Harbour races to determine class champions

21:11:09 The race program is seriously being compressed to fit in the postponed Penang races 3 & 4. What is normally the rest day after the passage race has now been taken up with yacht racing. Despite being tired and moody most the competitors turned up to race. Blessed with 10 to 15 knots of North Easterly breeze filtering down onto Bass Harbour from the hills behind Kua town, PRO Gerry Rollin happily obliged by firing of the sequence of starts for all classes.

Bill Bremner's TP52 Foxy Lady IV put in a startling performance to lead the racing class around the course but as they approached the finish the clew of the spinnaker parted company and although hasty repairs were made, Neil Pryde slipped past them to post his fourth win in a row. Ray Roberts TP 52 Evolution Racing slotted into third place. In Race 4 some skippers were a little to keen to get going and Hi Fi, Boracay Jelik III and Foxy Lady IV were recalled for being on the course side of the start line. This cleared the way for Ray Roberts to take the handicap honours and Neil Pryde recovered to take second place. The Nick Burns/Fred Kinmonth custom Mills 51 EFG Bank Mandrake made a return to the podium but with only two races left to run, is a little to late in proceedings to make any inroads on the leaders.

Only one race for the Premier Cruisers and as Antony Hastings Beneteau 53 Baby Tonga posted another win, they have climbed to the top of the pointscore plus looking good to retain the Jugra trophy. Former champion Peter Cremers Shahtoosh slotted into second place and surprisingly features on the podium for the first time this regatta. After winning the first two races Hans Rahmann's Judel/Vrolijk 70 Yasooda had a dip in form but returned with third place today to get back in amongst the leaders and only has one more race to make amends.

Jon Wardill's Cassidy 55 Australian Maid has dominated the IRC 3 class since the beginning. By adding another first and second place Aussie Maid moves one step closer to the title. Rebounding with 2nd and 1st places today Sarab Singh's Sydney 40MOD Windsikher moves up into second overall and if things work out right in the two scheduled races tomorrow they still have a shot at the title. Robert Van Paridon's Beneteau 44.7 Tantrum is holding steady with two third places and moves into third overall.

Since scoring 5th in the first race David Ross' new Kerr 32 Kukukerchu has now posted four wins in a row and stands alone at the top of the class. Stuart Williamson's Beneteau 34.7 Skandia EOW are playing the bridesmaid role and despite scoring two 2nd places they must be wondering what to do to topple Kukukerchu. Vincent Chan's Titan 36 AC Law Mata Hari and Jeff Harris Rapscallion have been trading third places on the two races conducted this afternoon.

In the Multihull Class Henry Kaye's Seacart 30 Thor made up for yesterdays debacle by posting first and second places today. A similar story for Grenville Fordham's Andaman Cabriolet Niña has them leading the overall stakes. The Vietnam built Corsair 37's of Richard Eyre's Zhuka and David Liddell's Miss Saigon traded third and fourth places but as only a few points separate the fleet they are still in with a chance.

With only one race remaining in the non-IRC Cruising Class 5, Rod Heikell's Skylax has sown up the title after winning four races on the trot. Singapore's Leslie Fung on Todak 2 could not find the keys to the door and still has a bit to do if they want to secure second overall. Simon Piff's Rainbow Dream scored third place today but is well down the pecking order. David Mellefont's Wind Quest dropped to third overall but a big performance in the last race could help them regain second overall.

In Class 6 Simon Morris' Aussie classic Sirius 1935 continues to lead the chasing pack and in doing so have climbed above the Navy into first overall. Dato Richard Curtis 100 year old classic Eveline showed she still has some life in her yet by notching up second place and assuming the bronze medal position. Third place for Barry Wickett's Kay Sira sees them slip down into 5th overall and as all races count in the regatta the 8th place in Race 1 has been their undoing.

Racing continues on the final day tomorrow. Two windward/ leewards for the IRC classes and Multihulls plus a single harbour race for the non-IRC classes to conclude this years event. At the beginning of our journey, I told you this is quite an endurance event both on and off the water. How are you coping so far?

More info on the 20th Raja Muda Selangor Int. Regatta at: http://www.rmsir.com

Goto AY Race Report 6 & Summary
AY Race Report 4
AY Race Report 3
AY Race Report 2
AY Race Report 1
AY Pre-Regatta Report
Multihull Revival at 20th RMSIR 09

This RMSIR 09 is kindly bought to you by the following supporters