The new boat, named Chi Machine, was designed and built in Phuket at the Latitude 8 boatyard and is one of many Firefly catamarans that have taken the local sailing scene by storm since the first one was launched just before Raceweek last year.

Chi Machine, skippered by Marc Cudennec from Hong Kong, has won four of the five races contested so far at this year's Raceweek regatta. It finished a close second in the only race it has not won so far.

It was another great day for sailing off the south-east tip of Phuket yesterday with winds slightly less than the previous day, but still enough to push the fleet of 31 boats around the various courses at about 14 knots on average.

The other Firefly, Moto Inzi, has shadowed Chi Machine in all five races so far and is a close second overall, but too far back to take the honours after the final day of the regatta today.

John Stall's boat Charro is third overall, but bounced back with a second placing yesterday.

Another locally built boat - Somtam Express, which is skippered by Scott Duncanson - kept its perfect record yesterday with six wins from six races for the overall lead in the Sportsboat class.

Jim Poulsen's boat Lee Marine Vino is second in the Sportsboat class, with Wade Lewis' Team Simpson Marine third overall.

Meanwhile, in the hotly-contested IRC1 class, David Lindahl, the skipper and owner of La Samudra (which is Malay for "the Sea"), has left all rivals in his wake and yesterday clocked up his fourth win from five races to secure first place overall in the class.

But New Zealander John Vause, one of Thailand's most competitive skippers, has given Lindahl a run for his money with his boat Ruby Tuesday and has won one race and finished second four times, including yesterday.

Coming third overall in the IRC1 class is Keith Garry on Beaux Esprits.

In the IRC2 class, last year's winner, Mick Kealy's Minx, is again heading for the title after finishing second yesterday. Minx now has two first places and three seconds for the overall lead.

Second overall is Stuart Crow's Cinders, followed by Jim Kane's Chetak.

Photographers' favourite the Classic class is led overall by Gunther Nutt on his boat Nerida, which finished second yesterday.

Julian Hill's fun boat, Sanook, sailed a brilliant race for victory in the class yesterday and left the others trailing far behind, but is still second overall.

Anjuna is third overall in the class.

The big disappointment of the day was the 100-year-old Seraph, which finished fifth yesterday. The skipper blamed members of his crew, which included the writer of this article and author James Eckardt.

The final day's racing today will see many skippers and crews hoping to be in good shape following last night's party at the Ratri Jazztaurant at Kata Beach, which was sponsored by property developers Raimon Land, which sponsors most regattas held in Thailand.

Alan Parkhouse

The Nation

Phuket