2010 - 11 Asian Yachting Grand Prix Championship

And the winner is...
Under the six regatta's to score system, Ray Roberts won the 2010-11 AYGP Championship and takes home the new 2010-11 Evolution Sails AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year trophy that he proudly sponsored this season. The Sawadee.com Regatta, Samui is the seventh event they have contested and sadly becomes the drop event after winning 4 regattas, second and third places, to successfully defend the title they won last year.

About the annual AYGP
Points are awarded each sailing season based on the racing class Skippers and Yachts performance over Ten x 5-Star Yachting Events that make up the AY Grand Prix Championship (Malaysia 2, Hong Kong 2, Thailand 4 plus Singapore and the Philippines each with 1 a piece). This system fairly grades the competing Boatowners and Skippers ability to successfully run a full-on racing campaign through Asian waters over the 2010-11 Season.

2010/11 AYGP - Evolution Sails sponsors new Skipper & Yacht of the Year trophy
We proudly announce that Evolution Sails have come onboard as trophy sponsor for the 2010-11 AYGP Championship to be known as the Evolution Sails AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards. We will still be presenting the Perpetual AYGP Cup filled with chilled champagne and the Armani Koh Samui blue blazer at the gala Sawadee.com Regatta 2010 Samui season ending prize presentation.

Changes to the 2010-11 AYGP calendar of events
Each year the events on the annual AsianYachting Grand Prix Championships come under close scrutiny and must reflect the high standards expected by the Racing Class boat owners and a fair turnout of top level Racing Teams to compete at the event. This season we will attempt to broaden our scope by incorporating a new high scoring ranking system that scores the best five yachts at each event and the best seven regatta results out of the 10 selected AYGP events are to be counted. As this is the best way to determine the top Skipper and Racing Yacht of the Year in Asian waters, selecting the events each year is of paramount importance.

Take note major change 18 Jan 2011: As the Vietnam Race was cancelled and the dates of the Commodore's Cup and Top of the Gulf are overlapping, making it impossible for yachts to compete at both events, we have decided to count the best six regatta results instead of seven.

AYGP comes alive
We like to keep our readers up to speed, by generating monthly AYGP Newsletters with all the finer points on the upcoming events, expert analysis, race results plus links to the Progressive Pointscore & Rankings (Below). Goto the latest AYGP Newsletter or the AYGP Update which notify's sailors when the regatta Photo Galleries are posted online after each of the ten selected regatta/races that score points.

June AYGP News - Changes in the wind for the 2011-12 AYGP
By AY MultiMedia
Ongoing discussions since the Regatta Forum at the end of the TOTG Regatta and after canvassing boat owners, skippers, crew, supporters and sponsors during the season ending Sawadee.com Regatta at Ko Samui, everyone seems in favour of expanding the AYGP and including other classes into the race for the 2011-12 AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards. We have whittled down the suggested pointscoring system, mainly to keep it simple and fairly grade competing Boat owners and Skippers ability to successfully run full-on racing campaigns through Asian waters over the 2011-12 Season. The proposed classes are IRC 1 Racing, IRC 2, IRC 3, Premier Cruisers and Multihull Racing classes, whenever they compete at the 12 events on the 2011-12 Asian Calendar. Co-operation is being sort from Regatta organisers to synchronize rating bands for the IRC classes, nominated skippers/boat owners names on the entry list (If different) and full results after the event is run. Several pointscoring systems have been studied and have come down to the final two preferences. Please email any feedback on the proposed changes and suggestions to info@asianyachting.com before a final decision is reached. Check out the complete Changes in the Wind in the June AYGP News

10th Sawadee.com Regatta - Neil Pryde wins regatta & Ray Roberts the AYGP
By AY MultiMedia
June 4th: The final day came down to an one passage race shootout, down South to the Mat Sum mark and back for the Racing and IRC 1 classes. Only seconds separated the leaders as they went tack for tack, picking the wind shifts on the long windward beat. As the breeze faded the boats began to struggle into the current. Luckily the breeze returned in time for all classes to round the mark and set off downwind. As there was no sign of the seabreeze, PRO Ross Chisholm called it a day at the Hin Ang Wang gate for all classes. It seemed like each gybe one boat would pull slightly ahead, then the next gybe another boat was looking famous for a while. Until eventually Frank Pong's 76ft Jelik II crossed the shortened finish line taking line honours with the 52 footers hot on his transom. Twenty seven seconds latter Hannes Waimer's TP52 Team Premier breasted the line with Neil Pryde's Welbourn 52 Hi Fi only four seconds adrift. A further 22 seconds elapsed and Sam Chan's TP52 Freefire came through with Ray Roberts TP52 Evolution Racing trailing them by forty three seconds. All in all, a little over two minutes elapsed for all the Racing Class boats to finish and the number crunching started. When we left off yesterday Neil Pryde's Hi Fi took over the lead and stayed on the pace to win the last three races and take out the Racing Class title. A couple of bad luck races reduced Hannes Waimer's Team Premier down to second overall and second place today for Sam Chan's TP52 Freefire breaks the tie with Ray Roberts Evolution Racing to end up third and fourth overall respectively.Goto AY Race Report 5 & Summary Go to AY Photo Gallery

May 2011 - AYGP Newsletter - Grand finale for dueling duo... Changes being considered for next season
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
13th May 2011: Two regattas in quick succession did nothing towards determining this seasons overall winner and saw five new skippers and four yachts score late points in the 2010-11 Evolution Sails AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards. After the TOTGR, Ray Roberts Evolution Racing lead has been reduced to two points by Neil Pryde's Hi Fi, with one regatta remaining. Roberts admitted that "Their performance was perhaps the worse ever at any Asian regatta he has entered and hopes to turn the tide at Koh Samui". Despite loosing in the protest room, Neil Pryde's crew were jubilant on their three race winning haul and Hi Fi's light weather boatspeed going into the final event. Hannes Waimer's winning TP52 Team Premier showed that the dueling duo can be beaten at their own game, especially by a well prepared boat and racing crew in top form. Along with Team Premier, Kevin Whitcraft's GP42 Wan Marang and John Mahoney Humphrey's 42 Zanzibar enter the pointscore for the first time. They are all looking forward to their next clash at the Sawadee.com Regatta (May 30th - June 4th) and welcome the Hong Kong boats back for a ding dong grande finale showdown to end the season. Check out the Changes being considered for next Season in the May 2011 - AYGP Newsletter

Top of The Gulf Regatta - Podium places decided in the protest room...
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
3rd May 2011: Eight to ten knots of breeze provided the perfect conditions for the last day shootout, off Jomtiem beach in the Gulf of Thailand. Several classes were relying on today's results and the drop race to settle the overall series and others the outcome is already decided. A protest lodged by Ray Roberts in Race 3 was initially dismissed and the International jury reopened the case as new evidence was available, that resulted in Neil Pryde being disqualified. Just to complicate things further the case was again reopened and as the scorer tried to tabulate the final results the media eagerly waited for the outcome of the protest to complete the podium order. Another protest in the Platu One-design class was being heard that would also determine the winning places in the protest room. Finally Neil pryde's disqualification stands and despite winning two races today, that would have won them the title, have to settle on second place. Hannes Waimer's TP52 Team Premier has been firing on all cylinders and set the pace throughout the event, to sail away with the Racing Class title on their first attempt. Neil Pryde's Welbourn 52 Hi Fi had to settle on second overall after winning three races and carrying the disqualification. Some new modifications on Ray Roberts TP52 Evolution Racing have not been successful, especially in light winds and third place means its back to the drawing board before Koh Samui. Kevin Whitcraft's GP42 Won Ma Rang notched up fourth place and Johnathan Mahoney's newly acquired Humphrey's 42 Zanzibar in fifth place. In the 2010/11 AY Grand Prix Championship Ray Roberts lead has been whittled down to 2 points in front of Neil Pryde with one regatta remaining. Some new ideas are likely to be thrashed out tomorrow at the Regatta Forum organised by Bill Gasson and a full run down will be coming out latter in the week. Goto AY Race Report 4 & Summary

Commodore's Cup - Final day 4 settles the arguement...
by Jeremy Simpson
30th April 2011: It was a fine and blustery day out on Subic Bay. High clouds and brilliant sunshine, with the wind seldom less than 12 knots promised another cracking day on the water. Race Officer Jerry Rollins placed the windward mark at two miles almost due East of the start and got IRC Racing class off on time at 1130 for the first of two windward-leewards. Boracay was away first followed by Subic Centennial and Ffreefire. The story was the same for both race 5 and race 6. In the absence of any whoopsies, the disparity in boat sizes gave the inevitable result of Boracay first across the line in front of Ffreefire and the Sydney 46, Subic Centennial. However, the Reichel Pugh 76 had to be a country mile in front to beat the other two boats. In Race 5 the results were first Subic Centennial, second Ffreefire and Boracay third by seven minutes. However, in Race 6, for the first time in the regatta, Boracay pushed Sam Chan's TP52, Ffreefire back to third place on corrected time to take second by 55 seconds, and only 13 seconds behind Subic Centennial. Results overall gave Frank Pong fourth and third place (how often could that happen?) with Mui-Mui and Boracay, Ffreefire second and Judes Echauz' Subic Centennial cleaning up again, with four firsts and a second. Goto Race Report 4

April 2011 - AYGP Newsletter - Coming into the final 3 rounds...
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
24th April 2011: The final three regatta's on the 2010-11 AYGP Championship are upon us - First up Commodore's Cup in picturesque Subic Bay, Philippines, then into the Gulf of Thailand for the Top of the Gulf Regatta at Ocean Marina, South Pattaya plus the fantastic season ending Grand Final Showdown - Sawadee.com Regatta at Koh Samui. Although the first two regattas overlap and the racing class fleet are split between the events, the recently introduced "Six regatta's to count - scoring system" caters for this and moves are in place for regatta organisers to come together and form an Asian league or class championship from the major events. When we left off, after the Singapore Straits Regatta, Ray Roberts TP52 Evolution Racing and Neil Pryde's custom Welbourn 52 Hi Fi, have once again run away at the top of the scoreboard. Thirteen skippers and twelve boats have scored points in the six regattas held so far. Although Ray Roberts and Neil Pryde sit on top of the 2010-11 AYGP Championship, this has not deterred the other competitors from having a go at them. In fact, at the final King's Cup press conference, Ray Roberts admitted that their presence has lifted the standard of racing in the Asian region, which now includes five TP52s, to be as good as anywhere in the world. The final results belie the level of close competition. Often the light and changing conditions produce numerous place changes and the dueling duo do not have it all their own way. The exceptionally close racing usually comes down to the last race and in the overall results just one point difference between Evolution Racing and Hi Fi, that also delivered an unprecedented dead heat in race six at the hotly contested King's Cup. More on this check out the April 2011 - AYGP Newsletter

March 2011 - AYGP Newsletter - Who is looking down the barrel of success?
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
10th March 2011: Despite the Afro/Arab world turning up side down and the pirate scourge holding up round the world cruisers in the Indian Ocean, the final three regatta's on the 2010-11 AYGP Championship are coming up in April and May - First up Commodore's Cup in colorful Subic Bay, Philippines, then into the Gulf of Thailand for the Top of the Gulf Regatta at Ocean Marina, South Pattaya plus the fantastic season ending Grand Final Showdown - Sawadee.com Regatta at Koh Samui. As we are fast approaching the end of the 2010/11 Season, Ray Roberts TP52 Evolution Racing and Neil Pryde's custom Welbourn 52 Hi Fi, that field professional racing teams on the Asian circuit each year, have once again run away at the top of the leaderboard. Although Roberts has won four of the five regatta's they entered and have what looks like a commanding three point lead in the AYGP Championship - Under the recently introduced "Six regatta's to count - scoring system", Neil Pryde mathematically still has a chance, if they win the next two regatta's they both enter and Ray Roberts finishes down the order. It is so close, that we dare not send the New 2010-11 Evolution Sails AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year trophy, taking shape in Pt Dickson to the engravers just yet and will leave further judgment till after the Top of the Gulf being their next encounter. More on this check out the March 2011 - AYGP Newsletter

Singapore Straits Regatta - And the winners are...
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
29:01:2011 Going into the final races only one or two points separated the leaders in three of the five classes. Most boats headed out early for some fine tuning and prepare the crew mentally and physically for what needs to be done to win the title. The IRC B class were a little to ambitious and a general recall was signaled by PRO Richard Cai, whose team have done a great job to hold it all together and complete the race schedule in testing conditions. Once again the North East monsoon was pumping in at a steady 16 knots with gusts reaching 24 knots. This was going to be such a challenging day on both crew and machine that the eventual winners would deserve the title. The Racing Class dueling duo, once again went through the pre-start circling motions, that has enthralled onlookers all week, as they jockeyed for the windward berth. Ray Roberts TP 52 Evolution Racing hit the line with speed with Neil Pryde's Welbourn 52 Hi Fi to leeward and bow slightly ahead. Difficult to live in that position for long and as Evolution Racing rolled over Hi Fi a taking duel was instigated. Ray Roberts covered Neil Pryde tack for tack up the windward leg and rounded the top mark ahead. This result sees Ray Roberts become the Singapore Straits Regatta champion and win the S.E.A. Perpetual Cup Series to take home the replica of the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy. Four regatta wins and one second place for Ray Roberts almost certainly puts them in the box seat to win the inaugural 2010-11 Evolution Sails AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards. For class winners goto AY Race Report 4 & Summary

January 2011 - AYGP Update - Going down to the wire...
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
19 Jan 2011: Although we have only just crossed the half way point of the 2010-11 season, Ray Roberts and Neil Pryde have taken such a commanding lead in the AYGP Championship that it is almost mathematically beyond the reach of the other contestants. Roberts has won three and placed second at one event to sit on 19 points. Pryde has won one and placed second at three events to trail Roberts by two points. The next closest skipper is Sam Chan's TP52 Freefire and Frank Pong's Reichel Pugh 75 Jelik III tied on six points and trailing the leading duo by 13 points. They will have to win at least three of the remaining four regattas and the leaders not score any points for them to get back into the running. This is not likely to happen as they are likely to only contest two of the remaining four regatta's. So once again it comes down to the dueling duo but which one will come out on top? All the regattas they have contested have been extremely close and gone down to the final race. This season the best seven results out of the ten regattas were supposed to count towards the AYGP Championship. As the Vietnam Race was cancelled and the dates of the Commodore's Cup and Top of the Gulf are overlapping, making it impossible for yachts to compete at both events, we have decided to count the best six regatta results instead of seven. So it On On into the season and may the best crew win... Goto January AYGP Update

Royal Langkawi Int Regatta - The cream always rises to the top...
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
15:01:2011 LANGKAWI: After an hours delay the decision was made to race inside Bass Harbour. Which proved to be the right move as the wind picked up to 10 knots and lasted long enough for three races to be conducted and complete the original schedule of races. In most classes there was two or three yachts vying for the overall title and very keen to get on with the job. After the last few days the wind was a welcome relief and bought the event to a successful conclusion. All is forgiven! Ray Roberts TP52 Evolution Racing started the day with a two point lead over Neil Pryde's Welbourn 52 Hi Fi. A start line incident between them had Neil Pryde hailing protest and saw Ray Roberts completing 2x360 degree penalty turns, then setting off in last place to catch the fleet. He must of drawn the 'Get out of jail free' card as they managed to get back through the order and score second place behind the victorious Hi Fi. This narrowed their lead down to one point. The plan to keep going through the paces and producing good boat speed worked out in the end. Victory in Race 7 and 2nd place in Race 8 sealed the deal for the defending champion to win the Prime Minister's Challenge Trophy for the 6th consecutive year. Goto AY Race Report 4 & Summary

January 2011 AYGP Newsletter - Onward and Upwards...
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
7th Jan 2011: With the festive season already fading into a distant memory, the serious contenders for the 2010-11 AYGP Championship are coming together again next week for the Royal Langkawi International Regatta and the Singapore Straits Regatta from January 26th to 29th. During the break some crew members competed on the grueling Rolex Sydney Hobart Race and although they have a lot of stories to tell, are expected to be in top form for the Asian regattas coming up in quick succession. As we cross the half way mark in the season, Ray Roberts TP52 Evolution Racing holds a one point lead over Neil Pryde's Welbourn 52 Hi Fi and are expected to once again go head to head in Langkawi. On the last three events they have traded blows and finished on top of the podium which included an unprecedented dead heat in race six at the King's Cup. Next in line is Frank Pong's 75ft Reichel Pugh, Jelik III, being the biggest yacht in the fleet is the perennial line honours favourite and with every race is getting closer to claiming the handicap honours and is long overdue to clinch the title. Also in with a chance is Olympian, Song Xia Quin on the helm of Pong's TP52 Jelik V with an all-Chinese crew put in an admirable performance at the Raja Muda and King's Cup to steadily climb the rankings. Goto AYGP January Newsletter

December 2010 - AYGP Update - Moving into top gear...
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
15 Dec 2010: Although Ray Roberts and Neil Pryde have resumed their battle at the top of the 2010-11 AYGP Championship, this has not deterred the other competitors from having a go at them. In fact, at the final King's Cup press conference, Ray Roberts admitted that their presence has lifted the standard of racing in the Asian region, which now includes five TP52s, to be as good as anywhere in the world. The light and changing conditions saw many place changes and the dueling duo did not have it all their own way. The Racing Class results were exceptionally close coming down to the last race on the last day and the final results saw just one point difference between Evolution Racing and Hi Fi, that also delivered an unprecedented dead heat in race six. They were just 11 seconds apart at the finish and equal on corrected time. After four regattas under the new high scoring system, we now have twelve different skippers and yachts scoring points towards winning the 2010-11 Evolution Sails AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards. Goto AYGP December Update

24th Phuket King's Cup - Evolution Racing by a whisker...
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
10 Dec 2010: Overnight the weather turned for the worse and once again the race committee had to deal with light patchy breezes and a strong out going current. After an hours delay and as conditions did not improve, the decision was made to get the final races underway for the elusive King's Cup trophy. As only a couple points separated Evolution Racing and Hi Fi, the cat and mouse game started early. Making there final run into the line, both boats were called up beyond the start boat. Neil Pryde lifted early to slow Hi Fi's approach, just as Ray Roberts was forced to tack away, allowing Pryde to maneuver Hi Fi in behind them and get away with the rest of the fleet. By the time Evolution Racing recovered, they were way behind and finding it difficult to advance in the lee of the other boats. Desperate times requires taking different actions from the leaders. Looking very sad on the first couple of laps, Ray Roberts finally found top gear on Evolution Racing and squeezed up into fourth place, which was enough to win the King's Cup Racing Class for the fourth time. Goto AY Race Report 4 or check out the 2010 PKCR AY Photo Gallery

December 2010 - AYGP Newsletter - Each event the stakes get higher...
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
03 Dec 2010: Every regatta brings a new set of obstacles to overcome. Last week it was the overnight passage races on the Raja Muda regatta, next week its the tricky inter island and intense windward/leeward courses to the South and West of Phuket during the King's Cup to contend with. Attracting the largest number of entries from near and far, introduces a new degree of difficulty, which makes it harder to win or even capture a podium place. Ten high tech yachts have entered the racing class and are more than ever determined to get the better of Neil Pryde and Ray Roberts, that run full on professional campaigns and have dominated proceedings over the last few years. Boat owners are constantly working on modifications to improve the boats performance and optimize the IRC rating to suit the local conditions. No stranger to the King's Cup, Hannes Waimer returns with a TP52 Team Premier, this time all the way from Dubai. This makes it five TP52's on the starting grid, which is a first for the Asian region and we can expect some start line drama and a close battle on the high seas as the racing unfolds. By scoring 3rd place in the Raja Muda, Xiaqun Song and her all Chinese crew on Frank Pong's TP52 Jelik V have shown they are a force to be reckoned with and intend on getting in amongst the action again. After three regattas under the new high scoring system, we now have twelve different skippers and yachts scoring points towards winning the 2010-11 Evolution Sails AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards. Check out the Asian Racing Calendar for the all year round racing season, held at some of the finest tropical island resorts in Asia. Goto AYGP December Newsletter

RMSIR - Drama plays out to the end...
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
27th Nov 2010 - Langkawi Harbour Races: Like men possessed by iron resolutions, all the racing teams headed out onto Bass Harbour and the fresh 10 knot North Easterly breeze ensured that racing got underway on time and in enough pressure to fight right to the very end. Ray Roberts TP52 Evolution Racing held a slender 4 point lead over Neil Pryde's Welbourn 52 Hi Fi at the start of the day and the cat and mouse game came to life just before the preparatory signal. PRO Jerry Rollin announced "Clear Start" and a tight tacking duel began on the first upwind. Frank Pong 75’ Reichel Pugh Jelik III steamed into the lead followed by the dueling Evolution Racing and Hi Fi that went out to the extreme right hand side on the downwind. Evolution Racing then got caught up in a fish trap and despite the quick thinking crew member that jumped over and detached the line from the keel, they rounded in last place and started on the long fight back. Neil Pryde's Hi Fi then went on to record first place and despite clambering back Evolution Racing finished in fourth place leaving them with only a one point advantage with one race to go. Goto AY Race Report 5 & Summary Here... Goto RMSIR - AY Photo Gallery

November 2010 - AYGP Newsletter - Starting to get serious...
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
With all the International media coverage presently going on, it's easy to overlook that the 21st Raja Muda Regatta gets underway at the Royal Selangor Yacht Club next weekend and the Phuket King's Cup in early December. Delivery crew on the seriously campaigned racing yachts, presently on route to Port Klang have reported on Social Networks that during the South China Sea crossing, they experienced up to 40 knot winds, lots of rain and at times up to 20 knot boat speed in big following seas. Some sort shelter and relief in Vietnamese waters for much needed R&R and drying out from the relentless rain. Each crew member will have a story to tell from their character building exercise. With the cancellation of RHKYC's Hong Kong to Vietnam Race because Super Typhoon Megi threatened the safe passage of competitors, means there will only be nine five star events on the 2010-11 AYGP Championship this sailing season. Also recent announcements suggest the AYGP event for the Philippines will continue to be the Commodore's Cup in Subic Bay from April 27th to 30 2011. Straight after the Biennial San Fernando Race starting on Thursday 21st April 2011 over the Easter long weekend, so the Hong Kong boats can get a crack at the title. All is revealed in the November 2010 - AYGP Newsletter

AYGP Oct Update - Defending champion, Ray Roberts triumphs at China Coast Regatta
By AsianYachting Event Media
Despite having to battle it out in 25 to 27 knot headwinds and a lumpy seaway, Ray Roberts and his TP52 Evolution Racing crew put on a superb performance to win all seven races on the trot and in doing so retained the CCR title and kick started their 2010-11 AYGP campaign in grand style. Held in classic CCR sailing conditions the results belie the level of close competition, as the local teams put up a good fight and on several occasions missed out by only a few seconds. The new keel and bulb optimisation program on Evolution Racing seems to be paying dividends already. The stalwarts of the Hong Kong big boat racing scene were determined to return the silverware to the RHKYC trophy cabinet. Arch rival Neil Pryde on his prize winning Welbourn 52, Hi Fi pulled out all the stops but just could not find an extra minute of pace around the testing course to advance beyond second place. Even the biggest boat in the fleet, Frank Pong's 75’ Reichel Pugh, Jelik III took line honours in every race but could not convert any over to handicap wins and had to settle on third overall. Goto the AYGP Oct Update

RHKYC - China Coast Regatta Day 3 - Only the rough & tough get to stand on the podium
17 Oct 10: The final day of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s flagship regatta, sponsored by Ocean Safety, offered a challenge to the fleets, with 25 to 27 knots and a ‘two Stugeron’ swell. The conditions deterred some competitors from starting and only 41 of the 47 entries made it across the start line for the first windward/leeward of the day. Three laps were set for all fleets except IRC Cruising and HKPN, and a few shredded kites later, the winners consisted of the usual suspects, bar IRC Cruising, which saw Torben Kristensen’s Authority claim her first bullet, and in HKPN where Michael Delaney brought Bodicea’s only first for the regatta. Evolution Racing and Red Kite II continued building their picket fences, while Blondie and Hakawati also claimed a single point to stay on top of the class points table and by the end of the day proudly stand on the top step of the podium. Check out the final CCR Day 3 Summary...

AYGP Oct Newsletter - Rounds 2 & 3 to kick off in Hong Kong
Although over three months have elapsed since the first AYGP event (SS Phuket Raceweek), the racing class have regrouped and now come together for the China Coast Regatta (15-17 Oct) this weekend. Which is quickly followed by the HK to Vietnam Race starting three days latter on October 20th. In the Aug-Sept AYGP Newsletter we outlined how the teams have re-invented themselves by either acquiring new boats or making modifications on their old rides to improve all round performance. As Hong Kong has the most racing class boats in the Asian region, it comes as no surprise that they have won most of the regional regatta's, including the annual AYGP Championship and must be commended for making the long journey to campaign their vessels in SE Asian waters each year. The Racing Class entry list boasts two brand new IRC racers, together with past year’s winners and stalwarts of the Hong Kong big boat racing calendar. Go AYGP Oct Newsletter...

2010/11 AYGP - Aug-Sept - Newsletter - Re-igniting the racing class
By AsianYachting Event Media
Every few years the Racing Class competitors at Asian regattas, go through a process of re-inventing themselves and surprisingly come up with even bigger and better solutions. The enjoyment of an all year round racing season, held at some of the finest tropical island resorts in Asia is attracting the attention of International racing teams as a great place to go and compete, especially over the corresponding winter months. Recently this process gained momentum when two high profile boat building companies introduced two new state of the art racing boat designs into the region and found up to four owners, willing to bring a racing crew together to campaign their boat at selected events on the Asian Racing Calendar. After the taste of International success at the Rolex Commodore's Cup in the UK, Nick Burns and Fred Kinmonth, intension is to bring the Mills 40, EFG Bank Mandrake to Hong Kong and join in the local racing scene. Sam Chan has purchased a latter version TP 52 Ffreefire and successfully competed on the 2010 Giraglia Rolex Cup in Europe (See video) before packing her up and shipping to Hong Kong. Read all about it, in the Aug-Sept AYGP Newsletter...

July 2010 AYGP Update - Spectacular start to 2010-11 Season
By AsianYachting Event Media
Throughout SS Phuket Raceweek the overall lead in the IRC Racing class, seesawed between Scott Duncanson's Phuket 8 Quantum Fusion M and Ben Copley's Swan CS 42 Katsu. Coming into the final storm swept day, Copley's Katsu had a two point lead over Duncanson's Quantum Fusion M. The previous day Antony Hastings' Beneteau First 53 F5 Baby Tonga went out determined to put in a good showing in the fresh conditions to hold onto third overall with Ray Waldron's brand new Phuket 8 Surf Patrol improving with every race and nipping on the leaders heels. Final podium placing's were dependant on how many races could be run on the last day. Scott Duncanson managed to keep his Phuket 8 Quantum Fusion M upright and sailed conservatively during the height of the storm to take Race 7 handicap honours. Ben Copley's Katsu took line honours and second place, but Duncanson was closing in fast. The race committee were set up and almost ready to hold Race 8 when the second storm struck and had to abandon proceedings. Copley finally ditched Katsu's bridesmaid role and took home the overall Racing Class trophy. Antony Hastings Baby Tonga did enough in the earlier races to take third spot on the podium. Under the new scoring system the first five boats now score points towards the Evolution Sails AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards. Also goto the SS Raceweek 2010 - AY Photo Gallery is posted at: http://asianyachting.com/photos/photo.htm?PRW10

Six Senses Phuket Raceweek - All hell breaks loose on the final day...
By AsianYachting Event Media
July 25th: At the sumptuous Six Senses Evason breakfast overlooking the racing area, the warning signs for a tough day ahead were already in full view. White caps and lumpy seas, stirred up by 20 to 25 knot South West Monsoon winds. Upon arrival at Race Control at Into the Beach, Nitt kindly pointed out at that Stuart Williamson's Beneteau 34.7 Skandia Endeavour of Whitby had drifted off, some time during the night and was firmly planted on the rocks at Koh Bon. A Thai fishing boat had been engaged to skull drag her from the beach and tow her into Ao Chalong for repairs. As the assembled media were due to board the boats an enormous storm descended on Phuket bringing with it 30 to 35 knot gusts and lashing rain. After half an hour delay, those that were brave enough to tackle the bronco bucking jetty and risk ruining their valuable camera equipment, clambered aboard and headed out to the racing area to see what was going on out there. Capt Brent McInnes our boat owner and driver afforded us a brief photo shoot of the Skandia Endeavour of Whitby grounding and then expertly guided his magnificent Donzi speedboat around the starting area, all the time desperately trying to keep the photographic equipment dry. Just after PRO Simon James started the IRC Racing and IRC 2 classes the threatening black clouds that were building out to sea, descended over the race course and all hell broke loose in torrential rain and zero visibility. Goto full story AY Race Report 4 & Summary and the Raceweek 2010 - AY Photo Gallery http://asianyachting.com/photos/photo.htm?PRW10

2010/11 AYGP - July 2010 - Newsletter - Evolution Sails sponsors new Skipper & Yacht of the Year trophy
By AsianYachting Event Media
We proudly announce that Evolution Sails have come onboard as trophy sponsor for the 2010-11 AYGP Championship to be known as the Evolution Sails AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards. They have also signed up for a years worth of Internet advertising in AsianYachting monthly publications and Race Reports. We will still be presenting the Perpetual AYGP Cup filled with chilled champagne and the Armani Koh Samui blue blazer at the gala Sawadee.com Regatta 2010 Samui season ending prize presentation. The new trophy will be the one that the winning skipper can take home with them and display in their trophy cabinet. Winning these awards is considered a very special honour, where skippers and boat owners are rewarded for running a successful racing campaign over 10 regatta's held in SE & E Asian waters each year. As these prestigious awards go way beyond cheap plastic trophy's, we are considering a design competition amongst budding artists living in the SE Asian region, to make it not only a memorable and unique occasion but also worthy of displaying in the office back home. We welcome any interest from designers and artists that would like to get involved with the trophy design competition by contacting info@asianyachting.com Six Senses Phuket Raceweek kicks off the 2010-11 AYGP Championship this week from Wednesday 21st to Sunday 25th July as the elegant Six Senses Evason Resort plays host on the south east coast of Phuket. Goto 2010/11 AYGP - July 2010 - Newsletter

As one season ends, the next one begins
Six Senses Phuket Raceweek (21 to 25 July) is the first regatta in the 2010/2011 AsianYachting Grand Prix Championship, fabulous value ‘earlybird’ discounts on entry fees for boats and crew registration are now open via http://www.phuketraceweek.com/ For those who don’t have a boat in Phuket, there are numerous competitive yachts – from IRC to cruising, monohull and multihull – available to charter, either with skipper or bareboat. As well as competitors engaging in four days of battle on the heavenly waters off Phuket’s south east coast, the high octane and adrenaline pumping racing at the ‘Summer Season’ regatta will be complimented by Jaguar unveiling the All New XJ series and give VIP guests the opportunity to see, drive and enjoy the latest addition to Jaguar’s timeless selection of sports and saloon cars. Check them out at: http://www.phuketraceweek.com and make sure you don't miss out on this season opening gala occasion.

Historical data - previous winners
The AYGP first came together during the 2002-03 season when Peter Ahern and YO! became the inaugural Asian champion skipper and yacht of the year. He then followed it up during the 2003-04 season and Sam Chan's Freefire took out the Yacht of the year with higher points but as he shared the skippers role with his sailing master did not score enough points to become the Skipper of the year. Neil Pryde completed the double during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons with Hi-Fidelity and Hi-Fi Team Pryde respectively. In 2006-07 Frank Pong's Jelik clinched victory as it came down to the last race at the final event at Koh Samui. Ray Roberts DK46 Quantum Racing became the winner of the sixth running over the 2007-08 season after coming close on several occasions. After serious modifications Neil Pryde's Hi Fi with a record 20 points dominated the 2008-09 year to capture the title with two events to run. In 2009-10 Ray Roberts TP52 Evolution Racing claimed the trifecta, by winning the Sawadee.com Regatta 2010, Samui Racing Class title as well as pick up both the 2009-10 AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards.

This season there are ten selected 5-star AY Grand Prix racing class events, so its anybodies guess who will don the tailored Armani Koh Samui Blue Blazer and receive the Perpetual AY Cup traditionally filled with chilled champagne at the magnificent prize giving party on the lawns of the Centara Grand Beach Resort at the Koh Samui Regatta in June 2011.

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