Final jigsaw puzzle on home stretch to Langkawi...
By AsianYachting Multimedia
22nd Nov 2019: As the 1300 start time arrived, the morning land breeze had expired and PRO Simon James had to revert to the 'Follow Me' instruction, out of Penang Harbour to the Northern Entrance mark, for an hour, before the incoming North Westerly was strong enough, to get the racers started. As the course to Langkawi was directly into the wind, most the fleet favoured the right hand side, towards some small islands and along the coastal route, looking for the forecasted North Easterly. They struggled for 15 miles before the NE'ly arrived, tacked over and set course on a long reach in 20-25 knots, above Pulau Payar, to the Langkawi finish line. The leading trio Ray Roberts TP52 Team Hollywood, Sarab Singh's Welbourn 52 Windsikher II and Geoff Hill's Smith 72 Antipodes finished in that order and within 18 minutes of each other. Check out the AY Photo Gallery

Rolf Heemskerk's Farr 40 The Next Factor, managed to hold onto the big boats skirt tails, to clam the handicap honours and make it 4 wins out of 5 races, to support the theory that the winner of the first race from Port Klang to Pangkor, usually goes on to win the title. Undeterred Ray Roberts TP52 Team Hollywood continued with line honours but missing out on converting to handicap honours, is hampering his chances of winning the title. Third place for Sarab Singh's Welbourn 52 Windsikher II keeps them one point in front of Team Hollywood but widening the gap to 8 points behind the leader, The Next Factor in the overall stakes.

Although Geoff Hill's Smith 72 Antipodes finished an hour in front of Doug Sallis' Hanse 575 Colie, the roles are reversed in the handicap stakes and they end up tied on 6 points for the Premier Cruising title, to be decided on the Langkawi Harbour races.

This time it was John Kara's turn to put the foot down on his Beneteau First 45 Insanity and finish in front of HH The Raja Muda Of Selangor, skippering the Beneteau 44.7 Fujin, but they were reduced to 2nd and 4th places respectively in the handicap stakes. Simon Piff's Lauranus L34 Rainbow Dream pushed his way in for the handicap win and returns to the top step of the podium, tied on 8 points with the cagey Rahim brothers on the J 92S Nijinsky, that won this race in similar circumstances back in 1999 on Gotcha Lagi.

The combined start with the IRC 3 and Cruising Classes, caught a few skippers napping down current from the start line and struggled to get back after the starting horn sounded. Pang Kim Ann Daniel's Hanse 400e Mystic River crossed the finish line first but were reduced to 4th place. Last to start, Chris Mitchell's Naut 40 Lady Bubbly, came through the fleet to finish 3rd and rise to the occasion to 1st place and extend his lead in the overall Cruising Class stakes. Second place for Lucas van Maarschalkerweerd's X-342 Minx, keeps them in the running for a podium place and 3rd place for Lily Sophiah's Yamaha 36 Dash returns to the podium, but should keep an eye over her shoulder, as there is a hungry pack close on her heels.

Up till now, the defending champion, Royal Malaysian Armed Forces Contessa 32OD Marikh skippered by Hasani Hassan, have had it their own way, in the Classic Class but today in the fresh conditions David McKeown's classic Stow 78 Rona came to the fore, to take out the daily double in fine style and Dato Richard Curtis 100 year old Bristol cutter Eveline skippered by James Lee, bumped themselves up into 2nd place, leaving Marikh in their wake. Fourth place for Shah Azlan's Westerly Storm 33 Tofan keeps them in the hunt for a podium finish.

In the Multihull Class, Norma Noordin skippering the Lightwave 38 Out Of The Blue II, with the Port Klang Sea Scouts onboard, are no match for Pete Waa's Stealth 11.8m Java, and despite damage to the mainsail reefing system and finishing the final part of the race under headsail only, Java has posted three wins on the trot and aiming for overall victory.

No rest for the wicked, as the next two days the fleet embark on a series of Langkawi Harbour races, that will (weather permitting) determine the overall order.

More info and results on the Raja Muda Selangor Int. Regatta

Goto AY Photo Gallery
AY Race Report 6 & Summary
AY Race Report 5
AY Race Report 3
AY Race Report 2
AY Race Report 1
AY Pre-Regatta Report

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