Heavenly Images from Phuket King’s Cup Regatta

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2011. Photos by Dave Swinfen.  start@catalina.me.uk

Reproduction or distribution prohibited without consent.

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Opening Ceremony Hoists the Flags on Five Days of World Class Racing for Quarter Centenary Regatta

 

The 25^th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta has attracted a record fleet of vessels, including 90 keelboats and multihulls, 38 dinghies, and 19 Kiteboards. This is the largest combined fleet to set sail since the prestigious event began.

Every year, Asia’s most famous Regatta attracts competing vessels and their crews from every corner of the globe. For 2011, the event has enjoyed increased levels of participation of sailors from Thailand, China, Russia, Singapore, Australia and the United Kingdom. The crews race over five days across nine classes; IRC 0, IRC1, IRC2, Premier, Bareboat Charter, Cruising Class, Modern Classic, Firefly 850 Sports, Multihull, all challenging for their respective classification honours off Kata Beach, Phuket.

The first Phuket King’s Cup took place in 1987 to mark the 60th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyedej, and the Regatta has been held in the first week of December ever since. This is the 25^th Anniversary of the classic boating spectacle, and this particular year marks His Majesty the King’s 84^th Birthday.

This year, the event welcomes the magnificent Swan 82 from China, Chao Ren Plus One, skippered by Wang Bin, who is competing with two more Swans in the Premier Class – Silandra V, captained by Riccardo Denoni, and Titania of Cowes crewed by a team from the Royal Thames Yacht Club. Frank Pong’s Custom Jelik II racer from China will be trying to fend off tight competition from regatta regulars Team Premier, FreeFire and HI FI in IRC Zero Class.

Thailand’s proud sailing history is represented with a strong showing of Thai sailors and crew, including popular IRC winners, the Royal Thai Navy. The Regatta opened on Sunday with an official Opening Ceremony, presided over by President of the Organising Committee, Kevin Whitcraft, who welcomed representatives from Phuket Province, Yacht Racing Association of Thailand (YRAT), the Third Fleet of the Royal Thai Navy, sponsors, and participants. The joint ringing of the ship’s bell and hoisting of the Flags at Kata Beach Resort & Spa formerly signalled the commencement of the evening’s party, and five subsequent days of world-class racing.

 

 

Kevin Whitcraft, President of the Organising Committee, said, “25 years of hosting the Regatta is a big honour for us. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed strong support from volunteers and sponsors which allows us to run as non-profit. I’m very grateful for the diligence of past committees and organisers who have successfully grown the event. We now want the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta to be the primary focus for the yachting industry in Asia. Part of our role is to support and grow sailing in Thailand, and you can only do that by introducing young people. In the future, we will be driving and expanding the dinghy class because we received strong interest this year from nations that we could not accommodate. Thailand can be particularly proud of its performance in Optimist; Noppakao Poonpat is the girls’ World Champion, and the Thai team is World Champion in Optimist. We are also the first regatta in the world to give Kiteboarding its own class. I would like to thank all of the sponsors who really supported us and allowed us to deliver this year’s programme.”

Sponsors of the 2011 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta include Kata Group Resorts Thailand, PTT Group, Siam Winery, Singha Corporation, AIA Thailand, PTT Global Chemical, PTTEP, Thai Oil, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, Boathouse and Sunsail. Media Partners include 91.5FM, Helm Superyacht Asia Pacific, The Nation, Phuket Best Group, Phuket Gazette, Phuket Magazine, Sail-World.com, SEA Yachting and YachtStyle Asia.

 

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