Karsting Away: competitors revel in Bay Regatta’s stunning topography

Photography & Story by Scott Murray

You have to excuse first-time competitors to the Bay Regatta if they appear gob-smacked when they first head out through the regatta’s cruising grounds on their four-day nautical journey – rarely have they seen such stunning and picturesque scenery.

Thirty-four sailboats registered and spread over six classes (IRC Premier Monohull, IRC Racing, IRC Cruising, Cruising Monohull, OMR Multihull & Cruising Multihull) for the 27th Bay Regatta, which began on the morning of Thursday, February 1st.

Starting just off of Ao Po Grand Marina on Phuket's east coast, after registration and an opening party at the lovely Supalai Scenic Bay resort, the yachts broke with tradition and sailed south.

Everyone sailed the same 30-mile course, sponsored by Really Good Deli. It all started at 9am with an eight-horn sail salute to the late great Andy Dowden, who participated in and officiated many Bay Regattas. PRO and regatta organizer Simon James had two starts for the competitors: first off were all the multihulls (14 boats) followed by all the multihulls (20 boats).

The fleet set off from Koh Naka Yai, then passed Koh Sup, Koh Kai Nai and Shark Point to starboard, before finishing between the southernmost point of Koh Phi Phi Don and the northern tip of Koh Phi Phi Le. The fleet returned to Phi Phi for the first time in years and skirted the east coast of Koh Yao Yai in doing so.

After a buffet and awards presentation at the Ibiza Resort on Koh Phi Phi, the fleet was well-rested and set out for day two of the regatta. Beginning with two combined starts for the competitors: first off were the multihulls followed by all the monohulls.

The second day saw all competitors race course 2B, a 14-mile course, which started off Koh Phi Phi Don for a traditionally “windward” course. Passing Koh Mai Phai to port, and then Koh Khom (Lao Pe) to starboard, where yachts experienced a 180-degree wind shift, with most then putting up their spinnaker before passing Koh Dam Khwan to port, and then Koh Dam Hok to port before finishing between the start boat and Koh Ya Man. All competitors but one crossed the finish line. And again, as it is prone to do Dan Fidock’s Extreme 40 Parabellum flew through the course, capturing line honours.

The third day of the regatta saw all boats set off on the 18-mile course 5 with two starts, first for the multis and then for the monohulls. The course saw the sailors round the stunning islands of Koh Ya Man, Koh Dam Khwan, Koh Khom (South), and Koh Ya Wa Sam all to starboard before rounding Koh Man to starboard and finishing with the committee boat to starboard.

IRC Premier Monohulls and OMR Multihulls participated in a second race in constantly changing winds. With boats rounding the Tourism Association of Thailand branded mark, then rounding Koh Samet and Koh Ya Man, before finishing at the committee boat.

The evening party was held at Vacation Village, Pra Nang Inn, where prizes were given out racing for day two by Asia Catamarans’ Zam Bevan and Octopus Electrical Services’ Mick Kealy. Day three prizes were handed out by Preecha Poolphokphol, owner of Vacation Village.

The fourth and final day of the 27th Bay Regatta saw the multihulls starting first closely followed by the monohulls in the Coca Cola Haad Thip Race for a 26-mile reach back from Railay to Ao Chalong.

Wind to start was definitely not a problem on the final day as everyone started the 26-mile course 15, which started using the downwind committee boat to port & preceded through the gate at Mu Sang Nua, to the finish at the entrance to Ao Chalong (the course was shortened for the Multihull Cruising Class at the Mu Sang Nua).

In the overall results, the Davidson 59 Aftershock, skippered by Olympian Steve McConaghy for four out of five races, captured the three-boat IRC Premier Monohull class, finishing with four points after their drop race (both the IRC Premier Monohull & OMR Multihull classes could drop a race as they each sailed five races). Craig Nicholls Alright (formerly Emagine), a Sydney 40, snuck by Hans Rahmann’s Yasooda, a JV Custom 70, for the second spot beating them by two points when the drop race was factored in.

After a shortened course at the Hin Mu Sang Nut gate, the five-boat IRC Racing Class went right down to the wire with Andrey Novoderezhkin’s Madame Butterfly, a 3/4 Ton Modified, beating fellow countrymen Aliaksandre Racheuski’s Uminoko, a Farr One Ton, by two points. Niels Degenkolw’s X ¾ Ton Phoenix had to settle for third place overall, an unusual spot for Niels, who is used to being atop the podium. While Kirill Stashevskiy’s Platu Andaman Discovery- Som Tam Pu (formerly Scott Duncanson’s Kingdom Properties) was fourth followed by former Sydney-Hobart winner Piccolo, with its Canadian crew, who flew in from frigid Edmonton, and skipper Andre den Braven, in fifth spot.

Sergei Musikhin’s Wind of Change, a Beneteau Oceanis 43, had a great regatta, winning three of four races to capture the eight-boat IRC Cruising Class. Paul Merry’s melodic Night Train, a Hanse 415, was second, followed by James Duke’s Kimikimi, a Dufour 455GL.

The four-boat Cruising Monohull class was dominated by Philippe Dallée’s sleek Swan II (a Swan 43 - 1969), which won every race in its class with Steven Wong’s Snap Dragon, a Peterson 46 coming second in each race.

The seven-boat OMR Multihull class saw Dan Fidock’s Parabellum put on quite a show, cruising across the course and taking line honors in every race on the way to winning the class. The Extreme 40, cast against the region’s karst topography, made for some stunning photo-ops. John Newnham’s young crew on Twin Sharks, a Firefly 850 Sportsboat, placed second overall, with David Liddell’s WOW, a Stealth, coming in third, a point ahead of Dougal Jackson’s Haruki after the drop race was factored in. Parabellum’s line honours on the final day was 02:35:47.

Sea Mi Amore, a Catana 47 Ocean Class, won the seven-boat Cruising Multihull class, while Rick Fielding’s Mojo, a Fusion 40, placed second, and Rob Azzopardi’s North Star, a Lightwave 38, came in third.

The final party was once again held at Kan Eang 2 restaurant, overlooking Chalong Bay and a great time was had by all. Described as the “party that sails around” this regatta just keeps entertaining all those who participate and it certainly didn’t disappoint this year, many promising to be back again next year.

With over 30 boats on the water and more than 250 people at some of the parties the Bay Regatta certainly did not disappoint. Stay tuned as the region’s friendliest regatta will be announcing its dates for February 2025 soon.

Each evening, the regatta anchors at a different venue and the sailors go ashore. Those staying ashore –the majority of the fleet – book accommodation and either eat in the local restaurants or enjoy the official event functions, which engage with the local community. Most of the expenditure of the regatta goes directly into the local economies of the areas the regatta visits — this has been the case since the regatta was launched and it will remain so for the future — an excellent example of how sports tourism works to the benefit of communities and local economies.

The Bay Regatta was originally described thus: “The regatta allows participants to experience the best of southern Thai hospitality and the unrivalled sailing grounds in the area. Boats sail amongst 200-metre-high karsts and past hidden bays on their way to nights under the stars in idyllic anchorages.”

Events like the the Bay Regatta simply don’t happen without support from the local communities. So we must thank all venues, sponsors and supporters

A special shout-out to Hannes Waimer of Premier Composite Technologies in Dubai for providing the start boat. And a big thanks to John Newnham and Dan Fidock for freeing up Matt McGrath and Twin Sharks/Parabellum’s supply boat to be the photography boat for the third day, which captured many images of the stunning karst topography that Phang Nga Bay is so well-known for.

The Regattas Asia team once again did a wonderful job with PRO Simon James, assisted by Brendan, Chandran and Susi planning all the courses and handling all issues on the water. On-shore, Kae Wattana and her whole raft of volunteers, most of whom remain in the background, handling all the logistics of an event spanning across 3 different provinces, serving fantastic cocktails and keeping the sailors entertained at all the venues.

And finally, the competitors. Without their support we would not have a regatta. Thank you to all participants and please pencil in next year’s dates and tell your friends about The Bay Regatta.

www.bayregatta.com