King's Cup, catch-up photos... a day on the water.

07:00 on the beach each morning: Noel, Biggus, Iris, Strompfie, Digger,
Oscar, Jing, Forse, Bicky, MC Danger, Bucket, Grunter, G, TC

Single file to the Longtail

On way to racetrack: MC, Bicky, Biggus, TC

Grunter has just checked rudder and keel for junk

On Wednesday, we do sail past of Thai Navy vessels
to pay our respects to King's birthday.

Stromfie and MC

Oscar, Biggus, Noel, Bucket, Digger

On way to racecourse, Strompfie, MC Danger, Jing

Digger makes his beer sacrifice to the wind and sea gods...

"Grunter the pirate", says Bucket

Start in light airs: Pine, Tonga, Titania

"Legs 11"

G hands J1 jib at spinnaker hoist.  (Guy Nowell photo)....

.... and Grunter trims it downwind in light airs

Light airs Race 6: Bicky and Biggus.  Forse at helm.
Pine and Titania behind us.

Race 6: we're still in front of Titania and Pine here.
We won this race.

On the way back to the beach.  Check out the headgear on this dude!

"Noice" says Bucket.  Jing, Bicky and Grunter

Forse collects first prize for Race 6

G at the piano, with Jing and TC chillin'.... Crew dinner,
The Boathouse, Kata Beach...

... and again... a pensive TC... G @ piano, Bicky, Bucket, Jing.. (my iPhone)

And so to bed... Sunset South Kata Beach. 

Thanks to Bucket, Catherine, Biggus and Guy Nowell for the photos.

More photos from the King's Cup website here.  Scroll down and do search for "Xena".

Pine Needles Us: King's Cup Day Five

"Sunset on our dreams?" (oh dear...).  Jude, aka "Bucket" photo
of Kata beach last night, south end looking to the regatta boats.

Well, we didn't quite make it...

Last day and two races, one a windward/leeward and one an islands course.  Fine winds of 10-knot-ish..

The short story: we got a third and a second, while Pine Pacific scored two firsts, to beat us into second place by three points.  They sailed well and deserved the win: full marks to them.

General consensus: best King's Cup ever for us, with close racing and exciting duels with the other X-55 in the race, Pine Pacific, and even catching Titania sometimes...

After an arvo in the pool by the beach at the Kata resort with Bicky, Jing, Bucket and TC, I'm here waiting to go to meet the King's Representative to pick up our third place prize.

Jing, Strompfy, Bucket, Bicky.  Kata Resort pool

Results

King's Cup: Day Four

Xena chases Pine Pacific, last downwind leg.  Both under A1s.
We caught them and beat them in this race,
and also beat Titania, a first for us...   
[Guy Nowell photo]

A quick update – more atmosphere and context later….

In order to have a chance at second we needed a first today, and more: we needed Titania, the current front runner, to come second, and Pine Pacific to come third.  A tall ask, given that we’d never beaten Titania and were struggling to beat Pine.

But that’s exactly what happened. [more later on the race itself... quite a tussle...]

So now we lie in second place, equal on points with Pine Pacific, leading them on countback.
The situation then is this: for the two X-yachts, Pine Pacific and Xena, it’s three wins apiece, both sitting on 14 points, with us in second place on countback, Pine in third.  For us to keep second place overall for the regatta, we have to win tomorrow.  
If they win, they get second; if we win, we get second.  
So it’s all to play for tomorrow….

Just back from the prize giving, after an exceptionally pleasand afternoon drinks on Titania, courtesy owner Richard Dobbs, and feeling a big shagged, so off to bed. 

If I can, I’ll add some more and some photos later…

TTFN, says Eeeyore...

*******************************

Later: Rundown of the race yesterday.  In very light and fluky winds, they set us off on course 17, a windward/leeward course, of two sausages.   After a good start to windward of the others, we folded over and worked our way up the beat, constant work needed to keep the boat moving in super light conditions.  At the top mark, we were just a few boat lengths behind Pine, with Titania in the unusual position of following we  two X-yacths, 50 tonnes being hard to move in breezes that were knots counted on one hand. 

After the top rounding up with kites, and we chased Pine on starboard tack with Titania on our starboard quarter.  Slowly catching Pine, when they gybed over to port, we decide to gybe inside them, but not all our folk heard the gybe call, so we had to go back to starboard, re-prepare for gybe, then gybe, all of which put us now about 70-odd yards behind Pine, now both on port.  Some other-class boats coming up the course on starboard gave our tactician, TC, a chance: let them separate us from Pine, so that they could not follow us on a gybe back to starboard, which we did: we caught some fair wind, while Pine and Titania stayed in a hole.  Result: to the bottom mark a few hundred yards in front of both!

By this time, over an hour gone, and I thought they’d shorten the course at the bottom mark, but no, they kept us going, so now for the work back up to the top mark, during which the Race Officer announced the shortening of the course at the top mark. 

Work to the top mark a bit suspenseful, as one never knew with these breezes, but we worked the shifts well, and finished just behind a quick finishing Titania over the water and well in front of Pine.

Result: 1. Xena, 2. Titania, 3. Pine Pacific.

Overall for the Regatta: Titania, Xena, PP

All down to today for we X-yachts.... stay tuned...

Match racing between X-55's Day three....

Xena with blue spinnaker, Pine Pacific in white.
All photos courtesy Guy Nowell, from the Regatta website.

King's Cup: Day Three, and layday karting

Xena and Pine Pacific, the two X-55s in Asia.  Race Two, Day Three.
We won this one by 26 seconds.  Photo: courtesy Richard Dobbs
on Titania of Cowes (a Swan 68)

Well, it's come down to a match race for us, between the two X-55s in the Premier division: Xena and Pine Pacific.  Titania, the Swan 68 is gone, with basically a lock on first, for the second year running: a combination of their great sailing, and boat speed, particularly on a reach in 10+ knots.

The record so far between us and Pine is three wins to them and two to us.  So Pine and Xena are battling for second, with them two points in front of us at the moment, with 2 or maybe 3 races to go.

Yesterday, close and exciting racing: two different geometric courses for the day.  The second, and longer one was us match-racing Pine all the way round, them in front at time, us at, others, till we able to take advantage of a mistake by Pine after the top mark, nudge past them and finish 26 seconds in front, corrected time, at the end of nearly two hours.
Fine day's sailing, with fresh breeze all day.
We'll need to be on top of our game, and also get a touch of luck, to prevail in the next few days.
And now for some Bucket (aka "Jude") piccies from lay-day go-karting, today, at the local circuit in Phuket:

Jude says: "it's all a lie.. G was first, but I was last!"

Magnus (on Walalawa), Bicky, G, MC, ?, TC, Bucket, Biggus

Bucket and Jing, with "those shoes", post
crew dinner.

King's Cup: Day Two

An Islands course of 24 nautical miles in fine breeze of 15+ knots.  A cracking sail, but not quite the result we would have liked.... Titania walked away and Pine Pacific -- who we beat handily in race two yesterday -- snuck in front of us and stayed there.  No excuses, no major mistakes; just the way it was.....Result: third for the day and lying third overall....

So, a day for some piccies, courtesy Judy (aka "Bucket")...

Under the magnificent banyan at the Rastafarian Ska Bar, Kata beach, Phuket
Digger, Strompfy, G, TC,  Iris, Jing, Forse, Bucket, Biggus, Grunter

"It's lonely at the front".... G contemplates
the meaning of life on the bow...

"Serious business".... I take a break on the rail while
Bicky drives.  (not sure others there, can't quite see..)

"Biggus at work",  checking finish line

King's Cup: Day One

A 50-50 sort of day, but ending on an up, as we realised that Titania of Cowes, the front-runner, and last year's winner, could indeed be caught.... but we needed winds to keep in to actually catch her, whereas in race two they died in the final run to the line.
It's day one, we're feeling pretty good. Results: a third and a second, for five points.
I think I'll leave it at that.
Other than uploading a piccie of a Longtail boat used here in all the Islands round Thailand, and as our main means of transport out to the boats which are anchored out in Kata Bay, on this lovely Phuket Island.

Carvel planked wooden boats, there's real skill in the building of these.
They pop a car engine on the back, and a long drive train to the
propeller and off they go!

King's Cup practice day: a day for practising surfing...

Surfing action on Kata beach

Down on the beach at 09:00 for practice and practice race, to find the results of last night's storm, big swells and a fine day for surfers.  We sat at the south end at the Starbar, watching the swells and surfers out having fun.  No day for the Longtails to take us out and a bit of a challenge for our dinghy.... Practice race cancelled at 10:00.
Still, we managed to get out around noon in our dinghy, half of us, to try out the new sails: Bicky, G, Strompfy, TC, Noel, Oscar and me.
The new 3Di Main and 3DL J1 jib looking fine and a testament to the Norths' boys, who managed to build it, in the US and NZ, and deliver it, to Langkawi and thence here to Phuket, ready to go, in just a few weeks. Brill!
Not much breeze out there, 5-6 knots, and swells.  Like nothing we've seen before in Thailand, in five times of coming, and for others in many more years of coming.  Talk of global warming....
We've a depleted fleet this year, only half of last year's, but all the main competitors are here and give us the job ahead: Titania of Cowes, Baby Tonga and the new X-55, our sister boat, Pine Pacific will all make it a real competition.
Off to the Skippers' briefing....
Day fine now.  Hopefully less of a swell in the morning, means the Longtail boats can come to shore to take us out and we have some fine racing tomorrow.

Fanging round a different kind of racetrack

These are V10 beasts boasting 580+ BHP...

As well as being keen on boats, some of our crew are also very keen on racing cars.

Here's a report on some interesting racing and fast-car driving in China.

The contact in China is here.

Anyone like to join me in a little jaunt to drive super fast cars in China?

Print out of the SCMP article below the fold...

"Harbour watchdog backs yacht club's proposal for racing facilities"

Quotes our Roger Eastham: 

Roger Eastham, the [Royal Hong Kong Yacht] club's marine services manager, said: "Our concern is the development will be made without consideration of these facilities."
Eastham said international organisations were genuinely interested in holding yacht races in the city but were discouraged by the lack of basic waterfront facilities, such as space for a viewing arena, a stage and electricity.
The club would take this opportunity to dispel the perception that sailing is only for the rich. "We just want to improve the waterfront from cultural, leisure and sport perspectives. It's not something we want to own or operate," Eastham said.....

Article below the fold...

New 3Di Main

From Stevo this morning, two piccies of the new North's 3Di Mainsail at its NZ loft.

Wow, those numbers sure pop!

Yum...
(Bit of roach there... will keep MC Danger busy waggling the backstay...)

Xena: Racing program 2013

I have just posted ideas of the races and regattas we may take part in next year.  Here.
Expressions of interest welcome!

Advanced Speed Tips: Mainsail Twist

The mainsail trimmer on Fez has depowered the main to
cope with a sudden gust of wind.  By including more
mainsail twist, the boat remains upright and sails faster.  Ref.

After posting the article immediately below on sea breezes, I created a new Label: "Sailing Lessons".
So, here's another one  from 2010, which will be of interest to some,  especially our esteemed Mainsail trimmer, MC Danger: "Getting a handle on mainsail twist ..."

"Four Ways to Win the Sea Breeze Game"

[Click to enlarge]

Thanks to Jamie from RHKYC BigBoatGroup, who says "cracking article".  I do buy the "back-door sea breeze" for the hole at bottom of Beaufort Channel in the RTI....  Said similar at the time on Tom's Vega: sea breeze battling the offshore gradient wind (which, probably having been "sideshore", likely made it a "back-door sea breeze"...).

Xena lying third in Asian Yachting Grand Prix Championship(!)

This is a Screenshot. It'll change over time, so I thought I'd
cement the placings as of today.  The site is here.

I didn't even know we were in this Championship....  And here we are just one point off equal first!
Hat-tip to Stevo for bringing to our attention.... The other regattas that count to the championship are King's Cup, San Fernando, Boracay and Samui.

Link here.

In Ao Chalong, Phuket

Arrived 9:00 pm last night, 13th November. Pos: 7 49'N 98 21'E. (Google Earth image)

Email from Grant, 21:00, 13 November:

Hi Peter and Jing
Happy to report that "Xena" is at anchor in Ao Chalong , Phuket with 11.7ft under Her keel.
Just about to inflate dingy then off into Immigration, Port Authorities to clear in.

When back will dive to check if we sustained much chain damage to the keel in Sanya, there is sure to be some, hopefully not too much.
From above,  the only chain scuff is right at the bow on the port side and that is pretty minor to the antifoul.
Was pleased that we were able to polish out 90 percent of the hull sratches.

Hot Hot here.

Cheers, Grant.

178 Miles to go....

Green: 09:00 12 Nov: 5 45'N 99 54'E.  (Red: this year; yellow: last year)

Email from Grant:

...
Light sea breeze here at present so taking opportunity to motor sail and reduce diesel consumption.

All OK onboard.

Cheers Grant.

Checked out of Singapore on way to Phuket

Green pin: 09:00, 10 Nov, 1 59' N 102 25' E. (Yellow pins: last year)

Email from Grant, 19:15, 9 Nov:

Hi Peter
Checked out of Singapore and now heading north.
Big rain storm here lots lightening.
All running smoothly at present.
Cheers, Grant.

AIS issue: needs new GPS unit on coachroof, PF to bring down from Hong Kong.
Sails: Main and J1: won't be ready to pick up in Langkawi, expected arrival there 26 November, so will be brought up to Phuket by Kukukerchu which will have just finished the Raja Muda at Langkawi.

Photos from Grant; still in Singapore

"Exhausted and wishing he'd stayed in Subic".  Oscar gets a rest after
typhoon Son-Tinh

"Exhausted but survived".  Noel gets a rest after the storm

"Typhoon Son-Tinh at Sanya Port"

"Ship that dragged onto us seen here as they move after worst passed"

"Too close but they are steel and don't care".  Dragging anchor in Sanya

The "boyz" still in Singapore, trying to sort out a few issues with AIS transmitting, Generator output current control, Tricolour light, cleaning up marks from the boats that dragged onto Xena in Sanya Port, changing impellers in Engine and Genset,  etc....

Heading into Singapore

09:00, 5 Nov: 1 19'N 104 12'E.

Xena heading into Keppel Marina... Grant's email this morning:

Morning Peter,
Been waiting for daylight just off Horsburgh Light at entrance to Singapore, now heading in.
Raining and looks like more to come.
Heading for Keppel Marina central Singapore for more fuel and few more fresh provisions.
Intend to service both the Main motor( motor surgging a little) and Genset ...change filters check impellers, etc.
Will also go up mast check Tri light bulb serial number.

Re the AIS issue (receiving, not transmitting):
Thanks for Ray's thoughts.
The GPS anteena next to the instruments and beside the pit Stb winch I believe is working correctly as indicated by its pulsing green light and it is giving us correct GPS co-ordinates at all times on the two plotters.
I have also loosened all the cables going into the TRX unit and moved around before tightening again.
No improvement...........when in the smoother water of Keppel Marina will remove all cables , clean and re-connect see if that will fix. However Iam wondering if it may be something internal with the circuit and maybe been like that for awhile?
If I can't fix would we want to fix here or wait till we get to Phuket...........Believe Mick of Octopus Marine is Phuket agent.
Not sure who is here , guess Ray would know ?

Have contacted Ray of Raymarine, for comments....

Update, 12:20, 5 Nov:

Nearly there.....2 Km to go....

Xena PosRep 3- 4 Nov

Red Pin: 09:00, 3 Nov.  4 46'N 106 20'E.

Light following winds.  6-7 Knots SOG, 206T, about 250 miles to Singapore.  "All well" says Grant. Getting Predict Wind updates by email, but Text only, no KML file, not sure why....
Update 4 Nov:

09:00, 4 Nov: 2 55'N 104 42'E

Approaching Singapore.  AIS not transmitting, so extra watches out, radar reflector up.
Email from Grant:
Have changed course heading out of the big traffic into the shallower areas off the coast where the big fast movers don't go. However will take us awhile to get in there.
In the meantime extra careful watch.........like a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs.