2009/2010 AsianYachting Grand Prix Championship
September 2009 - Newsletter

Weighing up the odds for the rest of the season
09:09:09: A lot can be learned on how the 2009/10 season is shaping up by just taking a stroll around the hardstand at Raffles Marina in Singapore. Neil Pryde's beloved Welbourne 52 Hi Fi is again undergoing major surgery in the workshop. The old cabin top has been replaced with a smaller and lighter section plus a new deck layout is being fitted. The keelbulb is being replaced with a heavier new shape by boat builders specially flown in from New Zealand. The ongoing experimental nature on the hull and appendages has led to some huge performance gains in the past. So this round of moving high up weight, down into the keel bulb is also expected to yield good results.

They will need as much speed as they can get as at the other end of the boat yard Paul Winkelmann's TP52 Island Fling has been sitting idle, waiting for a buyer to come along. It is believed that UK boat manager Taffy and Don Buckley (representing Ray Roberts) are good at spending the bosses money and a deal was settled a few weeks ago. The boat now has a new Evolution Sails branded boom tent and preparations are being made to deliver the boat to Hong Kong for the China Coast Regatta in October. The bigger boats welcome Ray with open arms to join them in the battle for line honours and on a more even footing for the handicap honours.

Ray Roberts ever faithful DK46 Evolution Sails (formerly Quantum Racing) has been the featured yacht on the AY Brokerage for a few months now. She is also sitting up on the hard stand ready for prospective buyers to inspect. There is no sail more than a year old and she is race ready for any prospective new teams wanting to take up the challenge at Asian regattas. The points awarded for winning the season opening Phuket Raceweek remain with the boat but the 3 points Ray Roberts personally scored continue towards the Skipper of the Year award. Lucky the change over comes early in the season as the overall winner has in the past won at least four or five of the ten events that make up the AYGP Championship.

Reports from Hong Kong have it that Frank Pong's team have completed further modifications to the 75ft Boracay and once again will be leading the charge at the China Coast, Raja Muda, King's Cup and Royal Langkawi Regatta this year. Sam Chan's TP 52 Ffreefire is sure to be amongst the favourite's at the China Coast but no news on what other events they intend contesting. Geoff Hill's TP52 Strewth is back on coarse and the Fred Kinmonth / Nick Burns Farr-Mills 51 Fortis Mandrake will be making their way over for their favourite SE Asian events. Philippine champion Ernesto Echauz's Sydney 46 Subic Centennial, is also rumored to be making a return visit, twelve years after they last won the Raja Muda. Singapore's Andy Cocks / Bill & Janis Bremner owned TP52 FOXY LADY IV and Sarab Jeet Singh's Sydney 40MOD WINDSIKHER will be joining the fray (Work permitting) at selected events. The Royal Malaysian Navy expect to field their Farr 520 Zuhrah in the racing class at Malaysian events. Peter Ahern is getting his Farr 40 YO!2 ready for the King's Cup and recapture some of the past glory achieved in Langkawi over the years.

All in all, a wonderful mix and with a few other racing teams believed to be canvassing the region, we certainly have a great season ahead of us.

We would like to hear from boat owners that have racing class yachts possibly available for charter at Asian events, so they can be promoted in future AYGP Newsletters and Updates.

Check out the 2009/10 AYGP pointscore as the championship unfolds at: http://asianyachting.com/news/AYGP09-10.htm

Advertising Opportunities at AY
If your company would like to support the AYGP in promoting racing activities in Asian waters, join the faithful advertisers below. Special annual and monthly rates are now being negotiated. Check out the 2009/10 AYGP Championship as it unfolds and while online look at the new and expanded AY Advertising opportunities at: http://www.asianyachting.com/Mall/Advertising.htm

The September AYGP Newsletter is proudly sponsored by: