Phuket King´s Cup Regatta closes with magnificent party

USPA NEWS - Phuket King´s Cup Regatta finished on Saturday, December 8 with consistent winds, blue skies and beautiful sunshine. An excellent, genuinely inspiring sailing event, which displayed some spectacular racing around the Andaman Sea.

Recognized as a premier sailing event, the Phuket King´s Cup Regatta once again was a great success, putting on a magnificent demonstration of the most talented sailors in the world. The regatta plays an important role in the development of Thailand as a sailing tourist destination, and for Thai´s as a sailing nation surrounded by beautiful waters of the Andaman Sea. By contributing to the yachting industry in Thailand and its Thai sailing community it provides motivation for new and upcoming national sailors. The event put Phuket on the map again with its legendary hospitality, beautiful surroundings and suitability to hold Asia´s ultimate sailing regatta.

A total of 168 boats entered of which 78 were keelboats and multihulls, with participants coming from 35 countries around the world. The event was launched in 1987 to celebrate His Majesty King Bhumibol´s birthday on December 5 and the regatta has been held ever since. It has grown to become an event not to be missed in the sailing world, competing in the Andaman Ocean to win this exclusive racing trophy. His Majesty is a yachting enthusiast himself and patron of the King´s Cup, making it a royal event in every way.

The regatta 2012 was held from December 1 to December 8 with sailing classes from IRC Zero, which are international “˜Grand Prix´ boats, very competitive IRC1, IRC2, IRC3 classes, Classic, Modern Classic and Cruising Class, as well as Bareboat Charter, Multihull´s, Premier Sports Boats and Firefly 850 Sports. This year´s Regatta also reintroduced Windsurfing as a competitive class. 40 surfers from 12 countries, most of them came Thailand, competed to get the admirable trophy.

It featured some famous windsurfing stars including Marina Alabau Neira from Spain who won a Gold Medal at the 2012 Olympic Games. Famous Thai stars where Siriporn “Dao“ Kaewduanggam who won the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore and Ek Boonsawad who represented Thailand at the London Olympics in August 2012. Phuket King´s Cup Regatta also held a dinghy race which plays a major role in the development of youth sailing in Thailand. 50 dinghy´s participated with aspiring young sailors who took up the sport to develop their sailing skills. Windsurfers and dinghy´s competed for four days from December 2 to 5.

An international-standard race management and an excellent organizing team created this world-famous yacht racing event where a series of legendary prize- giving, beachside parties every evening attracted more than 1,500 party-goers. Superb food and drinks provided by the Regatta´s sponsors and live music created a great, relaxed atmosphere which everybody enjoyed. The venues where held at Kata Beach Resort & Spa for the opening and closing ceremonies, Boathouse in Kata, the Katathani Beach Resort & Spa, Orchid Beach Resort and Centara Grand Resort & Spa.

A glorious Royal Award Ceremony, lead by master of ceremonies Radab Kanjanavanit, marked the end to the Phuket King´s Cup Regatta. The ceremony was presided over by H.E. Admiral Mom Luang Usni Pramou who is the Personal Representative of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. Getting one of these Royal Awards is a highlight for all and one of the reasons why so many sailors come to Phuket for the regatta.

For photos and more information about results go to: http://www.ilsegibson.com/phuket-kings-cup-regatta-2012.html or http://www.kingscup.com