OMYC International Platu Championship of Thailand 2022
by Kev Scott, Ferret News 21 Oct 2022 03:27 BST
11-13 November 2022
Little space at the mark-roundings in the Platu races © Guy Nowell
This Championship series attracts entries from Australia, Malaysia and England, making it the “must do” One Design Championship in Asia. Racing is close and exciting, with boats fighting for every inch, resulting in finishes being decided by mere feet. With three days and up to six races per day, crews get a lot of racing for their money. No more waiting around for long periods in the sun either. With wind shifts being the norm everywhere, the R.O does not wait for “perfect ‘ courses. Crews do not want to wait for the perfect course, and prefer to be kept racing in the inevitable shifts.
Despite the intensity of the racing, there is a great camaraderie amongst the crews. A great time is had by all after the racing, in the magnificent grounds of the Ocean Marina where beers and hard luck stories are shared by all. Short courses means that the less experienced crews enjoy the fun as much as their more experienced competitors. They do not get left far behind, and the whole fleet usually complete races within five minutes of each other. Truly a competition that all sailors can enjoy, regardless of their level experience. At the same time, we have some of the best crews in the world racing here, with several World Championships in the mix.
The Ocean Marina complex provides the best logistics to be found anywhere. There’s a four-star hotel set in beautiful gardens, and the boats are only 100m away from the social areas. There are no problems with tides, as the marina is navigable 24 hours. Plus all the facilities of a vibrant holiday city a few minutes away.
It’s a very close fight for overall honours, and we expect to see some “match racing” between the two potential Champions. Equally, several other boats are in with a shout if things go their way. It’s sailing, and ut's never over until it’s over.
Good luck to all competitors, and thank you for supporting this great Championship, which is growing in prestige every year. Full details on www.yachtsinthailand.com in the Championship 2022 section.