Star Sailors League: Malaysia and Thailand out in front

QS5 Group 7 – Day 1: Malaysia top tight group

Race 1: South Africa strike first

SSL Team South Africa recovered from a bad start to open their campaign with an impressive victory. Fighting hard all the way, SSL Team Malaysia had to settle for second place, with SSL Team India crossing the line in third.

The Indian Tigers, racing for the first time at Lake Neuchatel, led early on but a decision to take the right hand side of the course in the downwind Leg 2 cost them, leaving SSL Team South Africa and SSL Team Malaysia to battle it out for the win.

‘The Monsoon’ of Malaysia raced aggressively throughout, controlling the South Africans and forcing them to take a wide line around the final mark. But Ian Ainslie’s team seemed to have an edge sailing upwind, and took full advantage on the final approach to secure maximum points.

Race 2: Malaysian Monsoon storm to victory

SSL Team Malaysia end the day in style with victory in Race 2. In a tight finish to a tight race, SSL Team India deny SSL South Africa on the line to secure second place.

The lead changed hands several times in a frenetic opening, but the Malaysian Monsoon always seemed to have a slight edge. A penalty for rocking for Ian Ainslie’s ‘Ubuntu’ at the halfway point looked to spell disaster but somehow they kept in touch.

With only 16” separating the fleet with the finish line approaching, Malaysian helm Khairulnizam Mohd Afend kept his composure to steer his team to glory.

Tight at the top

As the opening day draws to a close, SSL Team Malaysia sit top of the table but in truth there is little to separate the three teams. SSL Team South Africa and SSL Team India will no doubt have something to say tomorrow.

QS5 Group 8 – Day 1: Consistency pays off for ‘Chang Thai’

‘Chang Thai’ led by Noppakao “Nai” Poonpat were the most consistent finishing second in both races. SSL Team Ukraine and SSL Team Singapore won, respectively, one race each.

Race 1: Ukraine lay down early marker

SSL Team Ukraine took maximum points, dominating Race 1 from start to finish. SSL Team Thailand fended off a strong challenge from SSL Team South Korea to take second. SSL Team Singapore finished fourth, some way behind the fleet following an early penalty.

The Ukrainian ‘Haydamaky’, skippered by trimmer Ihor Matvienko, started brightly but initially struggled to shake off the hard-chasing Korean ‘Red Fury’. Matvienko’s team eventually sailed clear when Jeemin Ha’s team were drawn into a battle with SSL Thailand behind. Despite forcing the Thai crew to gybe twice, the Koreans could not maintain their early momentum, and ‘Chang Thai’ prevailed to finish second.

The win will be a relief for the Ukrainians after starting the day with a 1 point penalty for a late crew declaration.

Race 2: Singapore ‘Guardians’ make light of conditions

SSL Team Singapore bounce back with an important win to jumpstart their qualification bid. SSL Team Thailand again takes 2nd, with SSL Ukraine and SSL Team South Korea some distance off the pace in third and fourth place.

Despite another fast start for the Ukrainians, the Singaporean ‘Guardians of the Bay’ capitalised when both SSL Thailand and the Koreans attacked SSL Team Ukraine early on. As the afternoon wind began to slow, the distances between the fleet grew and Jovina Choo’s Singapore team, the lightest on the water by 140kg, stretched into an unassailable lead.

Thailand on top

The opening day’s results leave Noppakao Poonpat’s SSL Team Thailand top of the standings, but only just. For the chasing three behind, everything is still to play for and work starts again tomorrow.

Text and images courtesy of Star Sailors League