Report By Scott Murray - Sea Yachting Magazine.

After a buffet and awards presentation at the Holiday Resort on Koh Yao Noi, the Bay Regatta fleet was well rested and set out for day two of the 2023 Bay Regatta on Friday February 24th, sponsored by the Phuket Marine Industry leaders Octopus Electrical Services, Asia Catamarans and East Marine. And as it is prone to do Dan Fidock’s Extreme 40 Parabellum flew through the course capturing line honours again.

In anticipation of early wind, Race Officer Simon James got the OMR Multihull Class off early, followed by starts for the combined Monohull classes and remaining Cruising Catamarans.

The OMR class took a 20-mile course, which left from east of Koh Yao Noi rounding Koh Pang to starboard, then passing Koh Pak Bia to port, and then passing Koh Ka and Koh Ka to starboard. The fleet moved past through the gate to Koh Kaya (between the island and the committee boat), and then rounded Koh Ngang to port, passing between Koh Daeng and Koh Samet finishing between the committee boat and Koh Ya Man.

The rest of the classes did a 17-mile course missing out Koh Ngang , but heading straight down through Koh Daeng and Koh Samet to finish off Ao Nang. With light winds, some of the heavier yachts did not make the 4.30pm cut off time, so their positions were taken from the last gate.

The five-boat IRC Monohull Class saw Peter Winter’s Aquarii, a Sydney 40 Mod, bounce back from a disappointing fifth-place finish yesterday to take the top spot. Aleksandr Trofimenko’s DSA Venture, a First 40.7, was next up while Niels Degenkolw’s X ¾ Phoenix was third finishing ahead of Aliaksandre Racheuski’s Uminoko, a Farr One Ton, and Thomas Valentin’s Brisk, a Classe Mini 6.5, which he is sailing single-handed.

The three-boat IRC Cruising Class saw Paul Merry’s Night Train, a Hanse 415, win again but Aleksei Brunov’s Moonshine, a Sun Odyssey 45, and Andrey Arbuzov’s Birds & Bees, a First 44.7, swapped places this time with Birds & Bees coming in second today.

Meanwhile, the eight-boat Cruising Monohull saw Hans Rahmann’s sleek Yasooda, a JV Custom 70, do extremely well winning the class. Reaching the finish line almost 2 hours infront of her nearest rival Steven Wong’s Snap Dragon, a Peterson 46, in second with Duncan Fraser’s Gale Force, a Hanse 575 Shoal Keel placing third (Gale Force’s crew, btw, travelled up from Darwin to compete in the regatta). Mayo Hood’s Chinnon 2, a Sun Odyssey 469, was fourth followed by Jack Christensen’s Lynda, a Bavaria 49. Fons Wang’s Sumalee, a Sun Odyssey 409, placed sixth and Sergei Dikanov’s Wind of Change, a Beneteau Oceanis 43 finished seventh with Tony Byrnes’ Zingara rounding out the fleet.

The seven-boat OMR Multihull class saw a repeat victory for Dan Fidock’s Parabellum followed by James Haste’s Bonza, a PH 1 1100, which had a much better day on the water today. Third & fourth place respectively went to two Firefly 850 Sportsboats: John Newnham’s Twin Sharks, and George Eddings’ Blue Noze. Glywn Rowlands’ Twister II, a Stealth 12.1, took fifth while Dirk Weiblen’s No Fear, a VLVP YG25 MOD, placed sixth. Dow Fidock’s Saffron, a Stealth 11.8, rounded out the class.

And the three-boat All Aussie Cruising Multi class saw a shuffle at the top today as Rick Fielding’s Mojo, a Fusion 40, got to the gate first followed by Bo Wharton’s Troppo, a Lagoon 410, Bob McIntyre’s Allegro, a Stealth 13, stretched ahead on the final leg but finishing third again on count back after just missing the finish line cut off time by only 5 mins..

At the ILCA 6 World Masters Championships held recently at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, there was a “Legends Class” of sailors aged 76-85. Well, not to be outdone, the Bay Regatta has its own legend, 84-year-old Hugh Thompson sailing in the regatta for the umpteenth time, this time on Mojo. Speaking of repeat competitors, Mark Pescott, who designed the Firefly 850 Sportsboat (there are two racing in the regatta) is sailing on Yasooda in his 24th Bay Regatta, an all-time record.

It was a free night in the Krabi area for all competitors as the awards for today’s races will be handed out tomorrow at the Phra Nang Inn in Ao Nang. Day 3 commences at 10.00 with two races scheduled starting in the area of Ao Nang, Krabi.