Twin Sharks struts its stuff as seventh Sailor’s Regatta gets underway
Photography by Scott Murray
“Let’s go get wet,” said Twin Sharks skipper John Newnham, as he rose from his seat at the Phuket Yacht Club, and with that the seventh annual Sailor’s Regatta, organized by the Phuket Yacht Club, was underway. Taking place from Friday March 21st – Sunday March 23rd, six boats are competing in this regatta, split between multi and monohull classes.
Wind whisperer Matt McGrath is back as PRO and after consulting with Vayu and other deities, starting at noon with eight knots of wind, he set the sailors off on a two-lap windward-leeward course for both classes. Matt had originally planned to send the competitors on a longer second course but fickle winds saw him repeat the windward-leeward course again.
The stars of the show on the first day were John Newnham’s crew on Twin Sharks who took line honours in the both races and won both races in the two-boat multihull class, beating out Andrew McDermott’s trimaran Trident. But when performance handicap was applied, Trident claimed the second race of the day.
Race one for the monohulls saw Wind of Change take top honours with Kirill Stanshevskly’s Lastochka in second, Mark Stennett’s Madam in third and Niels Degenkolw’s Phoenix in fourth.
Race two for the monohulls saw Phoenix regain top spot with Wind of Change placing second, Lastochka in third and Madam in fourth spot.
There was plenty of “motion on the ocean” today as Paul “Flatty” Baker, driving Brendan Kealy’s photography boat, pointed out.
Nautical mystic and Twin Shark crewmate Alfie Rowson, describing today’s racing, quipped "There was a lighter-wind second race, with the first race being a bit fruitier with nice gusts. The first start was interesting with jostling at the boat end of the line, which resulted in Trident having to tack off as Twin Sharks blocked them at the start line so Trident had to go around in a circle and from then on Twin Sharks stormed away on performance handicap in the multihull class.
“Also, in the first race in the monohull class, Phoenix, who had a commanding early lead, proceeded to round the wrong leeward mark, and unfortunately not sail the correct course, giving first place to Wind of Change.”
Returning for the second year straight, the 15-ton Madam, a 70-ft sloop, designed, built and shipped from the UK, stole the show with its grace and beauty. Unfortunately, during the second race, Madam came around the bottom mark and drifted onto Matt McGrath’s start boat. Matt told them to start their engine and reverse off. Luckily, no one was hurt and Matt’s boat didn’t suffer any serious damage.
This “no frills” regatta continues to be popular with local sailors. There are no t-shirts, caps or goody bags handed out and the only dinner is given on the final night at the awards presentation. But the cost of entering is much cheaper than other regional regattas giving the sailors more dosh to spend on other things.
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