The regatta started in good winds, which swung from 10-15 knots, making ideal race conditions for the big fleet taking part in the regatta.

The organisers breathed a sigh of relief when the wind picked up early in the morning after three days of almost no wind.

Hot on Lindahl's heels in the top flight keelboat class was Bangkok-based Frenchman Pascal Leray on his new boat Hi Jinx, which finished less than a minute behind Lindahl on handicap in the first race. Hi Jinx was almost two minutes behind Lindahl's La Samudra on corrected time in the second race of the afternoon.

One of the most hotly contested classes in this year's regatta is the Platu boats, which were designed in Australia specifically for Thai waters.

Marco Belonje aboard The Ferret won the first race by just under a minute from former world junior sailing champion Scott Duncanson, who has chartered a Platu from Lee Marine for this regatta and left his very fast Phuket 8 boat Somtam Express at his home in Phuket.

However, Duncanson bounced back in the second race and his experience showed, winning the race by almost two minutes.

Belonje finished third in the second race behind Martin Kaye on his boat Pom Rak Khun.

There is also a lot of interest in the ocean multihulls class this year with three identical Phuket-built catamarans racing against some experienced Thai veterans on their boats.

Racing catamarans Voodoo Child, Moto Inzi and X Ta Sea were all built by Mark Horwood's Lattitude 8 company in Phuket, and the newest boat, X Ta Sea, was launched on Wednesday night and had its first race yesterday.

However, Thai veteran Kirati Assakul proved to be too good for the fast new boats and his catamaran Sonic finished first on handicap in both races.

Pattaya's Olaf Reese sailed Voodoo Child into second place.

Montreechai Lumyongsatian,

Alan Parkhouse

The Nation

Jomtien