Day Two: Firm Winds, Faster Runs, More Fun

By Richard Blair

On line at 0930 with a 10-knot wind and sunny skies, the third race in the 8th Royal Lankawi International Regatta began with a disfigured rectangular course for all boats which included an elongated windward-leeward reverse for the Racing Class. The big boats were off neatly but the IRC Division had Koull Baby playing tag with the Start Boat and others in her class and had to start over. Soon the Platus were away with someone yelling for water but no protests.

As the Racing Boats rounded the first windward mark, led by Boracay Jelik II, Evolution Racing caught the mooring line in her rudder and stopped dead at the same time launching a protest against the Race Committee. The Cats pussy-footed across in a ragtag line but, when it came to the Cruisers and Club Boats, there was a chilling crunch as Rapscallion kissed Haffiman and both boats were left dazed on the line. No damage, however, as both crews got things squared away, Rapscallion did two penalty rounds and they were off.

Then it was quick runs and bracing beats as the fleet skipped over the white caps and the crews sang salty sea ditties and the Start Boat checked its fixes. Coming home on spinnaker Katsu again led the fleet with Koull Baby snapping at her heels and, just behind, Jelik II led the racers as she had done from the first mark. It was a nicely timed race with most boats finishing within 30 minutes of the leaders and a local fishing boat with flags fluttering and helmsman scratching his head as IRC I leader Phoenix and Evolution arrived together. Cabaret 6 escorted the RQYS Platu across ahead of the Sports Boats. And DaVinci showed the Multihulls how to do it. Meanwhile Astra did not seem to need a spinnaker to lead the Ocean Rovers. She simply winged her sails and …winged it.

Race Four
The PRO rallied the Racing Division, Sports Boats, IRCs and Multihulls and let the Club and Cruising boats go home to tend to stubbed toes and skinned knuckles. Jelik II took a lonely trek up the coast and beat her three tails to the first mark. Then up went the kites for the long run westward as the Premier Cruisers got off. Matahari, Cabaret 6 and Phoenix tangled amongst a melee of line tacks but Katsu roared across last seemingly not worrying much about anything. Blue Moon led the Multis with Da Vinci starting tactfully late.

By this time the wind was beginning to fall off and the white caps flattened. Jelik II rounded the leeward mark a minute ahead of Evolution and Hi Fi and the SMU boat over took RQYS on the down wind run. Back uphill, Evolution and Hi Fi tried to shorten the leash on Jelik II by crossing the course well down wind but the Hong Kong boat got to the windward mark first and, on the run down to the finish, it was Jelik II all the way. Meanwhile the rest of the fleet was scattered along the horizon and all on the Start Boat was quiet until the Platus, led by the SMU crew, came in aiming briefly for the wrong finish line. Evolution arrived a full five minutes after Jelik II with Hi Fi a few minutes later.

RLYC Party: A Crowd Pleaser

The official party put on for the 215 participants in this year’s Royal Langkawi International Regatta featured a grand show of dancing, songs and fire-eating by the Semerah Fadi cultural troupe. Dances and music from Malay, tribal, Indian and Chinese cultures thrilled with costumes and martial arts performances before awards presentation at the poolside of the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club. The Club is organizing parties four nights during the week-long Regatta culminating with the grand awards celebration on the last night. The Regatta, in its 8th year, has been recognized as Malaysia’s premier event for sailors and sportsmen from all over.