Sadly our UK built IMPALA 28 00D THE BLUE ANGEL was the only PSC
representative in the RLIR ,our usual supporter VG offshore had changed her
livery and was entered under RSYC , Rama and his crew not withstanding this
were as nice and friendly as ever , they were in our class which made it more
fun , other missing boats were MJ s RECAA and John Kara s Insanity , both
badly damaged by the rogue indon trader which came through RSYC s
moorings
Blue Angel (BA) skipper and PSC Commodore Jeremy Camps was so pleased
to have finished his cancer treatment as planned just over a week before
BA has a great crew and they really rose to the occasion, Chris Hennessey our
no 2 and crew organiser who has sailed with her for we think 5 years and is a
great crew handled the spi and one genoa side , Rainer from PSC handled the
port side where as on all the Commodores boats spi boom uphaul and
downhaul and jib halliard are situated, also the tough port jib sheet , to make
up 6 Chris recruited a sailing friend Dragan Canadian but based in Korea to
handle the starboard side most notably the spi halliard and stationed at the
back to keep the rudder in the water downwind in windy conditions he helped
with the spi guy too so important in the windy conditions . Our trusty
foredeck crew Martin and Eppy did great , only one screw up all week To sail
with 6 was right , we had lots of wind and provided there is a reasonable
length beat where we can use the impala s great strength of maintaining
speed whilst pointing higher and higher , before the first race we worked out
the best starting procedure , not in the frank rank with the argy bargy although
in one race we nosed between VG Offshore to windward sailing higher and
Piccolo to leeward , close to the committee boat and able tack into clean air ,
the sails made by Phil of Zoom Sails in e Sri Lanka having only race twice in the
previous years windless regatta were as new , Chris managed the perfect set
and slot all the boss had to do was keep her as close as possible
Our windward performance was amazing and the key, inevitably we lost out
down wind but holding it all together we emerged each time top on handicap
Race officer Simon as usual laid a variety of courses, one in the sound with
windward leeward but with an extra leg to add variety then out in the rough
water towards Penang normally our weak point but okay this time ,for the
Round the Island Race Chris helmed to give the skipper a days rest ashore , he
maintained our winning sequence!
In the last 2 races on the Saturday we won on the water without the handicap
And the opposition…….. really 2 boats Piccolo an updated and rerigged Farr 36
( long ago winner of the Sydney Hobart ) sailed by Mike Downard boss of Sailin
Asia in Phuket , well sailed and handicapped too and a nice looking Russian
crewed cruiser , VG Offshore was very fast and quite frightening with their
massive spinnaker , in a competitive class they were narrowly fourth
The skippers thanks to Chris , Rainer , Martin Dragan and Eppy for their
support , fabulous sailing and well deserved success Our thanks too to our
little Angel for carrying us , she is safely back on the trailer at Port Klang for a
well earned rest !
Roll on January 2025
Jeremy Camps
Skipper SY The Blue Angel
