Another exciting year of races poised to kick off in Thailand

by Event Media on 31 Oct 2007 The 2007 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is set to kick off to another spectacular year, bringing record numbers again this year to Phuket for a week of sun, sailing and celebration. This year’s event, from December 1 to 8, will be held to celebrate His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 80th Birthday. Another exciting year of races is expected.

Last year saw a record turnout of over 100 boats and around 200 international and domestic media. Competition was strong and sporting, with a lot of old rivalries being retested for another year. This year will see another record turnout of sailors with a strong showing of media in attendance – from Thailand and around the world. There will also be a good showing of Thai and Phuket-based sailors joining the event, both Thai and expatriate.

“We’re happy to be kicking off another strong year for the Regatta. We see this not only as a great sporting event, but an event having a very positive impact on Phuket and Thailand as a whole. In addition to the strong international media attention, the event itself brings hundreds of people to Phuket – while involving a large part of the Thai sailing community and Royal Thai Navy as well,” said Santi Kanchanabandhu, President of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee.

“We are expecting a strong racing class again this year with Hong Kong entries from Nick Burns and Fred Kinmonth sailing Mandrake, Sam Chang's TP52 Freefire, Frank Pong's Jelik, and Neil Pryde's re-designed Hi-Fi already confirmed. These will be joined by the newly launched DK46 from Port Dixon and South African Philipp Gutsche's new yacht, commissioned especially for this years event,” said Simon James, Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Race Management Director. Philipp Gutsche and his crew are known of course for winning the Mauritius to Durban race last year. He has also won the South Atlantic Race in the past.
“We have appointed Australian Race Officer Tony Denham of the Sydney International Regatta to look after Racing Classes this year and hope to give them the best series yet,” he added.

“We are also seeing strong turnouts in all categories involving Thai and Thai-based sailors. There will also be a good spread of boats in both IRC and Multihull classes with leading charter companies Sunsail and Elite Yachting, both of Phuket,  already full for this year’s event,” he added.

The Royal Thai Navy’s involvement continues again this year with entries in the IRC classes. Lieutenant Commander Pornprom Sagultem will be coming back this year at helm of The Royal Thai Navy 1, in IRC Division 2, which has won back to back years since 2003.

With the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King, the Regatta is organized by the Phuket King's Cup Regatta Organizing Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy and the Province of Phuket.

The Third Naval Area Command, Royal Thai Fleet, which is based in Phuket has fully supported and facilitated the event with logistics as well as their equipment, officers, boat, helicopter and SEAL unit for security and rescue.

Sponsorship of the event this year will be helped by many organizations with interests in Phuket. The Kata Group has been sponsoring the Regatta now for ten years, while Mom Tri’s Boathouse has helped for over a decade. Media sponsorship in part comes from Phuket Magazine, The Nation and Phuket Gazette.

Principal sponsorship again this year comes from Raimon Land, which currently has projects throughout Phuket including Kata Gardens, The Heights as well as an upcoming project located on the head land between Surin and Bangtao Beaches next door to the celebrated Amanpuri Resort. Raimon Land last year announced they would sponsor the King’s Cup until 2012.

Raimon Land CEO Mr. Nigel Cornick said, “We’re pleased to be continuing our support of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta because of its positive impact on the sport of sailing in Thailand as well as the local economy of Phuket. We feel that few events combine the excitement, prestige and positive impact on the local community – we look forward to supporting the regatta for years to come.”

Also joining the event as sponsors are TMB Bank PLC, Thai Airways International PLC, Thai Beverages Plc, Nautica, Sunsail, Siam Winery, Hadd Thip PLC and a host of local Phuket businesses which support the event.

Entries will be open until 9 November 2007, after which entries will be accepted at the discretion of the Race Committee. For general information on the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, contact Regatta Secretary at info@kingscup.com or +66 (0) 7627 3380. For racing inquiries, contact Simon James on racing@kingscup.com. The regatta website is www.kingscup.com where further information, Notice of Race and online entry forms can be found.


Media Contacts:

Matthew Smith (English)
Mobile: +66 89 142 5558, Office: +66 2 319 1031 Ext 1195
Email: matthew.smith@vivaldipr.com

Pattaranit Imampai (Thai)
Mobile: +66 89 893 4819, Office: +66 2 319 1031 Ext 1195,
Email: pattaranit.imampai@vivaldipr.com