Laying low on King's Cup Lay Day

3:45 AM Thu 3 Dec 2009 GMT

'Kata Beach Resort,one of the stunning locations for the race day prizegivings, Phuket King's Cup 2009.' Guy Nowell &copy Click Here to view large photo

It's Lay Day at the Phuket King's Cup and the crews are talking about golf, shopping, massages and sleep after completing three of the five days racing in the international regatta.

Last night the 111-boat fleet representing 33 countries celebrated the results of the third race day at regatta sponsor Kata Beach Resort. Relaxing around the stunning pool setting the skippers and crews tucked into the range of Thai food and cold Chang Beer, courtesy of the race day sponsor. Those still with energy to burn then headed off down the road to the Chang Beer beach party.

Chris Meads of Full Metal Jacket, race day three prizegiving, Phuket King's Cup 2009. - Guy Nowell &copy Click Here to view large photo

The International Jury are back at work today hearing one outstanding protest. So far 15 protests have been lodged, most of which have been able to be resolved without a great deal of angst. However, with two more days of very serious racing ahead, this could change.

Tomorrow's racing will be the deciding day for several of the divisions. The forecasters are talking up similar conditions to the last three days with east-north-east 12 plus knots early in the morning softening off towards the early afternoon.

Evolution Racing's Ray Roberts will no doubt be looking for coastal courses on the final two days of racing, keeping the boats away from the Ni Harn Bay mark which has proved one of the trickiest areas of the windward/leeward racing division courses. 'The racing is very tricky near Ni Harn Bay. The top mark is set quite close to the land under a very big hill so it is a very difficult course to sail as you end up with a split breeze and boats approach the top mark from port and starboard and it is a lottery as to who gets the pressure. You couldn't say you can accurately pick it because one minute the breeze is there and the next minute it is not and it fills in from one side or other because you are too close to the land. That has made the racing a little more difficult with a much higher degree of luck in there. That is the only complaint I have about the courses.'

Overall leaders in each of the 11 divisions are Racing - Neil Pryde's Hi-Fi 2-4-1-1-1-2; Premier - Anthony Hasting's Baby Tonga-Hideaways Club 1-1-2-2; IRC1 - Matt Allen's Ichi Ban 1-1-1-1-1-1; IRC2 - Peter Dyer's Team Bentley 2-4-1-1-2-5; Bareboat Charter - Terry McLaughlin's Princess Sharda 4-3-1-1; Modern Classic - Peter Wood's Windstar 1-1-1-1; Cruising - Bob Ashman's Simba 1-2-2; Firefly 850s - Brent Gribble's Twin Sharks 2-1-1-1-2-3; Multihull Racing - Henry Kaye/Fergus Wilmer's Thor 1-1-1-1-1-1; Multihull Cruising - Timothy Robins's Nipper 3-3-1; Classics - Rene Tiemessen's Alondra 4-1-1.

Full results are available from the event website - www.kingscup.com/

by Tracey Johnstone