Racing Gets Underway on Day 2 of Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019

The Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019 officially got underway on Friday, as the poor weather which has been battering Phuket for the past few days took enough of a pause for racing to begin.

The respite did not last long though, as ferocious wind, rain and near two-metre swells dropped visibility to next to nothing and forced Race Management to call the sailors back.

There were supposed to be two TP52 yachts taking part in Phuket Raceweek this year, but as one did not turn up organisers decided to score IRC Zero + IRC I as one result, and score IRC I separately for a second result. That will start today (Saturday) however, meaning that Ray Roberts and his crew on Team Hollywood were the unchallenged winners in IRC Zero on Friday.

The Russian crew on Megazip got the better of all-comers in IRC I; second across the line, first on corrected time and their first bullet on the board. Despite crossing first, East Marine Emagine (AUS) had to settle for second ahead of last year's winner, AquarII (AUS) in third.

The ever-green Phoenix (DEN) got their defense off to the best possible start with a win in IRC II – they led from early on to cross the line first and claim the win on corrected time. The Dragon, a 25-foot Platu, got the better of Sydney Premier Karting Park, another 25-foot Platu, to finish second and third respectively.

Cruising Monohull class is the largest class at this year's regatta with 10 entries, and it was late-entry Phalin (AUS), skippered by Ian Loderwyckx, who romped away with the win on Friday. Lady Bubbly (AUS) and Venture (AUS) sailed hard but had to settle for second and third on the day.

With seven starters in Multihull Racing, just four managed to finish the race and a number mastered their swell-surfing skills. Winner of the recent Multihull Solutions Regatta, Phantom V (AUS), skippered by designer Alan Carwardine, made the best of the conditions crossing the line second and correcting out for the win. The new Fugazi (AUS), skippered by Dan Fidock claimed second ahead of Bonza (GBR), the old Fugazi, skippered by Warwick Downes, in third.

Looking to defend their Firefly 850 title, Twin Sharks (GBR) won Friday's race and put their first bullet on the board. Arch rival Voodoo (GER), however, weren't far behind and will be looking to make Twin Sharks' life difficult over the final two days of the regatta. Mono Inzi (FRA), under the new ownership of Marc Chapus, slotted into third.

The 16th annual Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019 is taking place from 17-21 July 2019.

Cape & Kantary Hotels - Interview with Poomiphat Navanukroh (Tom), Group Director - Travel Industry

Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019 - Interview with Claire Canning

Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019 - Interview with Organiser, Byron Jones

Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019 - Interview with Bernard 'Buck' O'Brien

Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019 - Interview with Craig Nicholls

Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019 - Interview with Captain Lyn Evans

As there are so many Pictures from Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019 they have been uploaded to different pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3 and Page 4. See also: Thrilling Final Day at Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019, Busy Day 3 at Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019, Racing Gets Underway on Day 2 of Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019, Poor Weather Delays Start of Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019, Future of Cape & Kantary Hotels -  Interview with Poomiphat Navanukroh (Tom), Group Director - Travel Industry, HD Video Interview with Claire Canning, HD Video Interview with Bernard 'Buck' O'Brien, HD Video Interview with Craig Nicholls, UHD Video Interview with Organiser, Byron Jones, HD Video Interview with Captain Lyn Evans (AUS), Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek Attracts Top Sailors from Around the World, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019 to Take Place 17-21 July, Team Hollywood - Interview with Ray Roberts, Woman Sails from California to Terengganu, Malaysia - Interview and Pictures from Top of the Gulf Regatta 2019.

See latest HD Video Interviews, Podcasts and other news regarding: Cape Panwa, Phuket, Phuket Raceweek, Sailing.