Fifth round Nov 11/12/13 2022
OMYC INTERNATIONAL PLATU CHAMPIONSHIP OF THAILAND 2022
REPORT OF THE FINAL ROUND 11/12/13 NOVEMBER 2022
The weather forecast was for very little wind all weekend and this is the Race Officer’s worst nightmare. Happily the forecast was wrong and on day one we had winds from 12 to 18 knots all day from the North, North East. With all the high rise buildings creating massive bullets and direction changes the committee boat was set more than one mile from the coast and South, away from the high rise, to have more predictable wind conditions.
As usual the windward mark was set at a distance of about 600 metres to create 25 minute races over two laps. The first race was a practice race to allow crews not so familiar with the waters to acclimatize and settle in. Also unlike day two and three with no drop scores, one drop score is taken, again to allow crews to settle in without loss.
Five races were run and none of the boats suffered any major mishaps in spite of the 18 knots of wind. This is all the more remarkable considering two of the foredeckers were 14 and 15 years old. Well done Toby and Alfie. After this first day, Easy Tiger, helmed by Chris Way from Australia, showed that it meant business by scoring 4 bullets, but he was chased hard by Nam Prix helmed by Colin Simonds from England.
Day two had winds from 8 to 14 knots and gave the crews an easier ride. It is a joy to race in these conditions with picture postcard views, very little sea state and sunshine all day long. 6 races were held and the crews were back at the marina by 15.00 hours. Easy Tiger had two fast boats to contend with now because the Stingray Team, run by Kevin Whitcraft joined in the fun, being unable to race on day one.
Day three started with very little wind but after a half hours delay, 6 to 8 knots provided the same close racing. This format is less tiring than, three lap, one and a half hour races and so it was again possible to run 6 races. The last race is always a medal race with double points on offer. This always creates a very interesting start line as some boats push to get a great start and others just need to stay out of trouble. It was a clear start but the wind speed dropped dramatically half way up the beat and the race was shortened to one lap instead of two. Even so, the fleet had a hard time to keep their boats moving and finally crawled over the line with great relief.
And so another great weekends sport with some very close racing had finished. Time to pack the boats away and rush to the free beer and burgers provided by FLS who generously donate to the sport of yachting of all sorts at the Marina. Then it was time to have the awards ceremony with Scott Finston of OMYC presenting the awards. The race officer who had efficiently run 3 days of racing obviously had used up all his brain power as he proceeded to make a right royal mess of results and had to rely on crews to get it right. Chris Way and Easy Tiger won this round five and became the new OMYC Platu Champion of Thailand for his fourth time during the last 14 years. The crew of Stingray did a great job to overcome, the penalty of 3 DNS results from day one to finish second, just in front of Colin Simonds on Nam Prix. We must also mention the crew of Le Vent helmed by Nathan Masopust and the FLS Platu sponsored Platu 124, helmed by Justin Brownbill. They had their own close battles during the three days. Justin had come with his son and a friend from Australia to take part and said that he will definitely be back.
After results and awards it was time to party, and party they did. One of the stand out things about this Championship is the mutual respect all the crews have for each other and the partying was as close and hectic as the racing. This was made even more so as everyone had to huddle together under 4 sun umbrellas as the heavens opened and the rain came down in earnest.
Thanks go to…
OMYC and Scott Finston. Their support on and off the water makes this Championship possible and one of the best.
K Thammsak. Joint race officer for all his hard work
The mark boat boys.
The Food Truck and its ladies who worked extremely hard to keep the burgers coming for hungry crews.
Doug Smith who works very hard behind the scenes to help make this possible.
Guy Nowell. Editor of SAIL_WORLD magazine who makes sure the reports get published.
Peter at Pattaya Mail who also publishes our reports.
This report, results and photos can be seen in the Championship 2022 section in www.yachtsinthailnd. Also check out the Championship 2023 section for news about next year’s championship.
Thanks to all competitors especially those who travelled from Australia and the UK to make this a truly International Championship.
Written by Kev Scott Ferret News 16 November
Round 5 results
Easy Tiger 21 points
Stingray 41 points
Nam Prix 42 points
OVERALL RESULS 2022
Easy Tiger 3 points Chris Way
Stingray 4 points Kevin Whitcraft
Platu 257 7 points I. Ithinai
detailed results of Round 5
027 1,1,1,1,3,1,1,2,2,1.2,2,1,2….21
117 6,6,6,3,2,2,3,1,1,2,1,1,3,4……41
118 2,2,2,2,4,3,2,3,3,3,3,3,2,8…42
122 3,4,3,4,1,4,4,4,4,4,4,5,4,6….54
124 3,3,4,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,4,5,12…71
photos to follow
Fourth Round Sept 10/11/12
REPORT also available in SAIL-WORLD https://www.sail-world.com/news/253708/Tight-at-the-top-for-Thai-Platu-Nationals
and in The Pattaya Mail https://www.pattayamail.com/pattayasports/fourth-round-of-the-omyc-platu-championship-of-thailand-2022-410579
The Fourth round of the OMYC Platu Championship of Thailand 2022
Sept 10/11/12…….REPORT
Once again this regatta provided some of the closest and most exciting one design racing in Asia.
On Saturday the winds were not so favorable and the start had to be delayed half an hour. However enough pressure came in to allow for five short races. The first race is always a practise race and coupled with one drop score for the day, allows new crews time to settle in. Apart from an unusual fourth position in the first race, Platu 117, Stingray, started to show everybody that they were the boat to beat.
Sunday was a perfect day for sailing. Flat seas, sunshine and a constant Northerly wind which made it easy for the race officer to run races. The crews were worked very hard and sailed 6 races. With light winds forecast for the following day the race officer wanted to get in as many races as possible. The reward for the tired crews was free beer and hamburgers in the evening, courtesy of the FLS company.
FLS financially support sailing in general and especially the OMYC Platu Championship with their own Platu 124 previously known as The Ferret, now resplendent in FLS livery.
On Monday, the wind was just enough for racing to start on time and after three races the crews prepared for the final race of the regatta which is always a double point, medal race. This always creates extra concentration and tension with a good start essential, but an OCS is to be avoided at all costs. The Thai crew on 257 were the unfortunate ones on this occasion especially as they were fighting against Platu 124 for podium honors.To their credit they fought back hard to finish third, just two metres behind 124. Stingray rounded off a perfect day with four wins from four to secure first overall for the regatta.The FLS crew came second after their exciting battle with 257 who came a close third. This boat is normally helmed by K Ithinai who had an accident the previous week but still entered his two Platus to keep up his much appreciated support for the Platu Class here at Ocean Marina.
And so to the presentations attended by the FLS representative K. Toby. As usual all crews were given a bottle of whiskey to recognize that their contribution is what makes for some very close and exciting racing. Then the “lucky” winners were given their trophies as a reminder of a great weekend.
Congratulations to 117, 124 and 257.
Thanks to OMYC for providing support on and off the water.
Thanks to K Thammasak the joint race officer.
Thanks to the OMYC staff on the mark boats.
Thanks to the hard working ladies of the Food Truck for their excellent service at the party.
Thanks to Nathan for photos of the prize giving.
Thanks to FLS for their generous support of yachting.
Thanks to all the competitors for making this Championship so competitive.
Kev.Scott Ferret News 13 Sept 2022
5th and final round November 11/12/13. Fri/Sat/Sun
Regatta incidents
protest. 9 Sept 2022 .124 protested 257 for hitting a mark and not doing a penalty turn. The protest was accepted for hearing because a red flag was shown along with a hail of protest.
the protest was rejected for lack of evidence and confirmation from witnesses. Committee members, Nathan Masopust, Marco Belonje and Phil Harper.
witnessed by Kev Scott 20.30 hrs
race officers comment.
as suggested at the skippers briefing red Flags most often result in rejection for lack of concise evidence and are therefore discouraged as a waste of time and effort by already overworked organizers. they are not welcome in this Championship. We have had 45 races so far this year without a red flag. For sure we have verbal protests on the water but we all accept we see things differently from our competitors but we choose to accept this and race on. Of course we need rules but unfortunately almost none of us know them 100 %. As such if protests are sent to a committee we are more often than not disappointed with the outcome. We all want close exciting racing but need to accept differences of opinion, avoid collisions and get on with the race. Going into a confrontational situation will almost always result in lost time and a worse result. I hope all of those not involved with this protest enjoyed fun on the water. We will continue to provide this if we get your understanding of what this championship is trying to achieve and encourage. Kev Scott Thailand Platu Class Co ordinator.
RESULTS round 4 Sept 10/11/12
117 1 1 1 2 4 1 2 1 5 1 1 1 1 2 .. 24
257 3 1 4 1 3 6 4 3 1 2 2 2 6 6 ..44
124 3 2 2 4 1 2 3 2 2 3 4 3 3 4 ..36
154 2 3 3 3 2 3 6 6 4 4 3 6 5 8 .. 58
122 2 5 6 5 5 5 5 4 6 5 5 5 4 12 ..74
258 5 6 5 6 6 4 1 5 3 6 6 4 2 10 ..69
drop scores have been deleted
overall results from 4 rounds
O27 1 1 7 7 9
257 2 2 2 3 6
117 3 7 1 1 5
258 4 4 4 5 12
122 5 6 5 6 16
124 5 5 6 2 12
154 7 7 3 4 14
.027 and 154 need to compete in round five to qualify,
———————————————————-
Third Round is June 10/11/12 and the Boat Show will be there at the marina.
ROUND 3 June 10/11/12
Scores after day 3
117 1.1.1.5.2.2.2.1.1.1.1.4.1.2…..25 First
257 2.2.3.3.1.1.1.2.3.2.4.1.2.10…37 Second
258 3.3.4.1.3.4.3.3.6.7.5.7.7.6…67
124 5.5.4.6.5.6.4.4.5.6.7.6.6.14….78
122 4.2.2.4.6.5.6.6.4.4.6.5.4.12….70
154 5.6.3.2.4.3.5.5.2.3.3.3.5.4…..53 Third
107 8.8.8.8.8.8.8.8.8.5.2.2.3.8..92
REPORT on the Third Round of the OMYC Platu Championship of Thailand 2022
This Championship just keeps getting better with crews constantly improving their skills and providing good quality, close, exciting races.
Day 1 The predicted wind looked perfect for the three days of the event with a steady direction from the SSW and a wind strength of 12 knots. Unfortunately this did not hold good, but still allowed three excellent days of racing in perfect conditions. On this day one, 6 races were able to be run, with just enough pressure for race 6 which meant that crews had a lot of light weather practise. As usual, crews were given the benefit of one practise race and one drop score for the day. This let’s them settle into the event if they have new crew etc. In K ithinai’s case, this involved making sure his recent major refits to his two boats had not disturbed their performance. It was obviously OK as they recorded two seconds and two thirds straight out of the blocks. Team Stingray started as they intended to continue with three wins. For this event Kevin Whitcraft was unable to race but his two sons made sure that the family tradition of winning was in good hands. Nathan Masopust also settled in well with some good results. Another team on 154 were also missing their skipper, as Rolf Heemskerk was unfortunately unable to come, but trusted his entry to some very experienced sailors in Marco, Tijl and Ray. They perhaps needed to make the transition from much longer races in bigger boats but their performance gradually increased as the event wore on. They lost their foredecker just before the event but young Alex Flint stepped in to do the job. At 14 years old this young sailor now has the enviable CV to include an overall win at the last event on team Easy Tiger and a podium finish at this one.
Day 2 Team Pine Pacific must have had a good debriefing after day one and managed to pull out three race wins, a second and a third whereas Team Stingray had to settle for second best and began their day with a fifth. This meant that the top two teams were drawn equal, after two days racing, on 15 points, leaving it all to play for on day three. Team Heemskerk had a couple of bad races but pulled out good results on the other three races to maintain their push for the podium. Team FLS are still trying to find the best crewing positions on board and in one major change they moved their 15 year old foredecker to helm and pit to foredeck. As with Alex, Alfie Smith, at 15 years of age, is gaining valuable experience with this series.Day 3 The forecast of 12 knots of wind was not to be, but eventually 5 to 6 knots arrived from the WNW so that racing could start on time. This pressure held up and increased as the day went on even though it needed three changes of the windward mark to keep up with the shifts. Team Stingray obviously saw the very real challenge coming from Pine Pacific and began the day with three wins but then slipped to a fourth in race 5. This was not enough for Pine pacific to overtake them but the two boats started the final, medal race, only four points apart. With double points on offer it was still all to play for. The race officer increased the length of the course and the wind gods came in with the promised 10 to 12 knots so that the final race was run in perfect conditions. Once again the ”professional” influence within the crew of Stingray showed through and they won the last race with Pine Pacific slipping to fifth. Team Heemskerk continued their rise through the ranks and came home a very valuable second to put them on the podium.
Once again another event, based at the wonderful surroundings at Ocean Marina. 16 races enjoyed by all with “protests” fairly dealt with on the water in spite of the intensity of this close racing competition. Even Dan onboard Platu 258 managed to remember to do his turn for hitting the mark in spite of the fact that he was almost knocked overboard when the boom hit his head. Some of the success is achieved by the organisers listening to the competitor suggestions and acting on them. This keeps the event based on what crews want and not what organisers want to give them. Several changes to the format were introduced throughout the three days to provide better races in line with what the crews wanted. It is also the primary concern of the race officer to keep crews racing as much as possible and avoid any lengthy delays between races, waiting for perfect courses and winds. It is also part of the entertainment that the R.O keeps all communications with his mark boat team on the same channel as the competitors. This lets competitors know what is happening and enjoy the friendly chit chat as well.
The FLS company, who move extra large consignments around the world, are helping to increase interest in the sport of sailing by sponsoring Platu 124 and providing all the awards and trophies. They recognize that every team is important to the event, not just those on the podium. This helps to attract not only very experienced crews but just as importantly a great, friendly atmosphere off the water. Their bottle awards, on the podium, to all crews recognises the fact that taking part is what matters and every team is equally important to the success of the racing here.
Congratulations to the winners. Team Stingray first overall with 25 points, Team Pine Pacific with 37 points and team Heemskerk with 53 points.
This report and full results and photos can be seen on
www.yachtsinthailand.com / Championship 2022/Reports.
Thanks to
OMYC for providing the on water crew and facilities and the friendly office staff.
To Adrian Flint for assistance on the mark boat and for the report photographs. Also for putting up with a very hard taskmaster who worked him to a standstill.
To Doug for his work behind the scenes
To FLS for sponsoring sailing in general in Pattaya and for awards and trophies for this OMYC Championship.
To Tony our flagman
To all competitors.
Written by Kev Scott Ferret News 13th June 2022
ROUND 4… SEPTEMBER 10/11/12 Saturday, Sunday, Monday.
LINK TO PRESENTATION PHOTOS
LINK TO SAILING PHOTOS
LINK TO SAIL-WORLD article
https://www.sail-world.com/news/250245/Round-3-with-a-little-help-from-our-friends
Ocean Marina Yacht Club PLATU Championship of Thailand 2022.
Round 2, June 30th to May 2nd.
Day 1.
The first day of any regatta is always the most difficult, while crews get used to the vagaries of the race area, settle down as a crew and hope that the recent work on their boats has improved things. As such the organisers provide two ways of helping. One is to make the first race a practice race only and secondly is to drop their worst score, (days two and three do not allow discards). Four teams were very thankful. Team 258 were still in the yard being worked on at the start and missed the first race. Team Pine Pacific was late for the first race and Easy Tiger suffered terminal damage to their main sail and missed a race replacing it, team Doolalie needed a DNF discarding. However, three scoring races were managed in spite of very changeable light winds.
Day 2
The weather forecast was not good, but it was correct, unfortunately! After the first race it took 90 minutes for the wind to change course 280 degrees and rebuild into the minimum 4 knots to allow racing to begin again. One race had to be abandoned when the wind dropped out completely and another cancelled during the preparatory signal due to a sudden 90 degree shift. Three windwards marks were set so that there was no delay for a course change of up to 30 degrees. Even then the last race of the day involved a change of course during the race. But five worthwhile races were run and the regatta had begun in earnest. By this stage, team Easy Tiger were showing their wealth of experience by moving into a six point lead over K Ithinai’s, Pine Pacific. It is worth mentioning that K Ithinai’s Platu had been sunk by lightening the week before, but Rolf Heemskerk generously lent him his Platu for the event. Rolf would normally be racing but covid rules kept him in Europe.
Day three
This time the weather forecast was good, and accurate. Winds of 12 to 16 knots, coming through high rise buildings, meant that crews were thrown around in turbulent conditions of big changes in wind pressure and direction. This created a few “incidents’ but no protests. All boats “did their turns” and tempers were kept in check. Unfortunately Team Le Vent suffered a loss of their forestay and had to retire. It bodes well for the future that a 14 year old on Easy Tiger and a fifteen year old on Team FLS, managed to handle the foredeck in such difficult conditions for that job. This time it was easy to run races and only the engine failure on the mark boat created a delay of 30 minutes before racing started for the day. In these conditions the “professionals” on board Easy Tiger could show that when all boats are One Design that crew work is paramount.
As always with this Championship, the last race is a medal race carrying double points and this can often shake up the results quite a lot. This time Pine Pacific showed Easy tiger how it was done and came in just ahead of their rivals. It was not enough to change the final result but it was enough to show that Easy Tiger still has to work hard for victory in this super closely contested Championship.
Crews packed up their boats, having enjoyed 13 races, and assembled on the magnificent lawns of Ocean Marina to await results and presentations. Scott Finsten presented the awards and as usual all teams were invited to the podium to receive their ‘bottles’ as a way to acknowledge that it is not just the winners that we should congratulate. All crews are equally respected for taking part.
The three podium places went to Easy Tiger on 17 points, Pine pacific on 30 points and team Doolalie on 43 points. The report, full results and photos can be viewed on www.yachtsinthailand.com in the Championship 2022 section. They will also be available on SAIL-WORLD.
https://www.sail-world.com/news/248840/Ocean-Marina-Yacht-Club-PLATU-Championship-of-Thai
Thanks go to Scott Finsten and Ocean Marina Yacht club for supporting this Championship with on water facilities and excellent office staff to handle the paperwork
Doug Smith as ever for his background assistance with crews and boats.
Toby Thanathorn for the photos. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19mJhCarnQFC4rtcLoncgeK3z_K7CZFuH?usp=sharing
And especially to all the crews who make this such a great Championship with their friendly attitude off the water and fiercely competitive racing on it.
No animals were harmed during the running of this event but we are proud to announce that the Committee Boat crew rescued a domestic budgie which was later given a good home by Nathan from team Le Vent.
Kev Scott Ferret news 2 May 2002.
Final Scores
Easy Tiger 027 2,1,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,4 17 pts
Pine Pacific 1 154 1,1,1,3,2,4,2,2,5,5,2,2 30 pts
Team Doolalie 118 3,3,3,2,3,3,6,3,4,3,4,6 43 pts
Pine Pacific 2 258 2,5,5,5,4,2,4,7,2,2,5,14 57pts
Team FLS 124 4,4,4,4,5,6,5,5,6,4,3,8 58 pts
Le Vent 122 3,4,6,6,6,5,3,4,3,7,7,14 68 points
NEXT ROUND June 10-11-12th Friday-Saturday-Sunday
OMYC Platu Championship REPORT First Round April 8/9/10 th
This years Championship will be held over five rounds with a team’s best three scores to count.
This first round was truly International with Chris Way bringing his Easy Tiger team all the way from Australia and having to negotiate their way through various covid regulations.
Day one was forecast light and shifty winds from off shore in the morning. Because of all the high rise building this creates big changes in wind direction and pressure. However, to make sure crews could settle into a new year without suffering from a bad race, the first race was a practice race and one drop score was taken into account for the rest of the days racing. Just after the first race the wind shifted 180 degrees and then settled into better winds from the North west.
Racing was close, with two distinct groups fighting for every metre within their pack. First blood went to K Ithinai’s Pine Pacific team but Easy Tiger soon got up to speed and shared the days honours with them. Kevin Whitcraft was right there with them, while settling into a new crew aboard Stingray. And so the pattern was set and these three fought extremely closely contested races throughout Saturday and Sunday. A similar pattern was seen with Platus 258, 122 and 124.The FLS sponsored Platu showing off its new branding for this worldwide logistics company.
Good winds and only minor shifts meant that the courses could be true windward leeward’s for day two and three with pressures between 7 and 15 knots and a fairly flat sea state.
Four, 30 minute races on day, one six on day two and five on day three gave the crews plenty of action. As usual the last race was a double point, medal race just to raise the blood pressure levels.
FINAL scores were
Platu 027 Easy Tiger 26 points, 257 Pine Pacific 31points, 117 Stingray 34 points, 258 Pim 68 points, 122 Le Vent 72 points, 124 FLS 78 points.
Thanks to Ocean Marina Yacht Club for their much valued support of this exciting Championship.
Thanks to K Thammasak for this hard work on the Committee and mark laying boats.
Thanks to Doug Smith for his work behind the scenes.
Photos K. Toby Tanathorn and David Gray.
link to photos
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y95ZjaKFNgWZcQsf9
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AAz8mEfq8aT-uQ_35opOS03pU0AHUPch?usp=sharing
link to report on Sail in Asia
https://www.sail-world.com/news/248104/OMYC-Thailand-Platu-Championship-2022
Kev Scott Ferret News 11 April 2022. www.yachtsinthailand.com see Championship 2022 section