The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Under Royal Patronage will draw a sizeable gathering of sailors from around the world to mark its 30th Anniversary year.
Phuket King’s Cup Regatta marks 30th Anniversary
Phuket King’s Cup Regatta marks 30th AnniversaryThe regatta programme includes the Phuket Dinghy Series, International Dinghy Classes, keelboats and multihulls amongst its competitive classes, as well as a new CRX Kiteboard class. The 30th Anniversary Regatta is to be held from 3-10 December, 2016, at Kata Beach Resort and Spa, Phuket, Thailand.
With dinghies and youth sailors included, something like 190 entries and in the region of 1,500 participants are expected to join the 2016 regatta, giving a welcome boost to local businesses in and around Kata Beach.
In recent years, Phuket has also become home to fast-developing youth sailing talent. According to regatta president Kevin Whitcraft, “With so much interest in sailing and yacht racing among Thailand’s juniors, the regatta committee installed the Phuket Dinghy Series which has inspired youths from many sailing clubs in Phuket, Phang Nga, Songkhla and as far as Chonburi, to take up sailing since its introduction in 2010. There is great hunger and motivation, especially among young sailors here, for competing at world championships.”
This year’s fleet will comprise around 13 different competing classes of yacht with crew, support personnel and families from many countries, including USA, Australia, Great Britain, Russia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and China.
The new CRX Kiteboard Class will provide a three-day open clinic for young riders from 5-7 December and a race in Chalong Bay during the regatta. More than 30 riders around Asia are expected to participate.
Youth sailing races comprise the International Dinghy Class, which has played a part in the development of youth sailing in Thailand. Victorious young sailors from the Phuket Dinghy Series, which takes place from July to November, will receive trophies,together with other winners at the prize giving ceremony.
Whitcraft said, “We are proud of our new wave of young Thai sailors. Bam Kamolwan Chanyim (KC Laser winner 2012), was the first female Thai sailor to join the Olympics in Rio, together with Keerati Bualong, KC Laser winner 2015. And earlier this year, our 2014 and 2015 Optimist winner from Phuket Youth Sailing Club, Nattapong (Max) Yuang-ngam was crowned World Champion at the Rooster International Topper 4.2 World Championships 2016 in Northern Ireland.
For more information, visit www.kingscup.com.
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