2021 Thailand ILCA National Championships at Royal Varuna Yacht Club

2021 Thailand ILCA National Championships at Pattaya © RVYC

Sponsored by Element Six Evolution

Sparkling sailing conditions in the Gulf of Thailand greeted the record fleet of 55 ILCA dinghies (10 ILCA 7, 22 ILCA 6, 23 ILCA 4), with Thai nationals and expats from 10 countries represented. The youth sailors competed on all three days and the Masters, Grand Masters, Great Grand Masters, Legends sailing 6 races on Saturday and Sunday.

Day 1 saw the first race in a 5-7 knot northeasterly wind early afternoon strengthening to 11 knots by late afternoon for race 2.

In the ILCA 7, Thailand's two Olympic hopefuls Chusit Punjamala (Pop) and Arthit Romanyk (Miki) fought it out with Pop winning both races. It would have been closer in the second race but with both sailors over the line, it was Pop the first to realize, returning quickly to lead all the way round.

The ILCA 6 open fleet, race one saw Patcharee Sringam (Chompoo) followed by Sophia Montgomery and Krittapas Namsaksawadi (Prince). In the second race Christopher Marsh led from the start but was overtaken by Sophia's superior downwind speed with Christopher coming second and Prince a very close third.

A record fleet of 22 ILCA 4 youth sailors transitioning from Thailand's competitive Optimist fleet saw Waritan Chanan have the best of the two races with a 4th and a 1st to lead from Suchanaree Detthotsapol followed by Panwa Boonnak.

2021 Thailand ILCA National Championships at Pattaya - photo © RVYC

Day 2 saw easterly 5 knots in the morning freshening to 10 knots in the afternoon.

In the ILCA 7 it was Pop who won the first race with Miki winning the second. The leaders were closely followed by Pom Green, of element6 Asia the newly appointed ILCA builder in Thailand showcasing the new boat.

The Grand Masters saw Scott Montgomery fight it out with Kevin Whitcraft, with Kevin winning through. The Great Grand Masters was led by Marcel Dubbleman maintaining his winning ways I point ahead of a determined Richard Vine.

In the ILCA 6 Chompoo was first round the windward mark and with the tidal gate led from start to finish in a fading wind with Noppakao Poonpat (Nai) a former Optimist World Champion finishing 2nd and Sotoshi Mori 4th.

In the second race it was Nai who developed a commanding lead around the first mark until the wind picked up and she was overhauled by the heavier sailors with Christopher 1st and Sophia 2nd.

Special mention to Charlie "the fox" Zbinden, a local Legend finishing all two races in a good position, great stuff for 80 years young!

2021 Thailand ILCA National Championships at Pattaya - photo © RVYC

The third race saw Sophia lead from the front followed by Chompoo and then Christopher.

The ILCA 4 first race was abandoned as no sailor reached the windward mark in the allotted 20 min time limit.

As the wind picked up the ILCA 4 fleet eventually got away, with Weka, the reigning Optimist Open European Champion and first time out in a ILCA over hauling Bowonnan Chanram (Jelly) on the last downwind to win to take the gun.

The second race in a strengthening wind saw Jelly win followed by Thanapat Siricharoen.

With a win in the final race of day two by Panwa Boonnak took him to the top of the leader board with his sister Thorfun in 2nd place.

Day 3 saw the backing wind switch to south west with 5 knots of building breeze during the course of the day.

Race 1 in the ILCA 7 Pop continued his winning ways followed by Miki and Pom. The ILCA 6 racing saw Sophia win from Nai and Chompoo. In the ILCA 4 Thanapat was first followed by Panwa 2nd.

Race 2 saw the ILCA7 results reversed with Miki 1st followed by Pop and then Pom; Pom said he would have done better if had "more abs than kebabs". The ILCA 6 race saw Sophia win with a commanding lead from Chompoo and then Prince. In the ILCA 4s Jelly was first and Panwa second.

The final ILCA 7 race saw Pop return to his winning ways with Miki 2nd, Pom was getting close and he started to work out the intricacies of the ILCA. The Thai ILCA 7 team now goes to Abu Dhabi for the Asian qualifiers with good chance to qualify Thailand for the 2021 Olympics.

The Grand Masters saw Kevin beat Scott into second place across all three races. The Great Grand Masters saw Marcel just winning all three races.

ILCA 6 race 3 saw Nai lead from start to finish extending her lead as the race went on almost finishing a leg ahead followed by Sophia and Chompoo.

The ILCA 4s saw new winners with Chatree Makmoon first with Jinatta Ringbamrung second.

2021 Thailand ILCA National Championships at Pattaya - photo © Bamb Rattana

The event was held in accordance with Thailand's Covid-19 restrictions. All in all, another great weekend of sailing from very competitive fleets, delivered by the capable RVYC Race Team.

We now focus on next weekend's 2021 RYA's virtual Dinghy Show on 27th & 28th February. Please come and visit us at the show to learn more about this great sailing destination in the tropics.

Overall Results: