New twist to Sing Straits Regatta

26:01:2010 This year its Nongsa Point Marina Resort turn to play host and they have introduced a bold new racing format which sees the entire event held from their resort in Batam, Indonesia. This has been suggested for many years as the congested waters in Singapore and strict Port Authority regulations have made it difficult to hold decent length races, safely in Singapore anymore. Despite having to obtain cumbersome Indonesian cruising permits, twenty one yachts have made their way to Batam and are ready to race in four separate classes.

Ray Roberts TP52 Evolution Racing and Neil Pryde's Welbourn 52 Hi Fi have been trading blows in the racing class at earlier AYGP events, which is expected to continue here. Nick Burns / Fred Kinmonth Mills 51 EFG Bank Mandrake and Geoff Hill's TP52 Strewth make a return to the racing class and are expected to make some inroads on the current AYGP leaders. It will probably come down to the wind strength and which crew can adapt to the sailing conditions expected over the next few days.

Sarab Jeet Singh's Sydney 40MOD Windsikher tops the IRC B class but strong opposition is expected from the two Farr 30's Jonathan Mahony's Happy Endings and Kenn Eyears / Rick Overton's Panic that have won many Asian events in the past. David Ross' new Kerr 32 Kukukerchu made an impressive debut by winning the Raja Muda Regatta late last year, could upset the status quo again here. Renfred Tay returns this time as skipper on Judy and Guz Wilkinson / Chris Furness Elan 410 Rikki Tikki Tavi have steadily improved throughout the season. Yazid Ramli is making a debut on the Beneteau 42.7 Rip Jaw that gained plenty of experience on the Raja Muda and King's Cup to put up a good fight.

The IRC C yachts will have to contend with Gordon Maxted's Young 84 Shoon Fung Too and two SMU Platu 25's, SMUve skippered by Shaun Toh and SMUmad by Ang Yong Tat before they can take the trophy home. If Jovin Tan's disabled crew on Victory are up to speed they will be hard to beat and although Chul Yoon / Chia Thien Fook Glory 121 are making their debut they could spring a few surprises.

Five one design J24's are going head to head again in IRC D. Borstnar Vladimir's crew on Angel have held the upper hand over the last few years and are the ones to beat. It must be time for Richard Ahl / Tim Tan's J24 Juno to stop playing second fiddle to Angel and post a victory here. Christopher Lim arrives fresh from the Langkawi regatta and hopes to put Shengli on the podium. Nova and Merdeka are new names this year and will have their hands full coping with the experienced crews.

This event also marks the conclusion of the three nations S.E.A. Perpetual Cup Series where the Racing Class winner is awarded the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy.

More info can be found at http://www.straitsregatta.com

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