PATTAYA: The Top of the Gulf Regatta got back on track yesterday. After a wet and grey first day, Day 2 saw plenty of sun and some good breeze reaching 18 knots. It was a busy sea off Ocean Marina Yacht Club with more than 200 boats competing in 15 classes and close racing throughout the fleets.
On the keelboats and multihull course, one long round-the-island race was set for all classes while the Platus enjoyed two fast windward/leewards.
In IRC 1, THA72 continued their winning ways putting another win on the board. Being driven by Thai youngster and former Optimist World Champion, Noppakao Poonpat, the crew work is slick and today they dominated the all-Chinese team on Ark 323.
In IRC 2, the top boats consolidated their positions with Loco (USA) claiming another victory ahead of El Coyote (AUS) in second. Fujin, another Australian team, rounded out the podium.
Defending champions, Team viewpoint (MAS), put their first bullet on the board with a win in yesterday's first race of the Platu class. In the second race they dropped to third as Chris Way's team on Easy Tiger III (AUS), sailed the wind shifts best to claim the first win of their series and with that, they move to the top tied on points with Team Viewpoint with much still to race for.
The Optimist course saw some close racing with more than 120 boats from 12 different countries getting their series underway in tough conditions, while on Lasers, 420s and 470s offshore dinghy course it was neck-and-neck with lots of tight mark-roundings and no quarter being given.
With two more days of racing for many classes, anything can happen. Racing continues today.
