Thrilling Final Day at Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2019

Extremely diverse and unpredictable weather conditions helped to make this year's Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek one of the most thrilling and challenging to date.

All classes got in a series of up to seven races and a steady 8-10 knots on the final day, delivering a great finish to the regatta with many titles going down to the wire.

East Marine Emagine (AUS) (pictured) got the better of Team Hollywood (AUS) winning two of the three races in IRC Zero on Sunday, however Team Hollywood bounced back to win the final race and secure the 2019 IRC Zero title.

Three wins from three races for East Marine Emagine (AUS) in IRC I saw them leapfrog their nearest rivals and finish top of the standings to claim their second title in four years. Defending champions AquarII (AUS) sailed consistently throughout and were never off the podium, however, they had to settle for second place overall. Scoring well early in the series and a string of fourth place finishes later on means the Russian crew on Megazip were third overall.

There was no stopping Phoenix (DEN) this week with Neils Degenkolw and his multinational crew romping to seven wins from seven races, and their fourth consecutive Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek title. The two Platus in IRC II enjoyed some close racing, swapping places throughout and it was Sydney Premier Karting Park (AUS) who had the best final day and with it they secured second place overall. The Dragon (AUS) finished three points back and had to settle for third, overall.

Two shorter races on Sunday for Cruising Monohull threw the class wide open. Coming into the final day Lady Bubbly (AUS) was in the driving seat at the top of the standings, but struggled on the shorter courses. Stepping up, a 1,2 for BeauX Esprits (AUS) tied them with Lady Bubbly (AUS) and the count back broke in their favour – final places are BeauX Esprits second and Lady Bubbly third.

Four out of the seven entries competing in Multihull Racing have been on the podium this week, showing the calibre of the crews across a variety of conditions. Getting their series off to a flying start with three wins, the Australian-designed and Phuket-built Phantom V (AUS) fell off the pace a little on the final day, but their 2,3,1 scoreline was enough to keep them on top and claim the Multihull Racing title at the second time of trying.

The former Fugazi (new re-badged Bonza and under new ownership) got the better of the new Fugazi (GBR) finishing second and third overall respectively.

Twin Sharks (GBR) have been a long time proponent of the Firefly 850 class and have been a top performer over the years. Having dominated Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek for a number of years, their arch rival Voodoo (GER) had them on the ropes early in the series this year. A string of first and second places saw Voodoo leading coming into the final day. A long race followed by two shorter races mixed things up for the five one-design entries and the Twin Sharks team found another gear – three wins on the final day saw them power away to win the class and make it eight wins in a row at Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek.

With Voodoo comfortable in second, the race for third place was on. Surf Patrol (AUS) and Moto Inzi (FRA) traded places throughout the regatta but it was Surf Patrol who had the better final day, tieing with Moto Inzi and winning courtesy of their three third places to Moto Inzi's two.

The 16th edition of Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek wrapped up with a lavish beachfront party presided over by Admiral Naris Pratoomsuwan, President of the Yachting Racing Association of Thailand, and hosted by Cape Panwa Hotel.

Top Three in Each Class

IRC Zero
Team Hollywood, Ray Roberts (7)

IRC I
East Marine Emagine, Scott Bradley (9)
AquarII, Craig Nicholls (12)
Megazip, Alexey Mashkin (15)

IRC II
Phoenix, Neils Degenkolw (6)
Sydney Premier Karting Park, Gary Holt/Michael Spies (14)
The Dragon, Simon Oliver (17)

Cruising Monohull
Venture, John Vickery (5)
BeauX Esprits, Keith Garry (6)
Lady Bubbly, Chris Mitchell (6)

Multihull Racing
Phantom V, Alan Carwardine (6)
Bonza, Warwick Downes (9)
Fugazi, Dan Fidock (12)

Firefly 850
Twin Sharks, John Newnham (7)
Voodoo, Hans Rahmann (10)
Surf Patrol, Ray Waldron (22)

The 17th Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek will take place 16-20 July 2020.

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.