From April 30th to May 4th the 12th annual Top of the Gulf Regatta took place in Pattaya. Presented by Ocean Marina, South East Asia’s largest marina, this year’s regatta welcomed over 700 sailors and will go down in the history books as one of the best yet and most definitely the biggest. A fleet of 271 boats ranging from Optimists to dinghies, windsurfs, keel boats and multi hulls competed making it the largest gathering of watercraft anywhere outside an Olympics in Asia, in recent times. From the largest TP52’s to the Rio-bound Laser sailors and windsurfers there was quality and sailing talent in abundance throughout the fleet.
Day 1 saw excellent winds welcoming the four classes that kicked off the regatta. With 43 boats competing in the single and double monohull dinghy classes, 46 windsurfers in the RS:One class and 140 youngsters in the Optimist class, the “dinghy” fleets again reached record numbers at the regatta. Due to the large numbers in the Single Handed Monohull Dinghy Class (Class 9), Race Management split the fleet into two divisions: 9a (Laser Standard and Laser Radial) which totalled 24 entries, and 9b (Laser 4.7) with 19. The good winds suited the stronger sailors
As conditions worsened, it was the windsurfers who had it tougher, having to content themselves with a single race to put Olympic athlete Siriporn Kaewduangnam at the top of the standings.
Day 2 began in closer competition, as the multi hull vessels made their first appearances, and more favourable conditions graced them as they took to the sea. The Thai / Swedish team aboard Amanda led by Lennart Fahlgren cruised to the top of their standings.
The windsurfers were back in action too, in what would prove a taxing day for them after participating in five races scheduled by the management in order to re-attain the original race programme. It was Nyoman Suartana who took the spoils in this one, as his regularity became the key for the win.
Siripon Kaewduangngam continued her stong performances in the women’s division, putting herself in a strong first place after dropping solely two points in six races.
But it’s the mark of a champion to rise when prospects drop, and that is exactly what Bualong did in Day Three. The Thai Olympian struck the consistency he lacked at the beginning to end up retaining his title. The winds continued to be favourable and the sun was as bright as it could get.
A big day for the windsurfers, as they faced their last few races. It was an exciting and close affair, as a late challenge from Yancy Kaibigan looked set to give Nyoman Suartana. However, the Indonesian held off to become the eventual champion in his category.
The women’s series saw a Thai pride podium, with unbeatable Siripon Kaewduangngnam ranking first, Sarocha Prumprai coming in second and Krongkaew Sakulfaeng bringing home the bronze spot.
The fourth day of racing was equally enthralling as the first three, with the big guns taking centre stage. The multi hulls parted on a twelve, at times fifteen knot wind speed – testimony to the ceaseless cocktail of weather conditions enjoyed across the four days of racing. Ray Roberts took time to get his act together and could only manage to close the gap with Kevin Whitcraft as the day progressed, who claimed top honours.
Scott Duncanson’s and Chris Way’s closely fought third day battle met its fate at last, as the latter failed to follow the pace set by Duncanson, who ran out as the eventual victor. The victory was his and festivities ensued.
The final day of the 2016 Top of the Gulf Regatta proved to be the best yet with a fresh 15 knot breeze and it was the final shoot-out for the keel boat and multi hulls (classes 1-6) and with two quick windward/ leewards the challengers had their last chance to try and upset the respective class leaders.
Coming into the last day Kingdom Property (AUS), skippered by Scott Duncanson, had a seven point lead and bar a disaster were unlikely to let go of their grip on the Platu Coronation Cup. Rolf Heemskerk (MAS) finished second in Race 1 while Chris Way’s Easy Tiger IV (AUS) slipped down to sixth place. Duncanson and his crew had a halyard problem which slowed them down on the race track and resulted in them finishing a “lowly” third, however, that was enough for him to secure the Platu Coronation Cup title with one race to spare. This is Duncan’s sixth Platu Coronation Cup title and the first ever three-peat in the competition’s 21-year history having won it previously in 2014 and 2015.
Dichenko and crew went on to claim their third bullet of the series in Race 2 ahead of Heemskerk and Way, and with Duncanson not competing the final race, Way’s third place was enough for them to hold onto second place overall, one point ahead of the fast-finishing Dichenko.
In IRC 1 Kevin Whitcraft (THA) and his crew on THA72 finished their series with two more wins. Except for a retirement in Race 2, Whitcraft has made a clean sweep on his new TP52 in his first competitive outing and with it sent a warning shot the rest of the Asian-based TP52’s.
IRC 3 Class went to script with two more wins for Lennart Fahlgren’s Amanda (THA) who’s Thai/ Swedish crew scored seven wins from seven races to be the runaway winner. Second overall was secured by Martin Brown’s Nautical Wheeler (UK) with Tim McMahon’s SailQuest Hi Jinks (USA) in third.
The Cruising class enjoyed five races over four days, a mix of windward/ leewards and some longer passage races. Scored using a Performance Handicap system Day 5 glory went to Pote Suyasinto (THA) and his crew on Le Vent who comfortably took the series title from Sein Samathi 1 (THA), skippered by Nukool Pothi, in second and Cedric Rimaud (FRA) and his 6-metre classic Selma, in third.
A diverse line-up of multi hulls in the Ocean Multi hulls Class has meant some lonely upfront racing for Radab Kanjanavanit and his team on Cedar Swan (THA). Heading into the final day, the pressure was on Cedar Swan and with them sharing the spoils with Kirati Assakul’s Sonic (THA) with a win each race, it’s Sonic that claims the 2016 Ocean Multi hulls class title.
The icing on the cake was the first ever three-peat in the Platu Coronation Cup by Scott Duncanson – three victories in a row, bringing his total tally to six over the Cup’s history. Quite a feat in anyone’s eyes.
With the racing over, the keel boat and multi hulls sailors, Race Management, sponsors, media and VIPs came together to celebrate a successful Top of the Gulf Regatta at the Closing Party and Gala Dinner hosted by Ocean Marina Yacht Club.