Duncanson, who races a locally built Phuket 8 boat named Somtam Express in the sportsboat racing class, finished in front of a very experienced field, but has a secret weapon - his father designed the boat he races.

Finishing second overall in the sportsboat class, and sailing another Phuket 8, was Josh Lee on his boat Lee Marine Vino, with Wade Lewis's Team Simpson Marine - with a combination of New Zealanders and Hong Kong residents as crew - third overall.

Conditions were almost perfect for sailing yesterday, with light rain and a light breeze just before the start, but once the starting gun was fired the skies cleared, the sun appeared and the wind lifted to about 14 knots on average.

Some of the closest racing seen was by the big keelboats in the IRC1 class. David Lindahl's La Samudra and John Vause's Ruby Tuesday fought neck and neck around the course during the two races held for their class before Lindahl came out on top.

After four races, La Samudra leads the overall standings in the class with three first places and one third, while Ruby Tuesday is second overall after one first place and three seconds.

Keith Garry has been a model of consistency on his boat Beaux Esprits, with four third places from the four races held so far in the IRC1 class.

Last year's winner of the IRC2 class, Mick Kealy on his boat Minx, is on track to take the honours again this year after two firsts and two second places for the overall lead.

But hot on his heels is Cinders, skippered by Stuart Crow, who has two first places, a second and a fourth. Jim Kane on Chetak is third overall in the class. The fastest sailing boats in Thai waters at the moment are the Firefly catamarans, which are locally designed and built in Phuket, and two of the slick felines are contesting the multihull racing class at Raceweek this year.

Marc Cuddenec's Chi Machine, which was only launched a few days before the start of the regatta, is making a great racing debut and has won three of the four races in its class so far. But breathing down its neck is another of the lightning quick Fireflys, Moto Inzi, which is second overall in the class after one first place and three seconds.

John Stall's Charro has been left in the wake of the two Fireflys, but has still managed a very credible third place in every race so far to be third overall.

The bigger, heavier catamarans sailing in the multihull performance cruising class are led overall by Chris Runnegar on Chamelon, followed by Bob Mott on Kilo and Jerome Perignon on Aliocha.

One of the most photographed classes of boats taking part in Raceweek are the classics, and leading the classic class overall is Gunther Nutt's Kerida, which has finished first on handicap in both races contested so far.

Tom Howard's Seraph, a former Scandinavian fishing boat which is celebrating its 100th birthday this week, is second overall after finishing fourth and second on handicap in the first two races, followed by Julian Hill's Sanook.

Greg Plunkett's club class boat Princess Isabella leads overall after two first places, with Kevin Ashby's Lily second overall and Richard Bell's Sun Flyer third.

Racing continues today of the southeast tip of Phuket with good winds and more close racing expected.

The sponsors this year include Evason Phuket Resort, Raimon Land, a great supporter of the local regatta scene, Big A Resort, Royal Phuket Marina, Lee Marine, Asia Marine, SeaPhuket.com, Phuket International Hospital, Electrical Marine, Phuket Inter Wood, Boat Lagoon and Sunsail.

Alan Parkhouse

The Nation

Phuket