Phuket dinghy racing pre-cursor to exciting week of Thai racing

8:22 AM Sat 28 Nov 2009 GMT

'Phuket King’s Cup Dinghy Regatta 09, Phuket Yacht Club Topaz fleet' Tracey Johnstone &copy

The 23rd Phuket King's Cup kicked off today with Kata Beach filling up with national and international sailors from the very young to the well preserved.

While the fleet of 110 big boat crews were busy with registration, sail measurement and last minute preparations, 18 dinghies crewed by local sailors took to the waters off Kata Beach to compete in a friendly regatta. Hosted by the Phuket Yacht Club, the Tasers, Lasers and Topaz dinghies will compete in the six races during the weekend.

In early years of the King's Cup the fleet was a mixture of keelboats, catamarans, Lasers and Windsurfers. Over time the regatta has developed into the premium international Asian sailing regatta catering for keelboats and catamaran sailors.

King's Cup regatta director Simon James explained at the start of the regatta, "the dinghy racing is being run as a demonstration event with the view to bringing dinghies back to the regatta next year".

In the Topper 3.8m Topaz class six youngsters from the children's home have teamed up to take their year of Sunday club level sail training into the competitive environment. The boy's team of Akapoj Kankaew and Arunsak Wannasuk will be up against the only female entry in the class, 12-year-old skipper Sukanya Saimara and crew Chonticha Chaklang. "They have been learning to sail for the last year though the Phuket Yacht Club," James said.

Phuket King’s Cup Dinghy Regatta 09, rigging up the Topazs - Tracey Johnstone &copy

The other two Topaz teams are skippered by Swedish teenager brothers Phillip and Jonas Johnansson and crewed by Andunwit Suppapon and Tanawat Sarawaree.

James said in the earlier years of the regatta the dinghy sailing at the King's Cup was hampered by a lack of numbers in the various classes. It is hoped that the reintroduction of dinghies to the King's Cup will assist the Phuket Yacht Club to grow its small boat numbers and crews.

Phuket Yacht Club commodore, Katy Gooch, said the club's mission is to encourage dinghy sailing and racing to help develop sailing on Phuket. She also said the club was eager to help widen sailing participation in the local community and further encourage Thai participation. Out of the 29 sailors already entered into the Phuket King's Cup Dinghy Racing Regatta, at least fifteen sailors are local yacht club members and eighteen out of the 29 sailors are Thai.

The young sailors are being to the test under the guidance of International Race Officer, Australian Mark Pryke. While Pryke is at the King's Cup as a member of the International Jury, he generously agreed to help run the weekend dinghy event. Joining him as his 'second' is International, America's Cup and King's Cup Jury Chair, Bryan Willis. On the beach and using a smattering of Thai along with simple instructions, Pryke prepared the young sailors for a great weekend of racing.

Phuket King’s Cup Dinghy Regatta 09, PRO Mark Pryke briefing his young charges - Tracey Johnstone &copy

The races take place today and tomorrow with the prizegiving scheduled to take place at the opening party on the Sunday night at Kata Beach Resort and Spa.

www.kingscup.com/

by Tracey Johnstone

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