to be a glorious kite run with a 12mile course. The highlight was the twisting leg through the deep, narrow channels of karsts. One could smell the salt vegetation and feel the cool air blowing out of the myriad caves and savour the mist from soaring waterfalls. Small birds darted from caves – swifts - who built their homes there and whose saliva constructed nests are prized dishes. Clearing the atmospheric area, on the foredeck of Niña I hoisted our smaller kite in the stiffening 17-knot breeze as we sped towards the Thai mainland and the popular tourist destination of Krabi. With a free evening and no party most of our crew chose a

relaxing Thai massage, followed by a sojourn through the themed bars – football bar, guitar bar – before a nightcap at the pool bar. There is more to Krabi than bars though with plenty of dive boats and the limestone peaks are a climber’s mecca while the caves draw kayakers on guided tours to see the hidden swifts’ nests and shapely rock formations. For our third race the crew of Niña were hoping for more wind to give her a chance against the lighter, faster opposition and so it turned out with a 15-knot breeze keeping us in touch with the backmarkers of our division. Far ahead the eventual winner, the affable Aussie Andrew Stranksy and his family strode away on Fantasia, using only a Dacron screecher, which was enough to keep the chasing pack of asymmetric flying opposition at bay.

At this northern most point of our voyage the tall peaks of Koh Ping Kan, more

Winning homebuilt cat Built about two years ago, Andrew said he’d lofted the eight-ton Fantasia lines by hand and had based the shape to some extent on a Crowther design. “We had a Harrier and developed the design from that with full bows and nice, flowing lines to help it go fast downwind.” Built using a layup on frames with one-to-one lofting at Bay Island in Brisbane, Andrew took a low-tech approach to the construction of the epoxy strip planked hull. Setting off from Australia and winning the Darwin Ambon, Andrew and family was joined by his parents, themselves accomplished round the world sailors. “Our fastest point of sail is reaching and we prefer longer legs because she’s 8.5m wide and slower to tack,” Andrew explained. He declared himself pretty happy with his All Yacht Spars rig as well. “We will fly a kite but only on longer legs, like the run back from Krabi to Phuket.” The plush surrounds of the Sheraton hosted our second night in Krabi while on stage a Filipino cover band belted out Abba’s “Mamma Mia” as everyone gyrated on the dance floor, no doubt helped by the copious amounts of seven percent Chang beer. Among the throng were several Australians including Richard and Clare

MacFarlane. The Perth couple purchased Aida, their Beneteau 411 new in France back in 2001. They took three years to sail back to Australia via the Caribbean and the South Pacific before moving her up to SE Asia to compete in the King’s Cup Regatta and the Bay Regatta. “There’s a good variety of windward sailing, downwind spinnaker runs and plenty of wind shifts to keep us concentrating on taking advantage at every opportunity; and the courses took us through the gorgeous islands of the Bay,” said Richard. Other visitors included Paula and crew from London who’d chartered a Bavaria from Elite Charters. “Coming from London to such dramatic scenery is amazing and the charter price is cheap, divided between our large crew, “explained the Italian-born sailor. The next day our final 12-mile passage race had us heading west but not before we did a windward/leeward around a rocky archipelago with plenty of unmarked shoals – an unimaginable nightmare for any night sailing. Down to windward the peaks of the famous Phi Phi Island, location of The Beach movie, jutted above the hazy horizon. As I hoisted our masthead kite in the 15-knot breeze our boat Niña sailed the angles gybing our way to yet

about five miles in the distance jutted famously known as James Bond Island.

another set of low lying shoals where the committee boat marked the finish of a very enjoyable regatta. That night the casual and friendly surrounds of the open air Ao Chalong Yacht Club was the scene of our final party and prize giving and a good time to chat to some of the winners. Niels Degenkolw, on his X-Yachts three-quarter tonner won the nine-boat Cruising A division for an amazing fourth time with his yacht Phoenix. The Phuket-based Dane, who has competed in nearly all of the 15 events held since the regatta’s inception put his success down to having a boat that did very well in light winds. The experienced round-theworld sailor said he particularly liked the friendly atmosphere of the Bay Regatta.

Plenty of charter options Niels success placed him just two wins behind Mark Pescott’s record number of victories in the Bay Regatta. Pescott came in second on DaVinci behind Andrew Stransky’s Fantasia. The tall Australian designer said he’d made the podium on all of his 14 Bay Regattas, mostly on his own designs, including the Firefly. The strip

planked Firefly can be built for well under AUS$80k and they’re ideal race boats for SE Asia waters, while the very comfortable, fast cruising 39-foot Andaman Cabriolet he helmed to second place in this year’s regatta is built by Composite Catamarans in Phuket for around AUS$300K. “The Cabriolet was designed specifically to suit cruising and racing in the kind of tropical conditions you find here,” said Grenville Fordham, ACYC Commodore and partner in the companies that build and charter the Andaman Cabriolet. For visiting sailors there are several multihull charter options – both for cruising and for regatta entry – including the Andaman Cabriolet from either Faraway Yachting Charters or regatta sponsor DaVinci Yacht Charters or, for those who want a pure racer, the exciting Firefly from the Andaman Sea Club – which is also available for short cruises, although with limited accommodation. Another fairly unique fact about the lovely Bay Regatta is that it’s a non-profit event run by the ACYC, so entry fees and general costs are reasonable and on a par with Phuket Raceweek, another Phuket regatta held in Chalong Bay in July each year (Photography by Rolien).

Photography by Rolien Beute www.rolienphotography.com

Sunseeker & Andaman Cabriolet (above and bottom far right); interior Sunseeker (immediate right); revellers enjoying ride on DaVinci (far right).

t’s par for the course when marinas, yacht brokers and the like cross the border into the restaurant business, but Bay Regatta 2012 co-sponsor, Phuket’s iconic Italian restaurant DaVinci, scored a first when they crossed in the opposite direction. Sponsorship of yachting and yacht racing is one thing – and DaVinci has shown other island businesses how that should be done – but what’s an Italian restaurant doing dipping its toes into Phuket’s yacht charter market? According to DaVinci partner, David Roberts, also CEO of Aedas, the world’s largest architectural outfit, the move should come as no surprise. “The restaurant and boats are individual business units, but as part of the same brand they’re complementary – as

will be our future real estate and retail businesses. The key underlying thread is our ‘lifestyle concept’, which is not limited to any one type of business.” A clever master plan or just a bit of a hobby? Neither really… “I don’t subscribe to any hobbies; DaVinci is a viable ongoing business, but it all began quite casually over a bottle of fine wine with my business partner Mark Norris,” said Roberts, adding, “As an architect, I’m in the business of creating buildings and places that are ever more a reflection of lifestyle aspirations. DaVinci is my interpretation of what a lifestyle brand can be in Asia and, after the purchase of my first boat in 2010, the charter business seemed a natural progression for the DaVinci lifestyle concept, at the same

Davinci Yacht Charters

steps forward for Bay Regatta

Willow II, a classic sailing yacht.

established yacht charter market, Roberts said, “DaVinci offers a different approach, whereby boating alone is only part of the experience – and not necessarily the major part. Our bespoke packages meet the expectations and needs of our customers, for whom entertaining, adventure or simple relaxation may be their main motivations.” But where does sponsorship fit into all this? According to Roberts, “As with all my businesses, community engagement is a key pillar of being relevant to the communities in which we live and do business. This keeps us relevant and tuned in with people and places, as well as informing us on business opportunities, while, of course, enhancing the reputation of our brand. Yachting is great way to get rid of the stress and the pressures of business; I’ve always enjoyed sailing and participated in a few King’s Cup regattas back in the 90s – so yachting was a logical choice as a sponsorship vehicle.” Sponsorship has certainly helped establish brand recognition for DaVinci the restaurant; high profile Phuket Raceweek sponsorship for three consecutive years, supplemented by donation of a floating pontoon to Ao Chalong Yacht Club and the purchase of a training Optimist dinghy for young Thai sailors in time as promoting the Ao Yon have all brand through yacht contributed to the racing.” brand’s exposure on From that first the water and in boat purchase in 2010, Phuket’s media. the fledgling DaVinci “Taking on the Yacht Charters already role as a major sponsor operates four vessels: an of Phuket’s own Bay Andaman Cabriolet Regatta was the logical sailing catamaran, a next step as we move Sunseeker Manhattan 50 forwards with our yacht flybridge power yacht, a charter business,” said classic sailing yacht, Roberts. “Not only does (Willow II – based on a David & Lereife Roberts. it reinforce that we’re 200 year old design) and serious about the the soon-to-arrive DaVinci’s yachting arm, DaVinci 007 ‘Hovpod’ but as the region’s premiere cruising lifestyle hovercraft, while the next planned acquisition regatta, there’s a perfect fit. is a pure racing catamaran to carry DaVinci’s But what about Roberts’ own time regatta aspirations to the next level. The charter on the water? Is this only about business? “I operation is headed up by veteran yachtmaster must confess that, although we’re serious and engineer, Bruce Issell while, as you’d about the business side, I have priority on expect, the on-board catering is second to taking the boats out and thoroughly enjoy none. the time we spend on them with family and On whether it makes sense for a friends,” he said. restaurant business to take a crack at the well-

The Final Race 3 downwind leg.

Have the Thai match racers The latest news from Matchrace Thailand – a group of keen racers

T Team Sinsupa All Thai girls team (middle). Team Rolf (MAS) vs Team Ayaz(IND) (below).

he packed 2012 match race program includes the first ever Thai Umpire clinic on 22 March, which precedes the Thailand Open Championship from 23-25 March (anyone can join in the clinic, just go to be the website for more info). The grade-3 events will as usual attract a very strong contingent of international teams; at least four European teams have requested invitations. The spectators from past events will know what this means: superb entertaining racing – with the start often placed 40m in front of the beach bar at the RVYC, and a super small race course, so the entire race can be followed from the soft sofa at the bar. If you have never matchraced before, the following event is one to take note of. The Mad Hatter’s challenge I & II are one- day events where team entries are not allowed; each sailor registers individually, and the draw of the hat will put teams together on the

Team Emma vs Team Finland.

gone completely MAD? operating out of Royal Varuna Yacht Club (RVYC) – is:

day. The event will be sailed in the crewfriendly RS Vision 3 person dinghies. And the “MAD” part – just wait to see the compulsory team uniforms… and the NOR!!. It is not often you see penalties like keelhauling in an ISAF sanctioned event…Evil tongues also say that the MAD part could also refer to the party on the Saturday night, but that is probably not true. More information of this and future events can be found on www.matchracethailand.com. (Photos on these pages are from last year’s action)

Team Koo Racing chased after Team Ayaz (middle). Team Atool style of hiking (below).

About MatchRaceThailand:

Bronze Team Koo Racing (Evernew).

Silver Team Singapore.

The winner Team Ayaz (IND).

MatchRace Thailand is a group of match race enthusiasts who are determined to make this exciting sailing discipline take root not only in Thailand but throughout Southeast Asia. All efforts are on a volunteer basis, showing the sailors’ true love and passion for the sport. By holding a number of low-to— medium level events they are able to help create a training ground for established or aspiring Asian match race teams. In cooperation with the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Pattaya, MatchRace Thailand has organized seven successful events since its start in May 2010. With the ever increasing interest of match race, you will likely see at least one Thai team in all regional events. The top Thai team is now ranked 125th in the world among 2000 skippers in the world match racers arena. The match race world ranking is organized and updated by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF.) And there are up and coming Thai teams which are ranked in the 200-500 range. Matchrace Thailand organizes events employ the same “match race” format used in the America’s Cup as racing taking place with identically supplied racing yachts. Matchrace Thailand events held using 7.5 m long Platu 25 yachts or lately the popular 4.5 m RS Vision class. Each match race is comprised of two yachts which race against each other in a match, however, 2-3 matches may take place simultaneously. From electrifying pre-starts to nail-biting finishes, match racing is basically taking two racing yachts and playing cat and mouse with them, often racing only being inches apart. The race format really put focus on teamwork, communication and sheer determination. Always striving to have fun, the camaraderie between match race teams is unmatched. Between races there is always time to hang out and make new friends with other teams before jumping back on the boats for the next short intensive and fun race. Racing takes place just off the shore of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, allowing for the general public to follow the races as one would do while watching a tennis match. The Royal Varuna Yacht Club was selected due to its excellent facilities, including a beach bar, where it is often possible to set the start line only metres from the main spectators area making the racing not only fun for the participants but those watching as well. “In our second year, I feel Match Racing in Thailand is growing substantially,” said Jon Eriksson, a regular competitor in match race events world-wide. “The spectator friendly environment of RVYC, the highly organized race, outstanding staff and volunteers, great Platu 25 boats and the active regatta formats has all helped put us on the map in the match racing community in Asia. I really look forward to another great year of racing.”

The venue is the Royal Varuna Yacht Club (RVYC) in the heart of Pattaya. With a dedicated Beach Bar, it offers Match Race spectating at its best. Team Koo Racing (MAS) vs Team Atool(IND).

What is a Match Race? A match race (two boats) is called a “Match”. When two or more Matches are run back-to-back, usually with a rolling start, they are called a “Flight”. Typically, a match racing event begins with a Round Robin, with each team racing each other once. If time permits, typically either a second Round Robin is raced, or the top four teams compete in a knock-out Semis and Finals type format (and the final four compete in a similar format for places 5-8). Some events will simply run three Round Robins, and the scores will determine the final placings. All the Matches in the Flight are raced on the same race course. Match race events have been known to run as many as five (5) Matches in one Flight. A typical match race takes around 15 minutes; a Flight typically takes around 22 minutes plus 5 additional minutes for each additional Match in that Flight. For instance, if there are four Matches in a Flight, figure the Flight will take 37 minutes to complete (22 plus (3×5)). Assuming the fleet of boats being used is relatively even, there is no need to change boats between races. Boats can be rotated once between Round Robins if a rotation is desired. Boats can be exchanged in the Semis and Final round after each odd race, if desired. Obviously, rotating/changing boats is a big time eater.

The Final Race 2.

For more information on MatchRace Thailand events, please visit: www.matchracethailand.com. Email: matchracethailand@gmail.com Contact: Apple Asawawatanaporn and Morten Jakobsen Tel: + 66 851 888 144

Team Atool vs. Team Singapore.

Superyacht splendour shines on PhuketThe 2011 Asia Superyacht Rendezvous attracted some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most impressive leisure vessels to Phuket from Dec 16 -18 in a weekend of sophisticated fun and By Jules Kay and Tina Hsiao

friendly competition.

With high season weather smiling on the eleventh Asia Superyacht Rendezvous in Phuket, the stunning superyachts moored up in Surin Bay provided a spectacular backdrop as their captains gathered for their briefing at the luxurious, newly launched Surin Hotel. This year’s guest list featured an impressive display of marine magnificence, with Phuket based boating beauties M/Y Andara, M/Y Celebrity and M/Y Happy joined by a parade of global motor giants that included M/Y Onyx, M/Y Maverick, M/Y Aveline, M/Y Hye Seas 2 and M/Y Cavallino, as well as two elegant sailing yachts, S/Y Ciliam and S/Y Silandra V that would later take centre stage in two days of racing on the Andaman Sea.Event organizers Gordon Fernandes, general manager of Asia Pacific Superyachts, and Captain Charles Dwyer of S/Y Yanneke Too welcomed the gathered owners, skippers, crew and media before event manager Nina Larsson ran through fun filled schedule that included an exciting array of activities both on and off the water. “We are delighted to welcome all these fabulous yachts to Phuket,” said Captain Dwyer, “The Superyacht Rendezvous is a unique event for this region and it’s great to see some vessels returning and also being joined

by some new faces this year.” The on-board welcome cocktail party that evening provided a fitting start to the proceedings, with invited revelers yacht-hopping between the salubrious vessels to mingle, enjoy the yachts and toast the starlit tropical evening. Ed Sheilds, Captain of M/Y Aveline summed up the event’s appeal: “It’s a pleasure to be here,” he said, “Asians are developing a liking for the yachting industry and the Superyacht Rendezvous will naturally evolve into something bigger. As long as the boats keep coming the event and the industry has a bright future in the region.” Lively competitionOn the first of two days’ action packed sailing, the 76 ft Swan S/Y Silandra V competed in a friendly race with the Lago 92 catamaran S/Y Ciliam on a course set by race directors Andy Dowden and Simon James. Both yachts took full advantage of the steady winds, while guests enjoyed the spectacle either helping out aboard one of the competing vessels or lounging in cushioned comfort on one the glistening motor yachts that followed the contest. S/Y Silandra V, fresh from racing at the King’s Cup, took the line honors in style, while their equally striking adversary cruised to an honorable second.As the sun set over Surin, the Rendezvous guests then gathered around the

Surin Hotel’s hexagonal pool to enjoy a delicious Thai buffet and take part the second competition of the day - the traditional “Feadship Challenge”. Named after the event’s principal sponsors, the Feadship Challenge requires teams to construct a model sailboat from basic materials which they then race up and down a trough of water using only their breath to power the sails. This year, after an intense design and construction session followed by a hotly contested series of races, the team from M/Y Andara took the trophy, their designated captain clearly delighted by the victory. The party then continued until the early hours until everyone head home to their cabins and suites ready for the next day’s adventures. Back to the ocean Day two of the Feadship Asia Superyacht Rendezvous saw S/ Y Silandra V and S/Y Ciliam take to the waves once again, the two vessels tacking their way through the course on a morning blessed by perfect sailing conditions. The Swan 76 claimed the bragging rights for the second time. Immediately after the race, the full fleet of attending superyachts converged off Surin Beach in a

spectacular formation that offered guests and the shutter snapping media a rare display of nautical splendor. “Events like the Asia Superyacht Rendezvous are an important part of growing the yachting industry in the region,” said Arthur Tay, owner of One°15 Marina Club at Sentosa Cove in Singapore who attended the Rendezvous aboard his pristine Azimut 116 M/Y Hye Seas II. “Things are definitely moving in Asia so it’s important to include a strong local element. We are pleased to be part of this new era for luxury sailing.” Back onshore, the yacht owners and crew then took part in a new event on the schedule called The Rendezvous Booty, a fun filled Treasure Hunt on the land and in the water designed for kids and adults alike to make the most of Phuket’s fabulous beaches and bays. Starting aboard their vessel, owners, their kids and crew were dropped at Surin Jetty and ran to the beach bar at Pla Seafood restaurant where they downed a refreshing fruit cocktail before collecting a clue. This sent them off down the sand to the Jolly Roger bar to dig for buried treasure before they then rushed back to the

tenders with a map to guide them on their way to clear waters off the Surin Hotel. There, with a little Thai translation, they were guided to the booty, which included prizes for the kids and a complimentary dinner and spa treatment at the hotel for the grown up pirates. The hunt added a fun, family element to the Rendezvous weekend and is set to become a regular highlight in years to come. A glittering finaleWith the action on sand and sea complete, invited guests and VIPs gathered at the Surin Hotel on the final evening for a lavish international feast hosted by media sponsors Boat International and laid on by Antonio Saponara, General Manager at the Surin Hotel, and his accomplished and efficient food and beverage team. Thai dancing and live music performances added to the extravagant ambiance, while a slideshow of professional photos was projected onto a big screen to showcase the weekend’s highlights. During coffee and dessert, Master of Ceremonies Martin Carpenter thanked all the sponsors and participants for their support in making such a magnificent sailing event

possible. The crew of S/Y Silandra V were then honored with the traditional “Spirit of the Rendezvous” award and the assembled throng joined them in looking forward to setting a course for Phuket to take part in the 12th Feadship Asia Superyacht Rendezvous next year. “When we learnt about this event 11 years ago we immediately came onboard as principal sponsor,” said Bas Nederpelt, Marketing and Sales Director for Feadship. “Instead of opening offices here we decided it would be more fun hold a regular event and since then it has grown organically without becoming too commercial. We certainly intend to continue supporting the Asia Superyacht Rendezvous in the future.” List of Participating Superyachts MY Onyx, MY Maverick, MY Aveline, MY Hye Seas 2, MY Cavallino, MY Andara, MY Celebrity, MY Happy, MY Samax, SY Ciliam SY Silandra V. (Photos courtesy of Asia Superyacht Rendezvous)

CPO 1 Wiwat Poonpat receives throphy.

Thai sailors rise to the top at

Anniversary Phuket Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cup Regatta Royal Thai Navy 1.

Anapat Ngarmdee - Winner in the Optimist Class.

he Phuket King’s Cup Regatta attracts more and more Thai sailors each year and 2011 saw Thai sailors taking podium places throughout the Series. The Royal Thai Navy entered two boats into the competitive IRC2 racing class, skippered by Chief Petty Officer First Class Wiwat Poonpat (Royal Thai Navy 1) and CDR Pornprom Sakultem (Royal Thai Navy 4). The Royal Thai Navy teams have sailed consistently well at recent regattas in Thailand, and true to Thailand’s history as a successful

sports sailing nation, “Royal Thai Navy 1” swept to victory in IRC 2 Class again this year. Burapha University also had representation in IRC2 with a crew skippered by Satian Puranawit and a boat named after the University. He spoke of the Regatta’s prominence and appeal; “I’m so excited to join the Regatta for the first time, and so glad to bring students who are national athletes in the name of Burapha University to compete with sailors from around the world. This is a phenomenal event for the international sailing circle in Thailand. The Regatta improves the Thai athletes’ skill to a higher level because they compete with many experienced sailors, learning a lot with each race. It also attracts more Thai youths to sailing. The competition was well organised and had very good race management. We will definitely be competing again next year if we have support from the University and from other sponsors.” Fellow Thai skipper Suwan Poopoksakul skippering “Lawana”, an X-512, battled in the highly-competitive and international Premier Class with entries from China, UK, Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand. In fact, a majority of the vessels competing in the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta had at least one Thai crew member. Overall, there were 74 Thai sailors who took part in the competition, making the Kingdom the fourth most highly represented nation in the whole Regatta. “The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is the largest sailing event in Thailand,” explained Suwan. “In addition to holding the race in Phuket’s high season which has the best conditions for sailing, the Regatta is held every year in celebration of His Majesty’s birthday. That’s why Thai sailors gather, celebrate and enjoy the races with our friends at this event. Our Lawana team has joined the race for ten years, and we’ve also consistently seen the best international standard race management. Its success has been proven as we see more boats from around the world heading to Phuket every year.” It is fitting that Thai sailors should demonstrate such capable ability at the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta which sails under the auspices of His Majesty the King of Thailand, and which is celebrating its silver jubilee this year. His Majesty has inspired many Thai sports men and women across a wide range of sports, and nowhere else has that contribution been more significant than in sailing. Almost half a century ago (1967), His Majesty was victorious at the Fourth South East Asian Peninsular Games for which he received a gold medal in

Burapha University Photo by Rolien.

Koravic and Biranubongse Bhanubandh.

Suwan Poopoksakul Lawana.

CPO 1 Wiwat Poonpat Royal Thai Navy 1.

Khet Mangkalaseraneeon Windstar.

sailing. His Majesty continues to inspire sailors young and old, and sailing in Thailand is enjoying a renewed golden age. “Sailing is one of the sports His Majesty loves to take part in,” said Biranubongse Bhanubandh, a sailor who has sailed since 1987 and began on dinghies. “20 years ago, sailing was regarded as an upper-class and costly sport. So its prevalence was limited to specific groups of people and the development was delayed. But then there were supportive factors to raise the popularity of sailing, especially the duty reduction which was a considerable turning point for sailing development in Thailand. It made sailing more affordable and led to the development of Thai sailors’ skills, and now we have world champion Thai sailors.” “I joined many keelboat teams in the Regatta, including Octopussy, Maduzi and Lawana. This year, I am Main Sheet (or Main Sail) position of Won Ma Rang (skippered by Kevin Whitcraft, President of Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Committee). As a sailor, I appreciate how the organising committee properly arrange everything. With seriously high standard of operations, the Regatta can facilitate both Thai and foreign sailors; better than other international sailing events in this region that I’ve joined before. Besides the race, everyone was also impressed with the parties, which are extremely enjoyable and reflect the best standard of the famous Thai hospitality.” Saksit “Khet” Mangkalaseranee, Phuket-based business owner and crew member on “Windstar”, has raced very well in the Modern Classic Class, finishing second overall. He said, “We have eight crew members in total, and three of the guys are Thai sailors. The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is a special event in its own right, and it’s also great for encouraging more Thais into sailing, for giving them a competitive step-up up as

their sailing skills grow. The Regatta features the increasingly popular International Dinghy Class which is the perfect way for young Thais to get into the sport. We do everything we can to encourage more Thais to take up sailing; it’s always been our plan to do that. To have an international standard race entry, you often need to have an international crew; this blends sailors of differing levels of experience. That said, we are always on the lookout for talented Thai sailors to possibly join our team in the future.” Last year, sailing prodigy and eventual winner in the Optimist Class, Anapat Ngarmdee (aged 11), attracted a lot of attention as he ran away with the class title. This year, Phuket native, Akapoj Kankaew, commanded a powerful overall victory in the six-race series which has become a popular part of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta programme. A majority of sailors competing in the International Dinghy Class racing series were Thai, thanks to strong efforts by the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organising Committee who worked to encourage more Thai youngsters to take up the sport. Thailand can be particularly proud of its performance in the Optimist; Noppakao Poonpat is the World Champion, and the Thai team is the Team Optimist World Champion also; not coincidentally, Noppakao is the niece of Wiwat Poonpat, skipper of the winning Royal Thai Navy 1. Sponsors of the 2011 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta include Kata Group Resorts Thailand, PTT Group, Siam Winery, Singha Corporation, AIA Thailand, PTT Global Chemical, PTTEP, Thaioil, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, Boathouse and Sunsail. Media Partners include 91.5FM, Helm Superyacht Asia Pacific, The Nation, Phuket Best Group, Phuket Gazette, Phuket Magazine, Sail-World.com, SEA Yachting and YachtStyle Asia.

Xiamen Xiangshang aerial view.

Sustainable Marina

Langkawiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; s Telaga Marina.

outheast Asia has the opportunity to forge a new path in marina development and take a firm step away from the mistakes of the past in the Mediterranean and the ongoing “monster” developments in China now. According to New Design Associates (NDA) CEO Emmanuel Delarue, “Southeast Asia has many great sites in terms of ecology and landscape and to me we need to preserve this and enhance this identity. “And in doing this we create something that will attract customers with their unique qualities,” he added. This is one area where Southeast Asia can set itself apart and succeed he believes. This will be very different from what is going on now in China where, in much the same way that the worst excesses of an earlier phase of development in Europe produced, there are just long stretches of identical developments with no identity.

Development

Mr Delarue sees potential in countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia with their rich culture and vast sea resources. These in turn could be linked in a network to the Gulf of Thailand destinations further south.

By Our Singapore Correspondent

Shenzhen Dameisha.

For the entire marina community to grow there needs to be greater cooperation and linkages, especially to cater to the lucrative superyacht market.

Royal Phuket Marina.

Xiamen Xiangshang yacht club.

However, before that can happen, the traditional model of marina development must be re-examined. “For Southeast Asia, the lesson we can take from China is to avoid the monster development that China is planning at the moment, which is building kilometres of beaches with block after block of identical properties,” Mr Delarue said. He goes on to elaborate that the usual way waterfront property is allocated in China is to divide up the coastline into 10km stretches where the developer has no choice but to build up as massively as possible to earn a return on his investment. Mr Delarue has much experience with the China market, NDA having been involved in nearly a dozen marina and waterfront projects there since its establishment in 1987. Mr Delarue believes that by breaking the mould and paying more attention to site selection, the conundrum of wanting to build good developments while also turning a decent

profit can be resolved. For example, much of the infrastructure cost of building marinas comes from developers wanting to use open beach sites and then having to build expensive breakwaters and other protective barriers. Then to pay for this, the developer has to go big on the waterfront property. The solution might instead be to find sites which lend themselves to marina development more naturally, he suggests. “In Southeast Asia, where you have natural coves, or the mouths of rivers that could be used as natural harbours, I think we should convince developers and land authorities to exploit these sites more and keep the beaches as they are,” he says. There is a need to break away from the established trends and set new ground. To do this, designers must work hard to convince owners to try new ideas. Of course, from the owner’s or developer’s point of view they would like to minimize risk and go with a tried and tested formula but for the good of the future of the industry in the region they must try to chart their own path. The key to doing this is through education, Mr Delarue believes. Firstly, the stakeholders in the local community need to be educated to get their buy-in. Many of the best spots have traditional communities that have lived there for hundreds of years because they discovered the natural advantages of the site. They need to be convinced that development will make their lives better and that they can be integrated into the overall plan instead of just being bought out and displaced because the developers do not think they will fit in with the overall image of their project. Mr Delarue gives the examples of Portofino and St Tropez in Europe that started off as fishing ports and even today continue to keep their fishing industry alive though they serve more as a tourist attraction. Apart from keeping all parties happy, this serves as an additional draw and the cultural element provides a unique selling point to attract the big revenue generating superyachts. “Part of the identity of the site is the communities that are living there and integrating marinas and waterfront development with the local community is also what will give the site uniqueness,” he points out.

Phuket â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Yacht Haven aerial shot of new extensions.

Secondly, the local authorities must be convinced of the positive economic impact these marinas can have. Waterfront projects can create value at many different levels. Not only can they liven up an area, they can also build tourism and improve the livelihood of local people through tourism and service industries. However, an understanding must be reached as to what a fair proposition entails. The developer must be given a fair chance to make a reasonable profit while also helping to bring development to the area. For example, Mr Delarue points out that there have been tenders called for projects in India where the returns offered on huge amounts of expected investment are so miniscule that nobody will ever bid for them. While he concedes that in highly urbanized areas, in cities and with downtown marinas it is almost impossible to break away from the waterfront property subsidizing marina model, Mr Delarue believes that in more rural areas where land cost is not so high there is the opportunity to innovate different models of marina development and create something unique. In this final aspect, the developers themselves need to be educated, Mr Delarue says. They are naturally profitoriented, but they can be shown that if they are willing to do things a little differently from what they are used to they can still make money but also create something unique and much more beneficial for the future of the area and the community.

However, one complication with Southeast Asia is that distances between destinations tend to be quite long. In the longterm scheme of things a network of marinas and maybe even charter operators needs to be developed linking all the various spots. While there are interesting spots on their own, many of these are undeveloped and many marinas also function in isolation. For the entire community to grow there needs to be greater cooperation and linkages, especially to cater to the lucrative superyacht market. Mr Delarue sees potential in countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia with their rich culture and vast sea resources. These in turn could be linked in a network to the Gulf of Thailand destinations further south. The slow pace of development in the region due to bureaucracy or whatever other reasons may be a blessing in disguise as it may allow time and space for more considered development of marinas and waterfront property compared to the rampant, breakneck pace of development in China. However, for the best outcome all the stakeholders have to realize what is at stake and work for the greater good of all, not just the commercial self interests of the developers. There is much potential and the chance to get it right, but just one or two shortsighted policies and bad deals can make it all turn out horribly wrong, and there are many examples from more developed markets to show just how wrong it can get.

Mr Delarue gives the examples of Portofino and St Tropez in Europe that started off as fishing ports and even today continue to keep their fishing industry alive though they serve more as a tourist attraction.