2016 FOBISIA Sailing Championships
Five school teams prepared for battle at the second FOBISIA Sailing Championships hosted by Regents International School on 10 – 13 March 2016. The schools represented were: Bangkok Patana International, Bangkok Preparatory and Secondary International, Harrow International, Shrewsbury International, and Regents International as the hosts. Together there were a total of over 40 young sailors vying to compete in the regatta.
Two sailing categories were sailed at the regatta. The individual competition was in the International Optimist dinghy and the team-racing event was held in RS Quba dinghies. The combined score between both categories would determine the FOBISIA Schools Champion.
Sailing conditions on day one were ideal in the morning, a good wind and sunshine and the event was underway! Bangkok Preparatory and Secondary made their intentions clear from the start by winning the first two team races. But Bangkok Patana International also made their mark with impressive results. A key race was between the two with Bangkok Preparatory and Secondary coming out with a narrow lead in the team racing on the second day.
In the individual Optimist series, it was Bangkok Patana International who was at the head of the field with their top sailor, Aim, scoring an impressive four wins from four races. Sasha from Bangkok Preparatory and Secondary was close behind but had an uphill battle ahead.
Day two saw the completion of the round robin series where all schools sailed against each other in the team racing. Bangkok Preparatory and Secondary confirmed their position at the top of the leader board with Bangkok Patana International joining them for the finals to be held on the final day. In the Optimist fleet Sasha made a spirited fight back and took three wins out of four from Aim to make the result defendant on the final day.
The final day of racing started with the strongest winds of the event. Even many experienced sailors at the club looked out and thought more than twice about going out. However, all the teams were ready and keen to complete the event. Particular mention should go to the young Optimist sailors from Shrewsbury who left the shore and gave their all for their team in the tough conditions.
The first places to be decided were in the team racing with the sail off for 3rd to 5th position between Regents, Shrewsbury and Harrow. Regents took the first two wins to lift them up into contention after a slow start to the event. But Harrow persevered and kept sailing well to eventually secure 3rd overall in the team-racing event.
The team racing final then took place just off the shore with many supporters and all the young sailors cheering the sailors from the shore or from boats on the course. Bangkok Preparatory and Secondary sailed smart to win the first two races of the best of five finals. Bangkok Patana International fought back to take the next race. With all to play for Bangkok Preparatory and Secondary made sure of victory in the team racing with a great first and second place over the finish line in their final race.
With Bangkok Preparatory and Secondary crowned the team racing champions, it was down to the Optimist fleet to decide the overall result and their own champion. The battle was on at the top and it was Sasha from Bangkok Preparatory and Secondary who was enjoying the strong winds to score three wins. Both the Optimist individual result and the overall results came down to the last race of the event. Aim from Bangkok Patana International kept his nerve and, with the wind conditions moderating a little, took the win in the final race to secure his Individual title.
With wins for both the top two schools in the two disciplines, and both equal on points, the deciding factor was the second team member in the Optimists. After a tough three days of sailing this was Peter from Bangkok Patana International to give his team the overall title.
The regatta closed with the prize giving ceremony where all joined together to celebrate a great competition with many young sailors who made the event with their sportsmanlike attitude.
FOBISIA is an acronym for Federation of British International Schools in Asia http://www.FOBISIA.org/
Full regatta results – http://www.varuna.org/site/upload/race/177902.pdf
Extended photo gallery – http://www.varuna.org/site/gallery.php