Published on October 25, 2005

[SAILING] The final day’s rac-ing in the GMTEE National Laser Championships were a test of skill for the 34 sailors taking part as the shifting, un-predictable winds off South Pattaya yesterday made the going tough.

But the great Dane, Morten Jacobsen, held on to take the honours from Thai sailor Pontep Sookudom in a closely fought battle over the final stages of the two races held yesterday off the Royal Varuna Yacht Club.

Jacobsen, who is still recovering from a serious motorcycle accident, had to take some painkillers before setting off yesterday and then faced a neck-and-neck battle to the line with his Thai rival.

But the Dane, who has sailed in Thailand for nine years, battled through the pain barrier to beat Pontep by a single point after seven races.

“The wind was hopeless today, shifting, dying, then picking up in a different direction, but my biggest problem on the water was Pontep - he was very fast,” said Jacobsen, the 2000 Asia/Pacific Laser champion.

“The lead changed six or seven times - this racing is everything that Formula One is not. Once you get in front, you do everything you can to keep the others behind.

“But experience counted today with all the wind shifts and I am very happy with my win,” added the 40-year-old from the Copenhagen area.

Pontep, 19, finished a very close second in the Standard Laser Class, with American Douglas Morss finishing a distant third.

According to Jacobsen, Pontep has the potential to be a great sailor once he gains a bit more experience.

In the slightly smaller Laser Radial class, banker’s daughter Wikki Nualkhair cruised to victory after winning every race in her class, and she was followed by fellow Thai Amorn Soontornjanagit with Switzer-land’s Ufe Dorfner third.

Germany’s Ruben Menke took the Laser 4.7 class after winning every race but one, and finishing second was countryman Sebastian Lehmann. Celine Schmit, who was described by her parents as half Belgian and half Luxembourger, finished a very credible third.

Joshua Phillips, a young Australian from Tasmania who has been teaching sailing to youngsters at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, finished fifth overall but had some problems with his boat’s rigging.

“Things didn’t go as well as I hoped, but I’m still happy with my results,” said Phillips, who is working as a teacher’s aid at one of the international schools in Pattaya and is the main instructor at the yacht club on weekends.

The National Laser Championships were sponsored by GMTEE.COM, a maker of quality shirts in Hong Kong.

Alan Parkhouse

The Nation

Pattaya

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