Jim Ellis on Remington, hold his lead in the Cruising B division by 46 seconds after 5 hours racing on day 2.

Participants in the 20th Bay Regatta continued to enjoy great sailing weather as the party that sails around continued to do just that.

Principal Race Officer Simon James again staged two starts for the competitors today: first off were all the monohulls followed by all the multihulls, and again there were no major incidents to report – just a nice clear spinnaker run down Phang Nga Bay.

Today’s 24nm course left from Koh Yao Noi, rounded Koh Le Mann to starboard, passed Koh Pang & then Koh Pak Bia to port, Koh Ka to starboard, rounded Koh Kaya to starboard through the gate at Koh Hong (keeping the committee boat to port), then rounding Koh Ngang to port before passing between Koh Deng and Koh Samet and finally finishing off of Railay Beach..

The two-boat Racing Class results were the same as yesterday as Megazip, skipped by Russia’s Aleksandr Trofimenko, beat Aussie Gary Baguley’s Fujin by thirty-five minutes on corrected time, so they lead the class with two points, while Fujin has four.

By easily winning the Cruising A Class today, Garry Smith’s Baby Tonga jumped to first place overall with three points, as the boat finished forty minutes ahead of Hellmut Schutte Aquavit 6, whose second place finish put them in second overall with 5 points. Gavin Wellman’s Rascal came third today, but sits in fourth spot with 8 points overall. Philippe Dallee’s Tintin, who won yesterday, was forced to retire from the race, registering a DNF, but still held on to third overall with seven points.

Cruising B saw Canadian Jim “Yee Haw” Ellis’s Remington, continue to exhibit both his skill and lucky charm as he won for the second day running to hold on to the class lead with two points. The Gillow-skipped Poco and the Robert Camera-helmed Piccolo swapped second and third places from yesterday and sit tied with five points.

The Bareboat Class same the same results as day one with Kinnon skippered by Stanislav Pechenkin finishing over two hours ahead of Aussie Alan Bower on All Sail Asia in second, while All Sail Venus Hunter (Russel Waddy) did finish this time around, fifteen minutes behind All Sail Asia.

Fergus Wilmer’s Thor claimed line honors again, blasting off as if shot out of a cannon, never slowing down crossing the finish in 3:04:02. But after corrected time they had to settle for second spot behind John Newnham’s Twin Sharks who crossed in 3:15:55. Thor still leads the eleven-boat class with three points while Twin Sharks moved into second overall and a five-point tie with Alan Cawardine’s Asia Catamarans Hurricane, who finished third on the day with an elapsed time of 3:24:07.

Multihull cruising saw Sergei Dikanov’s Fenix and Aussie Rick Fielding’s Mojo swap first-and-second place finishes from yesterday leaving them tied on the leaderboard with three points. The Chinese Sanya Yomovo sailing team on DaVinci, with the help of Libby Boyd, repeated their third-place finish of yesterday and that’s where they sit in the standings. Graham Tucky’s Optoloi II competed today, after missing out yesterday, and finished fourth overall. Hugh Thompson’s Sahm Loy did not start for second straight day.

The Bay Regatta takes sailors through the three provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi allowing participants to experience the best of southern Thai hospitality and the unrivaled sailing grounds in the area. They sail amongst 200-metre high karsts and past hidden bays on their way to a party under-the-stars on an idyllic beach.

In the deep channels between the spectacular, vertical rock walls, the Bay Regatta’s philosophy of fun-amidst-beauty shone through for all to see. The hallmark of this event is a casual, fun-filled atmosphere. Many friends join together to sail the four-day event and while the sailing is serious for many racing class yachts, a large number of cruisers join for the experience of sailing through some of the world’s most amazing maritime scenery.

Tomorrow is the Raymarine Race Day, consisting of island courses around the famous Koh Dam group of islands, with an evening presentation dinner on the spectacular Railay Beach.