Yacht Racing: All-in-All, A Good Year

by Peter Cummins

It’s sort of crowded out there... Optis at the gybe mark. Photo Peter Cummins

That was the year that was. In fact, that was the Millennium that was. Yacht racing, like most other activities during 1999, suffered along with Thailand’s ailing economy. The Royal Varuna Yacht Club, as the prime force in the Kingdom, had depleted fleets, a falling number of members and fewer people going to the club on weekends which, in turn, reflected on the balance sheet, although, with some good management, the club finished the year in the black.

Conspicuously absent was sponsorship which, in turn, had a somewhat negative effect on the racing scene. As former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke said long ago, “There are no free lunches any more!” Mr Hawke, of all people, would certainly know that.

The one exception was the Thirteenth Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, sailed during the week of His Majesty’s birthday and, with QBE Insurance stepping in to a sponsorship gap, the regatta was equal to any of the preceding twelve - on the water, at least.

Indonesian classic training craft “Kal Arsai” makes a beautiful subject. Photo Peter Cummins

Another factor working against a thriving marine sector was the crippling tax which the government has maintained for the past three years.

Nevertheless, even with some of this bad news, there is good cause to be optimistic as we move into the year 2000, with Fireball International already booked to hold the Fireball World Championships in March at the Royal Varuna Club, South Pattaya - for the second time.

Two major events highlighted 1999, namely the Eleventh ASEAN Optimist championship in October and the just-finished Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, both of which were highly successful.

Regatta President Nigel J. Hardy watches the action at Ao Nang. Photo Peter Cummins

Held during the last week of October off the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, the ASEAN championship became the fifth such event for under 16-year-olds to be held at Pattaya-Jomtien. The first International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) world championship came to Asia for the first time and was held at Jomtien in 1979. Thereafter came the Third Asian, the sixth and the seventh ASEAN championships, held in 1992, 1993 and 1994, respectively.

The Optimist Sailor: Whither...Or, Wither?

The Eleventh ASEAN regatta was extremely well covered by the “Pattaya Mail” and needs no repetition here. More to the point - and likely to have a bearing on the future of sailing, not only in Thailand, but also in the Asian region - was the discussion initiated by Bangkok lawyer Al Chandler.

Al has been - and will continue to be - the driving force behind Optimist sailing in Thailand and, as the only Asian-based president of IODA for several years, he has a very clear vision of the future of Optimist sailing and, more especially, the youngsters who sail the tiny dinghy.

The international class rules, strictly enforced in the more than 80 countries with Optimist fleets, dictate that when a child reaches the age of 16, he or she must leave the “Opti ranks”. Thus, the question has constantly arisen: After the Optimist, what is next? Do these young people, some of whom are world champions, move into another class or do they just “wither away” in terms of competitive yacht racing.

M.L. Usni Pramoj awards Radab Kanjanavanit for 3rd place, ocean multihull King’s Cup Regatta. Photo Peter Cummins

Using the October event as a forum, Al examined the way forward with some of the most influential managers of Optimist sailing, gathered at Pattaya for the event. Team leaders and coaches from Burma, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore met with their Thai counterparts and, specially flown in for the regatta, Poul Evers who has been a world authority on Optimist sailing, with his native Denmark regarded as the “home” of the junior trainer.

“It is mandatory,” said Mr Chandler, “that, at the very age when they have reached a high level of skill, children have to leave the ranks.” That, in itself, is not such a great problem, he conceded. “The difficulty is one of progression. Some of the youngsters are still too small to handle bigger boats, so their talent is lost,” he added.

The Malaysian flag on the winners Optimist tells the story. Photo Peter Cummins

Poul noted the example of Denmark, which, over the years, has produced many Optimist world champions who have gone on to become Olympic gold medallists and reign supreme in many other classes of boats.

Poul pointed out that Denmark had found the answer in the ubiquitous Laser class, with different rigs to suit the physique of the skipper - boy or girl.

It is interesting to note that one of the participants in the discussions was Thailand’s Jaray Tipsook who was a national Optimist champion of Thailand and also ‘graduated’- via the Laser - to many other classes. Just two weeks ago, Jaray became the first Thai helm to win the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta’s Performance Cruising Class, helming Viroj Nualkair’s yacht, “Zephyr”.

Al Chandler: the driving force behind Optimist programmes in Thailand. Photo Peter Cummins

Now, with a lot of enthusiasm raised and intensive training courses given to young aspiring sailors, through the dedication of Royal Varuna’s junior sailing director, Linden Phanpho, the future looks good. These youngsters will not wither, for there is a huge fleet of Lasers at their disposal, once they leave the junior ranks.

The QBE Phuket King’s Cup Regatta

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, sponsored by QBE Insurance, to honour His Majesty the King’s sixth-cycle, seventy-second birthday, was recorded as the “last great regatta of the Millennium.”

His Majesty the King’s Personal Representative, Rear Admiral M.L. Usni Pramoj, presiding over the splendid Royal Awards Ceremony two weeks ago, at the Kata Beach Resort, the regatta headquarters since 1998, wished the huge gathering of sailors, supporters and organizers, “happy land-falls” in the New Millennium, wherever they may find themselves.”

M.L. Usni urged the assembly to emulate the story of “Mahajanika” which His Majesty himself adapted and then translated into the English language in 1988. It is the story of ultimate perseverance without the desire for reward - a great guideline for the New Millennium about to open, M.L. Usni surmised, and certainly it has been His Majesty’s guiding tenet throughout his reign. Seeing that the story related to a shipwreck as one of the major obstacles to the lone survivor’s tenacity to persevere, it was rather appropriate to the gathering.

The regatta, by all accounts, was up to the standards of the twelve which preceded it and the management of the racing and on-water activities, under Andy Dowden, was impeccable. Andy, always a cool head, especially in the “Friday crisis” of a craft sinking, maintained complete equilibrium.

You see, mothers ARE essential: Linden Phanpho helps son, 16th placed Sam, up the beach. Photo Peter Cummins

The on-shore activities, at times, however, were not all that smooth, with disputation in the regatta office and personality clashes. One particular individual, intent on self-promotion, caused endless friction.

Nevertheless, the regatta was a highly-successful tribute to the Royal Patron and bodes well for the future. No doubt, bearing His Majesty’s philosophy in mind, many of us will persevere through the New Millennium, striving for balance rather than glory in whatever undertaking may seize us - even in yacht racing.

SGP takes first in the PSC December Deep Sea Fishing Tournament

PSC starts new fishing tournament promotion

5th Thailand Open Backgammon Tournament

Lanke’s Trophy Relay Race 1999

The Royal Varuna Yacht Club will be holding the Lanke’s Trophy Relay Race 1999 on December 31. All Members of the RVYC and their invited guests are eligible to participate in any of the classes recognized by the RVYC.

A briefing will be held at 10:00 a.m. on December 31; racing will commence at 11:00 a.m.

The course will be around the buoys. Each team starting from the beach, going around the course and returning to the beach, touching the flagpole where the next team member is waiting, who then continues on his/her own boat.

Before the race, team captains and the organizing committee will decide the class sequence. Boats of the same class will compete with each other (class by class). There is no time limit and no handicap. The total elapsed time decides the winning team.

Prizes will be awarded to the 1st team.

Tom Waldren’s first ever achievement

Twas a windy day before Christmas...

PSC TAGGS... golf from the Hare House

Wednesday, December 22 - Eastern Star (Bogey)

1st: Norman Brooks, 4 Up
2nd: Stefan Hoge, 1 Up
3rd: Dave Drew, A/S

“Stormin’ Norman” Brooks had a round to be proud of in the TAGGS Bogey competition at Eastern Star on Wednesday. Playing off 18, Norman shot an 87 that included five natural pars on the front, and four on the back. That would be an accomplishment on any day at Eastern Star, but the man from Cardiff did it on a day when the wind actually howled.

First, a rainy season where it rained buckets, and now a cool season that actually is cold. The wind seems to blow hard every day and it certainly blew hard on Wednesday. Eastern Star was in great shape and the fairways are still pretty lush. But the wind is starting to dry them out and the ball is starting to roll, roll, roll. Stick around, it will be hotter than hell in a few months and then you can get used to that.

Canadians Stefan Hoge, playing off 23, came in second beating the course one up and Dave Drew took the last spot on the podium finishing all-square.

Friday, December 24 - Natural Park Resort (Stableford)

1st: Ronnie Kane, 34 points
2nd: Craig Tierney, 34 points

3rd: Russell Finch, 32 points

The Hare House Gang was pretty much in agreement that the wind they had faced at Eastern Star on Wednesday was the strongest wind they had felt this year. On Friday at Natural Park Resort, they played in a wind that was blowing even harder.

Irishman Ronnie Kane, playing off 10, won the Stableford competition with 34 points. Ronnie is a long time member of the Pattaya Sports Club, having joined years ago to get the golf course discounts. His previous sojourns to Pattaya have been in company with fellow golfers from Dublin and they played amongst themselves. In nine years, this was Ronnie’s first PSC sanctioned competition. The past Captain of the Killiney Golf Club in Dun-Laoghaire is probably wondering why he didn’t play sooner. On the other hand, he was playing with “Santa Lassie”, whose golfing attire included a red fur-trimmed had with blinking lights. Well, it was Christmas Eve and this is Pattaya.

Also finishing with 34 points and losing the premier spot in a count back was Australian Craig Tierney. The last place on the podium went to Russell Finch who had 32 points

PSC Golf - Millennium 2000

The new year tees off on Sunday 2nd January with Lewiinski’s going to Great Lake for a Stableford competition leaving at 11.00 a.m. On Monday 3rd January, a Public Holiday, PSC Golf from the Caf้ Kronborg goes to Pattaya Country Club to play Stableford, while the Splinter Golf Group from the Green Bottle, leaving at 09.45 a.m., go to Century Chonburi for a Two Man Better Ball.

On Tuesday 4th, the Bunker go to Sattahip and Lewiinski’s go to Khao Kheow playing Stableford and Stroke respectively.

On Wednesday 5th January, the Green Bottle go to Bangpra and Hare House go to Sattahip, both Stableford.

On Thursday 6th the Kronborg is at Great Lake and the Green Bottle at Bangpra, both Stroke play competitions.

The week ends with a Stableford competition at Treasure Hill from the Green Bottle, a medal round at Great Lake from Hare House or a Two Man Scramble at Eastern Star from Scandic Hotel. Plenty of choice to start the New Year.

The second week of January features the TAGGS Wayne Tischbern Memorial Golf Tournament at Phoenix. Sign-up early for this - see Stephen Beard at Hare House, or Mike Franklin.

Then on January 21st the PSC Charity Classic 2000 takes place, also at Phoenix. Full details are in this issue. This is the one time in the year time when Mulligans are official, and record prize value is on offer. More then B.100,000 in Technical Hole prizes, and so far more than B.300,000 in Lucky Draw prizes, including seven 1 year Golf Course Memberships contributed by three of the courses we play regularly. There are two levels of entry, a ‘Full Monty’ and a ‘Half Monty’ to choose from, and all of the proceeds from the event will go to specific projects in setting up the Pattaya Orphanage new Street Kids Home. Entry Forms are in all PSC Golf venues, Delaney’s, TQ, and the Diana Golf Driving Range.

The full January Schedule can be seen at all PSC Golf Venues, at Delaney’s, in Pattaya Mail and on the PSC Web Site at www.pattayasports.org.

Best Wishes for the New Year.

Want to win? Play off 21

1999 TAGGS Singles Results

There were 62 singles events played out of the Hare House in 1999. These were all weekly one-flight competitions and no major tournaments are included. The formats were either Stableford (37 events) or Stroke Play (13 events) or Bogey (12 events).

The average handicap of the wins in these 62 competitions was 20.85. There were 37 different winners, with only seven golfers winning more than two singles events. Four golfers tied for the most wins at four apiece. They were Murray Kerr who played off 12 in all four of his wins; Rick Bevington who played off 35 in all four of his wins; Stephen Beard who was off 18 for two wins and 17 for two wins; and George Jackson who won off 19, 17, 14, and 13. The average handicap for their sixteen wins was 20.06.

There were only five wins by golfers with handicaps of ten or less. There were only eleven wins by golfers who play off more than thirty and Rick Bevington accounted for four of those wins. Seventy-four percent of the wins came with handicaps of more than ten and less than thirty, with 50% coming from handicaps of sixteen through twenty-three.

Surprisingly, the average handicaps of the 13 Stroke Play wins and the 12 Bogey wins were the same. That number was 22.4 and what makes it surprising is that the average for the Stableford wins was only 19.78. The general view is that Stableford favors the high handicappers while Stroke Play and Bogey favor the lower handicappers.

There are no statistics available on how many golfers played in these events and what their handicaps were. The median handicap of the 650 golfers on the Pattaya Sports Club CONGU list is right around twenty and that number is probably about right for TAGGS as well. It would be dangerous to generalize, but it looks like the old adage that “high handicappers are robbing us blind” is wrong. The next time you get ready to moan and complain about how you have no chance to win because of the handicap system, or because of the makeup of the people you play golf with, first look at the numbers. The person who is robbing you blind is probably your best buddy playing off 21, not 31.

More reasons to enter the Charity Classic 2000

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