Strong entry list for Phuket Raceweek
With 50 days still to go to regatta registration at the Evason Phuket on 23 July, the 5th Six Senses Phuket Raceweek is looking at record entries. "Never before have we had so many confirmed registrations this far ahead," said Grenville Fordham, MD of organisers IMAGE asia, adding that - based on entries to date - he would not be surprised to see 50 boats line up for the start of racing on the morning of 24 July.
'Seekronghuk - Evason Phuket Raceweek 2007'
© Guy
Nowell
Click Here to view large photo
The Sports Boat Class will see Scott Duncanson (Somtam Express) set against Bangkok's Kipsan Beck (Pornstar) and Koh Samui's Mick Grover (Moonshadow) - with a couple of other likely entries to ensure a good battle for podium positions.
In IRC, veteran of the Asian circuit, Peter Ahern, comes up from Perth to race Yo!2 in one of his favourite Asian regattas for the second year running, while Stuart Williamson, the man behind the ambitious Cariad 1896 restoration project, brings his Beneteau 34.7 Endeavour of Whitby up from Malaysia to give the huge contingent of locally-based sailors a run for their money.
2008 looks like being a good year for multihulls too, with indications that between 10-15, including Neil Ayre's newly-arrived Corsair 28 Shanghai Baby, will contest the event over at least two classes, while five grand Classic boats will again be out there, doing their best to wrest the Seraph Perpetual Trophy from perpetual winner Gunter Nutt's Kerida.
And the new NRG Cup, exclusive to companies and individuals in the oil and gas industries, has taken off with five confirmed entries to date and more expected.
For anyone who wants part of the action, but can't get their boat to Phuket, there are plenty of options. Several boats are available for charter on the regatta website, with everything from bareboat to join-in. The bargain of the event is 2007 King's Cup charter class winner, 30-ft Fidji, at only 65,000 Baht all-in.
Every year every regatta in the region sees skippers desperate for competent crew and experienced sailors looking to take part in the racing. If either of these descriptions fits, visit the regatta website crew pages and register yourself.
On the race management side, Andy Dowden will once again chair the Race Committee, with Simon James running the show on the water as Principal Race Officer. Australia's Mark Pryke returns as our Jury Chairman and will be joined this year by Rut Subniran and Admiral Prasart Sribhadung from Thailand. We will be looking for two sailors to join the jury panel as well as volunteers to help Race Officer Simon James on the water.
Six Senses Phuket Raceweek 2008 enjoys formal backing from the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Tourism Authority of Thailand and is run under the auspices of the Ao Chalong Yacht Club.
For further information visit www.phuketraceweek.com
by Event Media 
Devonport, TAS
