Singapore Sailing Federation

SILVER CHANCE: Singapore's Farr Platu 25 team are in a fight with the Philippines for second place.
-- ST PHOTO: EDWIN KHOO

PATTAYA - NINE golds. Singapore could possibly reap that much today on the final day of the South-east Asia Games sailing competition.

At the previous edition in the Philippines two years ago, the Republic's sailing team bagged a record seven titles. There is a good chance they could go one better this time around.

After five days of racing at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club, the Republic's sailors lead in six classes - Optimist Girls, 470 Women, 470 Men, 420 Men, Laser Radial and Super Mod.

With the best chance for golds are Justin Liu and Sherman Cheng (420 Men) and Dawn Liu and Elizabeth Tan (470 Women).

After nine races and with three to go, both pairs hold a comfortable six-point lead in their respective classes.

Having posted consistent top-two finishes, all they have to do is to continue their form and race conservatively to secure their titles.

In the Laser Radial, Siobhan Tam came first in both of yesterday's races to overhaul overnight leader Anuar Nurul Elia of Malaysia.

She holds a one-point lead, and needs to win today's 12th and final race to secure the crown.
The outcome, though, is less straightforward for the other three Singaporean leaders - Rachel Lee (Optimist Girls), Lo Junhao (Super Mod) and Roy Tay and Chung Pei Ming (470 Men).

With two races in the Optimist Girls and Super Mod to go, and three in the 470 Men, the battles for the titles remain wide open.

Meanwhile, Singapore have a fighting chance of gold in three classes - Optimist Boys, 420 Women and Laser Standard - where they lie second.

In the Laser Standard, Koh Seng Leong (13 points) is one point adrift of Malaysian leader Muhamad Mohd Romzi in the four-man fleet. To take gold, he will need to win today's 12th and final race.

Russell Kan (Optimist Boys) and Jovina Choo and Sara Tan (420 Women) have two and three races left respectively, and could overhaul the leaders should they perform well today.

Meanwhile, for Singapore's five-man Farr Platu 25 team of Justin Tan, Justin Wong, Alvin Chong, Wilbur Chan and Alvin Hong, a silver is the best they can achieve.

After 10 races and with two to go, they are third on 20 points, two behind the Philippines and an insurmountable 12 points behind champions Thailand.

In three classes, the final positions have been confirmed.

Low Wenchun and Jonathan Chew are assured of the silver in the Hobie 16 class. With two races to go, they lie second on 16 points, trailing Thai leaders, the Vongtim brothers Damrongsak and Sakda, by an insurmountable eight points.

Windsurfer Joshua Choo is assured of the bronze in the Mistral Youth class. With one race left, he is third on 22 points, behind Indonesia's Mustofa (15) and champion Thai Singsart Navin (8).

Windsurfer Leonard Ong is fourth on 32 points in the Mistral Lightweight class, and, with one race to go, he has no chance of catching third-placed Filipino Geylord Coveta (23).