Light winds remain as fleet return to Phuket

After checking weather predictions and receiving reports from around the race-course. The fourth and final day of the Bay Regatta started with a combined start for all competitors on the Coca Cola Haad Thip Race Day, for their long race back to Ao Chalong.

Based on the conditions, for the first time in many years a direct line course was set, rather than the traditional circuit of the Ko Dam Group.

Some yachts, including Bonza and Yasooda, decided the best approach was to head North towards the Royal Palace where the wind traditionally fill-in. Others, including Mojo and Saffron headed south, looking for thermals from "Chicken Island" before heading west towards the Hin Mu Sang Nua gate.

In this race, where traditionally the start boat has to race at full speed to get to Ao Chalong before the first finisher, winds remained light throughout. Warwick Downes' Bonza 69 Slam were first to see the shortened course flag at the Hin Mu Sang Nua "gate" after 5 hours 13 mins in the sun, closely followed by Dan Fiddock's Saffron.

15 mins later, Hans Rahmann's Yasooda lead the Monohulls to the shortened course, closely shadowed by Niels Dgenkole's Phoenix.

When handicaps were applied, the yachts who sailed south at the start came out on top. Phoenix headed the Monohull classes, closely followed by Jessandra II and Megazip.

Dan Fiddock's Saffron came out on top in the Multihull Racing Class, closely followed by Glywn Rowlands' Twister 2 and John Spencer's Zero. This result produced another 1-2-3 for the locally built Stealth design boats from Asia Catamarans.

Despite again missing out in the "Battle of the Ricks" on the start line and receiving a significant handicap increase (after his victory yesterday). Rick Fielding's Mojo pulled out another win in the Performance Multihull Class, with Saffron coming in second and Twister 2 in third place.

Amazingly, Mojo would have beaten the whole "Multihull Racing" fleet as his OMR equivalent rating would have been the highest for a Fusion 40 in the world this year. We will no doubt hear about this for many years to come....... and at tonight's final presentations at Kan Eang II in Ao Chalong.

The fleet now pack up and head to the final presentations at Kan Eang II at 19:00.