King's Cup race day two with early leaders ready for battle

12:03 AM Tue 1 Dec 2009 GMT

'Phuket King’s Cup 2009. Sending off Chiang Mai lanterns to bring good winds for the rest of the week.' Guy Nowell &copy Click Here to view large photo

Race day two in the 23rd Phuket King's Cup and the record international fleet are in for a stronger breeze day as they tackle the stunning sailing conditions close to the island coast.

Cruiser/Racer Race Officer, Ross Chisholm, said with "quite a nice breeze out there already" he is looking to send these fleets out around the south islands. Racing division RO and Principle Race Officer Jerry Rollins will be sending the racing divisions on similar long course making for a spectacular sight as the 112-boat fleet race around the same Andaman Sea area.

At last night's prizegiving and party at the Kati Thani Resort the crews were each given a Chaing Mai lantern to send high into the sky wishing for good and fair winds for the remainder of the regatta. Today may see those wishes come true.

The first fleets are due to be start at about 0905 hours.

Yesterday saw many of the secret weapons revealed; hotshot crew, new sails and good boat speed. Today, with stronger winds, those weapons will be tested again and no doubt more weapons revealed.

Early good form by Neil Pryde's Hi-Fi in the Racing division has set the bar high for the other 50 footers in the fleet. He finished the day with 2-4-1. He will just have to keep a watching eye on Frank Pong's Jelik II/Boracay which is currently placed just one point behind in second place.

IRC1 is being led by defending division champion Matt Allen's Ichi Ban who took out three bullets on handicap in the first day of racing. Second is the Swan 42 Katsu.

Phuket King’s Cup 2009. Lisa and Matt Allen (Ichi Ban), Rear Adm Prasad Sripadung (Retd). - Guy Nowell &copy Click Here to view large photo

IRC2 division is between Peter Dyer's Team Bentley and Koji Kikuchi's Puma. Dyer, who successfully helmed his Sea Property Firefly to victory in last year's event is looking forward to repeating the victory, but this year on his modified three-quarter tonner.

Fast and furious in the first day of racing the Firefly 850 Sports division after three races is led by Brent Gribble's Twin Sharks with Firefly designer and tactician Mark Pescott on board. Their first day delivered consistently good results with a score card of 2-1-1. In second place is Hans Rahman's Voodoo.

The Multihull Racing division is already seeing a tight battle between defending champion Radab Kanjanavanit's Seamico Cedar Swan and Henry Kaye/Fergus Wilmer's Thor. It was Thor's day however with a 2-1-1 scorecard.

Overnight Australian Maid was seeking redress for an incident in yesterday's race the results of which could affect the Premier division Baby Tonga's overall lead.

The Bareboat Charter division have just one race on the board so far with Mike Crisp's Venture leading John Ford's Little Eva. Defending champion Toru Inoue's Tag is in fifth place.

In the six boat Modern Classic division Peter Wood's Winstar is in first with Nick Band's Emerald Blue in second. Both Wood and Band have competed several times before in the King's Cup.

Another division with just one race on the board is Cruising with Bob Ashman's Simba in first and Rod Heikell's Skylax "fully loaded " cruising boat is in second.

The Multihull Cruising and Classic divisions sailed a pleasant first day with Yoshiaki Fujitani's Sunfish III and Rene Tiemessen's Alondra in first place in their respective divisions.

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by Tracey Johnstone