PHUKET: On Wednesday July 18, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2012 opens its doors with a glittering first night party, sponsored by Mount Gay Rum, followed on Thursday morning by the first day of racing in what is forecast to be perfect ''champagne sailing'' conditions.
Raced across seven classes and divisions, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek incorporates four intense days of yacht racing around the spectacular islands off Phuket's southeast coast - and four nights of superb parties on Cape Panwa Hotel's beachside lawns.
The regatta's new home, Cape Panwa Hotel, is abuzz with activity in the lead up to Wednesday, as the regatta organisers' and the hotel's teams work together to ensure the onshore side of the regatta keeps up with its reputation as Phuket's favorite yachting event.
Entries, at 33 yachts, are slightly down on last year - on a par with this year's Koh Samui Regatta and the main fleet at the Top of the Gulf Regatta - a reflection of the global economic scenario.
Yachts racing in Phuket Raceweek include the never-before-raced, Reichel Pugh design, Aquila RP45, Katsu, which arrived in Phuket only a few days ago. Built in China by Sino-Eagle, this 45ft yacht is an all-carbon, high tech pure racing machine.
Another first is the super-lightweight catamaran, Hurricane, launched on Monday and heading straight for the start line.
Coming by road from Pattaya, the smallest yacht in the fleet, at just 25ft and aptly named Brace! Brace!! Brace!!!, is a high tech Welbourne 25 sports boat that has raced only one other regatta and managed a third place on its first time out.
They'll be looking to better that result and are sure to provide some nail-biting moments for crew and spectators alike.
A youth sailing team, 91.5 FM-Sunsail Youth Racing, comprised of Thai youngsters aged between 10-15, from Sunshine Home in Phuket, will compete for the first time.
These youngsters have been learning to sail and race on small dinghies, but this will be their first time on a ''big boat'' in an international regatta.
Participants are coming from all four corners of the globe, including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Laos, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, England, Netherlands, Germany, US.
And coming from the furthest corner of all is the skipper of the classic yacht, Idiom, who is flying in from Alaska to take part in the Seraph Classic Invitational Class, sponsored by the regatta's oldest ''lady'', the 106-year-old Danish schooner, Seraph.
The regatta venue, Cape Panwa Hotel, is fully booked during the regatta - as is its sister hotel, Kantary Bay - as the yacht owners, captains and their crew bring along families and friends for a great week of sport and partying in Phuket, along with sponsors' representatives, media and celebrities.
About Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek
Coming into its ninth year, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek comprises four days of world-class yacht racing and four nights of beachside parties - all captured for international TV broadcast to more than 140 million households.
Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek, run over six or seven classes including Racing, Multihull, Cruising and Bareboat Charter, has gained a reputation for its competitive racing for the serious boats and fun courses around the islands for the less serious racers. It is also the first event on the 2012-13 Asian Yachting Grand Prix Circuit.
Phuket Raceweek enjoys the support of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Sports Authority of Thailand, Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and Ao Chalong Yacht Club.
About Kasemkij Hotels
Kasemkij Hotels is the owner and operator of Thailand's three leading hotel brands, the Cape, Kantary and Kameo Collections with 15 properties countrywide. Each collection is committed to providing the highest standards in service, accommodation and facilities to its target segment.
The Cape Hotel Collection offers unsurpassed standards of luxury; the Kantary Collection provides executive-class residential style hotels for short and long stays, while the Kameo Collection specialises in offering excellent facilities and attractive rooms for the price conscious business and leisure traveller.
Raced across seven classes and divisions, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek incorporates four intense days of yacht racing around the spectacular islands off Phuket's southeast coast - and four nights of superb parties on Cape Panwa Hotel's beachside lawns.
The regatta's new home, Cape Panwa Hotel, is abuzz with activity in the lead up to Wednesday, as the regatta organisers' and the hotel's teams work together to ensure the onshore side of the regatta keeps up with its reputation as Phuket's favorite yachting event.
Entries, at 33 yachts, are slightly down on last year - on a par with this year's Koh Samui Regatta and the main fleet at the Top of the Gulf Regatta - a reflection of the global economic scenario.
Yachts racing in Phuket Raceweek include the never-before-raced, Reichel Pugh design, Aquila RP45, Katsu, which arrived in Phuket only a few days ago. Built in China by Sino-Eagle, this 45ft yacht is an all-carbon, high tech pure racing machine.
Another first is the super-lightweight catamaran, Hurricane, launched on Monday and heading straight for the start line.
Coming by road from Pattaya, the smallest yacht in the fleet, at just 25ft and aptly named Brace! Brace!! Brace!!!, is a high tech Welbourne 25 sports boat that has raced only one other regatta and managed a third place on its first time out.
They'll be looking to better that result and are sure to provide some nail-biting moments for crew and spectators alike.
A youth sailing team, 91.5 FM-Sunsail Youth Racing, comprised of Thai youngsters aged between 10-15, from Sunshine Home in Phuket, will compete for the first time.
These youngsters have been learning to sail and race on small dinghies, but this will be their first time on a ''big boat'' in an international regatta.
Participants are coming from all four corners of the globe, including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Laos, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, England, Netherlands, Germany, US.
And coming from the furthest corner of all is the skipper of the classic yacht, Idiom, who is flying in from Alaska to take part in the Seraph Classic Invitational Class, sponsored by the regatta's oldest ''lady'', the 106-year-old Danish schooner, Seraph.
The regatta venue, Cape Panwa Hotel, is fully booked during the regatta - as is its sister hotel, Kantary Bay - as the yacht owners, captains and their crew bring along families and friends for a great week of sport and partying in Phuket, along with sponsors' representatives, media and celebrities.
About Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek
Coming into its ninth year, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek comprises four days of world-class yacht racing and four nights of beachside parties - all captured for international TV broadcast to more than 140 million households.
Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek, run over six or seven classes including Racing, Multihull, Cruising and Bareboat Charter, has gained a reputation for its competitive racing for the serious boats and fun courses around the islands for the less serious racers. It is also the first event on the 2012-13 Asian Yachting Grand Prix Circuit.
Phuket Raceweek enjoys the support of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Sports Authority of Thailand, Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and Ao Chalong Yacht Club.
About Kasemkij Hotels
Kasemkij Hotels is the owner and operator of Thailand's three leading hotel brands, the Cape, Kantary and Kameo Collections with 15 properties countrywide. Each collection is committed to providing the highest standards in service, accommodation and facilities to its target segment.
The Cape Hotel Collection offers unsurpassed standards of luxury; the Kantary Collection provides executive-class residential style hotels for short and long stays, while the Kameo Collection specialises in offering excellent facilities and attractive rooms for the price conscious business and leisure traveller.
