Chon Buri, 20 December – Spinnaker drama, man over board, blood, broaches and close calls set the tone as the SSL Gold Cup Asian Qualifier opened in Pattaya. From rocket starts to penalty turns and full stops, the rivalry between the nations for qualification is well underway.
The SSL Gold Cup Asian Qualifier got underway today, bringing sailing’s nation-against-nation format to life in Pattaya. Like the Football World Cup… but in sailing, teams raced under their national flags with the spotlight firmly on the athletes. Conditions were classic for the season, with northwesterly building winds and sea state, sunshine, and temperatures above 31 degrees. Across both groups, Day 1 tested boat handling, communication, and teamwork from the first start.
Spinnakers Decide Early Battles
Group A opened with fast-paced racing in classic Pattaya conditions, as 8 knots of northwesterly breeze and high temperatures tested boat handling and teamwork. All teams sailed with Jib 2s in the dominant seasonal wind.
Race 1 saw Vietnam and Myanmar deliver strong starts, while the Philippines quickly showed superior upwind speed to lead at the first windward mark. The race was marked by widespread spinnaker problems and a mid-race course extension, adding pressure across the fleet. The Philippines stayed composed to take the win. South Korea recovered well with clean manoeuvres to secure second, followed by Myanmar and Vietnam.
“We did not have the best start in Race 1, but we felt strong upwind straight away. Our advantage was height. I could point higher than the other boats, but also switch to speed when needed. That gave us options and allowed us to control the race upwind, which made the difference.” commented Ridgely Balladares, Captain of SSL Team Philippines.
Race 2 brought rocket starts from Vietnam and Myanmar, with Myanmar controlling the fleet early.
“Everyone committed fully from the line. The whole crew hiked hard, and our tactician gave clear guidance on trim and positioning. That teamwork helped us launch well from the start.” commented Nhung Tran (Vicky), trimmer for SSL Team Vietnam, on the team’s strong starts on the day. “Going into the next races, we will focus on our starting positions and crew coordination. Everyone will keep hiking hard, and we will work to make our spinnaker hoists faster and cleaner. Our goal is to get the kite up quickly and stay in contention at the front.” she added.
Tight port-starboard battles followed between Myanmar and the Philippines, with frequent lead changes and split course choices downwind. Myanmar defended the lead to win the race and The Philippines finished second. South Korea crossed third on the water but was later disqualified after a crew overboard incident near the finish, as the team did not return to recover the sailor and was penalised by the jury for breaching safety and racing rules.
Heavy Air, High Pressure
Group B delivered dramatic racing across two challenging races, with increasing breeze, rising seas, and constant pressure on sail handling. In Race 1, Oman took control early and built a commanding lead on the upwind legs. Spinnaker problems shaped the race behind them, with UAE slowed downwind and Kazakhstan struggling to keep the kite flying. Oman sailed cleanly and conservatively to secure the win, while UAE recovered late to finish second ahead of Kazakhstan.
“We have trained a lot, and that preparation helps us stay calm on board, even in tricky conditions. Our focus today was to keep things simple, use common sense, and execute each manoeuvre cleanly.” Nasser al Mashari, Captain of SSL Team Oman commented. “Good communication across the whole crew was key. Everyone knew their role, and we focused on choosing the right moments to push and the right moments to stay conservative. That balance helped us avoid major mistakes.”
Race 2 opened in stronger wind, forcing a switch to heavy-air sails and raising the intensity. UAE launched aggressively off the line, but early errors upwind stalled their momentum.
“Our focus was to start in clear wind and put pressure on the fleet early, which allowed us to execute an aggressive start. We aimed to stay close to Oman and control our positioning, but a small incident set us back before we regrouped and fought back into contention,” said Ahmed Al Tagher, mid-bow for SSL Team UAE. “Today was a strong learning day. In lighter conditions, we had a spinnaker hoist issue when the sail fell into the water. Clear communication between the mid-bow and the pit will be critical going forward. I also picked up a minor injury while stepping in as a spare grinder, but I am fine and ready to continue.”
Oman stayed composed through tight upwind battles and difficult downwind manoeuvres across the fleet. As spinnaker issues continued to disrupt UAE and Kazakhstan, Oman kept mistakes to a minimum and crossed the line first to complete a perfect scoreline. UAE finished second, with Kazakhstan third after a tough day on the water.
The Battle Has Just Begun
Day 1 delivered close calls, emotional roller-coasters, and early signals of who can handle pressure when it counts.
“We are happy with what we achieved on the water today. There were still some small mistakes, and we will work to fix those. Going into tomorrow, the goal is to keep improving and stay at the front of the fleet.” al Mashari, Captain of SSL Team Oman said, closing today’s racing.
Ridgely Balladares, Captain of SSL Team Philippines shares the team’s mindset for the next days. “Leading the group does not change our mindset. We are not done yet. We are still racing and still competing. The atmosphere on board remains focused and hungry, and we want to stay at the front of the fleet.” said.
With more racing ahead and conditions set to keep challenging the fleets, the SSL Gold Cup Asian Qualifier is only getting started. Buckle up. This battle has just begun.
SSL Gold Cup Asian Qualifier: Day 1 Leaderboard
Group A
1. Philippines – 7 points
2. Myanmar – 6 points
3. South Korea – 3 points
4. Vietnam – 3 points
Group B
1. Oman – 6 points
2. Kazakhstan – 3 points
3. United Arab Emirates – 3 points