As widely reported, Ray Roberts TP52 Team Hollywood came through to win the 2018-19 AsianYachting Grand Prix (AYGP) Skipper and Yacht of the Year titles, for the fourth time, in the illustrious 17 year history of the AYGP Awards, at the season ending Samui Regatta.
Ray Roberts remarkable success on his TP52 Team Hollywood stems from winning all the IRC 1 races at the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek, 2nd place at the China Cup, six out of nine races at the Phuket King’s Cup, nine out of ten races at the Royal Langkawi International Regatta, clean sweeping all eight races at the Top of the Gulf Regatta, and 2nd place at the season ending Samui Regatta, to claim the “Hardest sports trophy to win in Asia”.
Only seven skippers have the distinction of donning the Trend Fashions navy blue blazer, in 17 years and this win for Roberts has him tied with Neil Pryde for 4 wins apiece.
There have been some significant moves after the Samui Regatta and take a look where your favourite Skipper and Team have ended up, in the 2018-19 AYGP Rankings, by clicking on Skipper – Yacht – Regatta and Scoring System.
By racking up seven wins in a row, Fred Kinmonth and Nick Burns GTS 43 Mandrake III not only decimated the IRC 1 fleet but also became the ‘Highest AYGP Scorer’ at the regatta and regained 2nd overall in the AYGP Rankings, from Emerson Villena’s Standard Insurance – PSA2, in the process.
IRC 0 victory for the Whitcraft family’s TP52 THA72 elevates them from 7th place into 4th place, after competing at five events during the season.
Max Palleschi’s IOR Farr 40 Prime Factor also pushes up into 5th place, after being up and down the order, at six events on the Western Circuit.
Early leaders John Newnham’s Firefly 850 Twin Sharks and Dan Fidock’s Moore 36 Fugazi have held onto 7th and 8th places respectively from the Multihull class, despite only contesting three regattas each.
Even David Witt, with four mixed appearances, on Meitatsu Fukumoto / Seng Huang Lee’s flying ORMA 60 SHK Scallywag FUKU have ended the season in 8th place, just in front of Geoff Hill’s Smith 72 Antipodes in 9th overall
Although 305 Skippers have participated this season, some concern is creeping in, that less yachts are traveling to compete at multiple events these days. No longer new boat owners, have the desire to seek fame and glory, by winning major Asian regattas and are satisfied competing at club events, at home. More interest seems to be coming from International teams chartering competitive boats, especially at regattas that coincide with the off season or during the winter months back home.
Many thanks must go to all the sponsors, advertisers, regatta organisers, race committees, jury’s, boat owners, skippers, crew and supporters, that make this all possible and we are looking forward to working towards a bright future.
Want to help out next season? Between now and the 16th Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek (July 17th – 21st) is the time to lodge any new ideas and constructive suggestions, which events to include or not include and negotiate any Sponsorship and Advertising Packages on offer for the 2019-20 Season.
Take a look at the AYGP promotion video by Marine Scene Asia.