Phang Nga Bay Shots from Phoenix

wingssail images-matt c larsen
Wings

Day 4

These shots from Matt Clarson on Phoenix give an idea what it was like.

We have to hand it to Phoenix; they were unbelievably fast, we couldn't get past them on the last day.

The Crew

On the Podium

wingssail image-shannon
Third Place

We all trouped up to the podium to get our third place trophy (except Shannon, who took the shot; Sam stood in for him.

From the left: Fred, Jennie, Andy, Marco, Pierre, Judy. In front: Sam
Not shown: Shannon

More Photos From Phang Nga Bay

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Andy

Chong Lat

Paradise-Low Tide

Railay Beach-Low Tide


Wings At Krabi

Wings

Yo!2

This is Yo!2 the well sailed Farr 40 that won 1st place in Racing Division. These new boats are quite a bit faster in fact they sail each mile in roughly one minute less than we do. To win we have to use the corrected time handicap system which makes up for the speed difference. We only beat them once in the week, on race 3, by 16 seconds on corrected time. On that day the wind was fresh all the to the finish and we beat them. But in Phang Nga Bay they often finished before the wind completely died and then we had to struggle in after them lighter wind with little chance to correct out. Even though there is a 25 year age difference in the boats I'd be happy to go at them again in another regatta and if we could be confident we'd sail in the same conditions as they had I'd give us an even chance.

Katsu
phang nga bay committee image

The other boat which beat us was Katsu, a new Swan 42, another true racing machine. Every thing I just said about Yo!2 applies to Katsu.

Judy & Marco
wingssail images-fredrick roswold

Railay Beach Party

Railay Beach Party



Tara: Honorary Crew




Sam the Man sports his Wings' shirt

Photo Batch from Phang Nga Bay

from phang nga bay race committee
Day One, after the start

Nice Place for a sailing regatta, right?

This low resolution photo from the race committee shows Wings to windward right after the start of the first day of Phang Nga Bay regatta. We started back a little to play it safe in the light air with the strong tide tending to push the boats over the line. We didn't want to be over early. But right after the start we were sailing well, pointing high and moving fast.

In this shot you can see the Farr 40 Yo!2 out ahead (the dark boat in the middle of the photo) and you can see that we were pointing higher and moving well). Somewhere to leeward is Katsu, the Swan 42, who were, right about this time, wondering who were were. They had not expected any other boat besides Yo!2 to be moving like this in this fleet.

We maintained excellent position for half the race and were ahead on corrected time at the first two marks. When the wind died however the whole fleet slowed down. The leaders had less distance to sail in the drifting conditions and they saved their time on us. Third Place.

Chong Lat Dawn
wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Dawn in the most beautiful anchorage in Phang Nga Bay. The fleet lies at anchor awaiting the new day.


Sighting the Lay Line
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Champagne sailing on Day Three. We made it through the light air inside the islands and once we broke free of the drifting conditions we enjoyed wonderful sailing for the second half of the race. A long beat to Koh Ngang and a reach to Koh Samet in flat water gave us a chance to make up a lot of time. Here Andy calls the layline to the island. One last tack onto starboard and then the reach and a smooth rounding, set the kite, and downwind to the finish. Yo!2 and Katsu were already finished and Lawanna, the big x-yacht, passed us at the last moment and finished just ahead of us. But when we heard the final results at Railay Beach that night we found that we won by 16 seconds. It was great.

Crew Work
wingssail image-fredrick roswold

In the hot sun and light air it was a lot of work for the crew to try to keep Wings moving. In the whole week they made no mistakes, no errors, and we had perfect crew work. We could ask for no more.


Raew Raew
wingssail image-fredrick roswold

This is the "mother ship" we chartered for the regatta. Captain Kee piloted Raew Raew around Phang Nga Bay and anchored at each harbor so that when we arrived after the day's racing the crew had a cool (air conditioned) haven to run to for showers and a cold beer. Each morning, after breakfast aboard Raew Raew, they returned to Wings for the day's racing.

Long Day Down Wind

wingssail images-fredrick roswold & jenni clark
Sailing in Paradise

Marco trims 2A

Crew relaxes between jibes

Down Wind in light conditions

End of the week of sailing

Phang Nga Bay 3

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Andy Shannon & Fred

Shannon

Judy and Pierre

Jenni

High 5

Maybe we won

Chaos at Koh Sum

wingsail images-fredrick roswold & jenni clark
Dawn at Chong Lat

Sunsail Mother ship

Chong Lat

Light air hell

Jam up at Koh Sum

Phang Nga Bay 1

wingssail image-jenni clark
Sailing in Phang Nga Bay


Bow filled with kites
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Judy


Marco

Pierre

Jenni & Shannon


Chong Lat

Raew Raew

Yacht Haven in the Morning

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Yacht Haven

C Dock

Super Yacht Pier

On the super yacht pier the yachts tower on each side and turn the float into a canyon. There is a black sailboat with a black mast on the left. It is Bristolian, the world's largest composite yacht, made in New Zealand. It is huge and beautiful, however it is dwarfed by Red Dragon, the boat on the right with the white mast.

Work Dock

Luxury