By Scott Murray - Sea Yachting

The fourth and final day of the 27th Bay Regatta saw PRO and race organizer Simon James start the multihulls first and then the monohulls second in the Coca Cola Haad Thip Race for a 26 mile reach back from Railay to Ao Chalong.

Wind to start was definitely not a problem today as everyone started the 26-mile course 15, which started using the downwind committee boat to port & preceded through the gate at Mu Sang Nua, to the finish at the entrance to Ao Chalong (the course was shortened for the Multihull Cruising Class at the Mu Sang Nua).

The Davidson 59 Aftershock, skippered by Olympian Steve McConaghy, four out of five races to capture the three-boat IRC Premier Monohull class, finishing with four points after their drop race (both the IRC Premier Monohull & OMR Multihull classes could drop a race as they each sailed five races). Craig Nicholls Alright (formerly Emagine), a Sydney 40, snuck by Hans Rahmann’s Yasooda, a JV Custom 70, for second spot beating them by two points when the drop race was factored in.

After a shortened course at the Hin Mu Sang Nut gate, the five-boat IRC Racing Class went right down to the wire with Andrey Novoderezhkin’s Madame Butterfly, a 3/4 Ton Modified, beating fellow countrymen Aliaksandre Racheuski’s Uminoko, a Farr One Ton, by two points. Niels Degenkolw’s X ¾ Ton Phoenix had to settle for third place overall, an unusual spot for Niels, who is used to being atop the podium. While Kirill Stashevskiy’s Platu Andaman Discovery- Som Tam Pu was fourth followed by former Sydney-Hobart winner Piccolo, with its Canadian crew and skipper Andre den Braven, in fifth spot.

Sergei Musikhin’s Wind of Change, a Beneteau Oceanis 43, had a great regatta, winning three of four races to capture the eight-boat IRC Cruising Class. Paul Merry’s melodic Night Train, a Hanse 415, was second, followed by James Duke’s Kimikimi, a Dufour 455GL.

The four-boat Cruising Monohull class was dominated by Philippe Dallée’s sleek Swan II (a Swan 43 - 1969), which won every race in its class with Steven Wong’s Snap Dragon, a Peterson 46 coming second in each race.

The seven-boat OMR Multihull class saw Dan Fidock’s Parabellum put on quite a show, cruising across the course and taking line honors in every race on the way to winning the class. The Extreme 40, cast against the region’s karst topography, made for some stunning photo-ops. John Newnham’s young crew on Twin Sharks, a Firefly 850 Sportsboat, placed second overall, with David Liddell’s WOW, a Stealth, coming in third, a point ahead of Dougal Jackson’s Haruki after the drop race was factored in. Parabellum’s line honours time today was 02:35:47.

Sea Mi Amore, a Catana 47 Ocean Class, won the seven-boat Cruising Multihull class, while Rick Fielding’s Mojo, a Fusion 40, placed second, and Rob Azzopardi’s North Star , a Lightwave 38, came in third.

The final party was once again held at Kan Eang 2 restaurant, overlooking Chalong Bay and a great time was had by all. Described as the “party that sails around” this regatta just keeps entertaining all those who participate and it certainly didn’t disappoint this year, many promising to be back again next year.

With over 30 boats on the water and more than 250 people at some of the parties the Bay Regatta certainly did not disappoint. Stay tuned as the region’s friendliest regatta will be announcing its dates for 2024 soon.