Phuket Kings Cup - racing on schedule

10:49 AM Mon 1 Dec 2008 GMT

'Phuket King's Cup 2008.' Guy Nowell &copy Click Here to view large photo

Amazingly, there have been few 'casualties'among the entries in the 22nd Phuket King's Cup Regatta, in spite of the difficulties for many reaching the island. At press time, there are 97 craft registered, divided into 10 classes, with the racing starting Tuesday and extending non-stop through Saturday 06 December.

Today designated originally as the first day of racing, was changed to the practice race and now racing will continue right through Saturday, to include the normal Thursday 'lay-day', as a day of racing, thus giving the sailors the customary five days of close racing. Having gone to great trouble and expense to come to the Regatta, this is what the participants expect.

The 'Wind Guru' had correctly forecast some 12 knots and that was sufficient for the practice race. From now on, the competition will be intense, with defending Racing Class champion, Hong Kong's Frank Pong, pitted against the Asian Yachting's designation of Asia's best sailor 2007-2008, Aussie Ray Roberts Multiple champion, Hong Kong sail-maker, Neil Pryde will also be a top contender.

Many former winners are back to compete in various classes, such as Phuket's Scott Duncanson, the Sports Boat supremo and Aussie Jon Wardill, in the Premier Division.

Much interest will be focused on the new trimarans, the Corsairs, built in Vietnam and one intrepid mariner, Richard Ayre, sailed his new C-31 all the way from the Ocean Marina in Pattaya-Jomtien, to Phuket. It is rumoured that it did not take much more time than the trip of the media by bus to Phuket - and much healthier! Dave Wales, another fearless sailor from the Eastern Seaboard will be back but, this time, by road.

Two entries in the Sportsboat categories must be related somehow: Rob Shaw's 'Pole Dancer' and Kipsan Beck's 'Pornstar'.

Meantime, the race management team, under Chairman Simon James, includes a big contingent of Aussies: Tony Denham, Ross Chisolm, Kim Thomas and Howard Elliot and had a good work-out yesterday.

Among the plethora of documents emanating from the committee, this reporter noticed what he considered a strange entry. A contact list of who's who and who's where, had a category, 'Hotel room, size'. Why should that be mentioned, he wondered, noting that he was in an 'M' room. Ah, all was revealed down the list: when a few 'XXL' appeared, this alert press man realized that it was, rather, a designation of tee-shirt size!

It is expected that HM the King's Personal Representative, Admiral Usni Pramoj will officiate at the Awards Presentation and Closing Ceremonies, next Saturday. Like many of the sailors and some of the aficionados of the Regatta, M.L. Usni has participated in every Regatta since the first in 1987, only missing two 1988, 1989, when former Prime Minister Tanin Kraivixien attended.

The 22nd Phuket King's Cup Regatta, re-dedicated to H.M. the King, this time on the occasion of his 81st birthday, will feature a sail-past and a special candle-lit tribute, to be held on the beach in front of regatta perennial supporter, Mom Tri's Boathouse.

by Peter Cummins

Newsfeed supplied by

#News #Sailing

Phuket Kings Cup - racing on schedule

Sports/News

Weather Forecasts & Live Reports

Buy & Sell/Classifieds