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The enthusiasm was there today, but, alas, the wind was not. Racing didn’t get underway until 1455. The Start Boat, the Royal Malaysian Marine Police boat PA4, had the PRO’S team in position , half way down Bass Harbor, with sufficient time to make an 0930 start. It just was not to be. The AP flag kept going up every hour and coming down, but to no avail.

About noon, the PRO gave a TV interview with GOYACHTING press citing the reasoning behind our postponement, which was, of course, a complete lack of wind. As he stood there on the bow in his camera sunglasses, he looked disappointed, but was still quite confident that the conditions would improve. The sunglasses, by the way, have an 8MP camera mounted in the frame between the eyes and as he looks at the start/finish line, a mere touch to his temple snaps an 8MP color photo of the yachts crossing the line. Pretty cool, huh?

The 'Regatta Mark boats' which had followed the Start boat out of the Yacht Club like ducklings behind their mother, and all manned by volunteers, were kept busy during this lull by being sent around Bass Harbor to check on wind patches which could be sustainable for a race or two. Near 1330, the PRO started moving up Bass Harbor toward the Yacht Club where wind appeared to be filling in, and Eureka, with the afternoon Westerly sea breeze warming up, the AP flag came down at 1455. The race was on!

The Racing Class was first to start and WALAWALA2 got away first, however JELIK brought them back, finishing at 1540.The IRC bunch were next, where they left in a tight pack with no dramas and a clean start, being led home by PHOENIX. Third to start were the PLATU’S, who were off with their customary jockeying and jostling while shouting and hollering, but they got away clean. In all the kafuffle, the SMU crews crossed first and were off and away. The Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA/KFC) were the first back, however.

MISS SAIGON led the multihulls out with MOJO and FANTASIA looking like one long yacht, because they were so close. MOJO arrived at the finish line first, and was all alone. POCO led the Club Cruisers out and FORTISSIMO brought them back and the Ocean Rover and the White Sail Class ( A new class this year for yachts that are not flying spinnakers) were set up with a shortened course.

With the late breeze today, which was 6-10 Knots, there was only time to run one race, but it lifted everyone's spirits and fueled the enthusiasm for yacht racing after the mornings calms, and we’re all looking forward to tomorrow and RACE DAY TWO of the Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2013.