WITH IRC and OMR fleets growing in Asia, the 2010 Phuket King's Cup Regatta introduces the IRC Combined Fleet Race and OMR Combined Fleet Race on Saturday, December 11 - the final day of the Phuket Regatta.
With separate start lines off Kata Bay, on Phuket's west coast, the two-class-only race allows cruisers to take on the ''grand prix'' racers on a level-playing field.
''This is the first combined fleet race of its kind in Asia,'' announced Simon James, Phuket Race Director.
The number of IRC rated boats globally is approximately 7500 in 40 different countries, seven percent in Asia. Of those, 15 percent are in Thailand. Growing in global popularity, the IRC rating system is operated by Britain's Royal Ocean Racing Club.
The 2010 National Championship in Britain had 54 entries while in 2009 the Phuket King's Cup Regatta saw 87 IRC rated boats take part.
''Each year the fleet of IRC rated boats grows. To my knowledge, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta attracts the largest IRC fleet in the world,'' added James.
Since 2007, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta has seen a 65 percent increase in IRC rated boats, in part due to the growing number of IRC boats in the region.
Japan, for example, has seen an increase of 133 percent 2007-2009, significant for the Phuket King's Cup Regatta as an independent survey by Infinity Communications and Consultants found that almost 10 percent of the 2009 Regatta fleet were Japanese.
The Asian multihull scene is seeing similar growth, with a record 21 multihulls in the 2009 Phuket Regatta. Popular one-designs such as the Australian-designed Phuket-built Firefly 850 Sports, and the opening of a factory by Corsair Marine in Vietnam, further contribute to growth of the regional multihull fleet and number racing under OMR.
For the first time in Asia, the 2010 Phuket King's Cup Regatta will include one IRC Combined Fleet Race and one OMR Combined Fleet Race. Both will take place Saturday December 11 - the final day of the Regatta.
Each class compete for a separate trophy and the bragging rights of being the ''IRC Winner'' or ''OMR Winner''. The final day's race does not count to the overall Phuket King's Cup Regatta series, which will be raced this year over four days instead of the traditional five days.
''The IRC Combined Fleet Race on the final day of the Regatta is a great idea which will give the cruisers and cruiser/racers a chance to have a go at the flat out racers. IRC is firmly aimed at all types, sizes and styles of boat and so this is an ideal use of the rule,'' commented Mike Urwin, Technical Director, RORC Racing Office.
"While the spread of TCCs and range of boat types will inevitably mean that conditions on the day will potentially have a significant effect, I look forward with great interest to seeing the results.''
Attending the 2010 Phuket King's Cup Regatta in official capacity are Jenny Howells, Technical Manager, RORC Rating Office, Emma Smith, Ratings Secretary, RORC Rating Office, Malcolm Runnells, Official Measurer, a representative of the Thailand IRC Measurement Authority, and the official OMR Thailand representative Mark Pescott.
Jerry Rollins is Race Officer for the IRC Combined Fleet and Ross Chisholm Race Officer for the OMR Combined Fleet. Both starts are off Phuket's Kata Bay.
''We decided to shake things up a little on the final day this year, and think competitors will enjoy it. It'll be great to see all the IRC's compete against each other and all OMR boats against each other. I'm sure we'll see some interesting results,'' James commented.
The Phuket King's Cup Regatta is now in its 24th year, first sailed in 1987 to celebrate His Majesty the King of Thailand's 60th birthday. Under Royal Patronage, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta is organised by the Phuket King's Cup Regatta Organising Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy and the Province of Phuket.
Further information: www.kingscup.com
With separate start lines off Kata Bay, on Phuket's west coast, the two-class-only race allows cruisers to take on the ''grand prix'' racers on a level-playing field.
''This is the first combined fleet race of its kind in Asia,'' announced Simon James, Phuket Race Director.
The number of IRC rated boats globally is approximately 7500 in 40 different countries, seven percent in Asia. Of those, 15 percent are in Thailand. Growing in global popularity, the IRC rating system is operated by Britain's Royal Ocean Racing Club.
The 2010 National Championship in Britain had 54 entries while in 2009 the Phuket King's Cup Regatta saw 87 IRC rated boats take part.
''Each year the fleet of IRC rated boats grows. To my knowledge, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta attracts the largest IRC fleet in the world,'' added James.
Since 2007, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta has seen a 65 percent increase in IRC rated boats, in part due to the growing number of IRC boats in the region.
Japan, for example, has seen an increase of 133 percent 2007-2009, significant for the Phuket King's Cup Regatta as an independent survey by Infinity Communications and Consultants found that almost 10 percent of the 2009 Regatta fleet were Japanese.
The Asian multihull scene is seeing similar growth, with a record 21 multihulls in the 2009 Phuket Regatta. Popular one-designs such as the Australian-designed Phuket-built Firefly 850 Sports, and the opening of a factory by Corsair Marine in Vietnam, further contribute to growth of the regional multihull fleet and number racing under OMR.
For the first time in Asia, the 2010 Phuket King's Cup Regatta will include one IRC Combined Fleet Race and one OMR Combined Fleet Race. Both will take place Saturday December 11 - the final day of the Regatta.
Each class compete for a separate trophy and the bragging rights of being the ''IRC Winner'' or ''OMR Winner''. The final day's race does not count to the overall Phuket King's Cup Regatta series, which will be raced this year over four days instead of the traditional five days.
''The IRC Combined Fleet Race on the final day of the Regatta is a great idea which will give the cruisers and cruiser/racers a chance to have a go at the flat out racers. IRC is firmly aimed at all types, sizes and styles of boat and so this is an ideal use of the rule,'' commented Mike Urwin, Technical Director, RORC Racing Office.
"While the spread of TCCs and range of boat types will inevitably mean that conditions on the day will potentially have a significant effect, I look forward with great interest to seeing the results.''
Attending the 2010 Phuket King's Cup Regatta in official capacity are Jenny Howells, Technical Manager, RORC Rating Office, Emma Smith, Ratings Secretary, RORC Rating Office, Malcolm Runnells, Official Measurer, a representative of the Thailand IRC Measurement Authority, and the official OMR Thailand representative Mark Pescott.
Jerry Rollins is Race Officer for the IRC Combined Fleet and Ross Chisholm Race Officer for the OMR Combined Fleet. Both starts are off Phuket's Kata Bay.
''We decided to shake things up a little on the final day this year, and think competitors will enjoy it. It'll be great to see all the IRC's compete against each other and all OMR boats against each other. I'm sure we'll see some interesting results,'' James commented.
The Phuket King's Cup Regatta is now in its 24th year, first sailed in 1987 to celebrate His Majesty the King of Thailand's 60th birthday. Under Royal Patronage, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta is organised by the Phuket King's Cup Regatta Organising Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy and the Province of Phuket.
Further information: www.kingscup.com
