The Phuket King's Cup Regatta will host the Phuket Dinghy Series consisting of four weekend events (25-26 September; 30-31 October; 27-28 November; 4-5 December), the last event coinciding with the 2010 Phuket King's Cup Regatta.
With one of the Regatta's aims to promote and encourage sailing in Thailand, the dinghy series is supported by the Phang Nga Naval Base and sailing schools "Sailing of Phuket" (at Tha Nun by Sarasin Bridge) and "Phuket Sailing Club" (on Koh Maphrao). Up to 25 Optimists and six Lasers (Standard) are available for each event, with the Phuket Tasar owners also taking part.
This will be the first time that Optimists have sailed in the Phuket King's Cup Regatta.
After reintroducing dinghy sailing at the 2009 Regatta with Laser, Topaz and Tasars sailing on the opening weekend, the Regatta Organising Committee have gone one-step further for 2010 and made a commitment to supporting youth sailing in Phuket and beyond.
While there are strong youth sailing programs by the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in the Gulf of Thailand, which have resulted in a number of Thailand Optimist successes in international competitions, Phuket currently lacks similar infrastructure and support.
Having supported sailing in the kingdom for many years, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta decided this year to take a grass roots approach and have established the Phuket Dinghy Series with the aim to encourage more youths to sail and make sailing more accessible.
It is the first time an event of this scale, comprising Optimists Lasers and Tasars, will take place on the southern island of Phuket.
Each event in the Phuket Dinghy Series will consist of five races - a total of 20 races over the series. The first three events in September, October and November will be hosted by the Sailing of Phuket sailing school at Tha Nun, next to Sarasin Bridge, which is run by Royal Thai Navy Sailor Lt. Crd. Pornprom Sakultem.
The fourth event of the series, in December, will take place over the opening weekend of the Phuket King's Cup Regatta, off Kata Beach. Prizes for the overall series winners will be awarded at the Royal Awards Ceremony, by His Majesty the King of Thailand's personal representative, on Saturday 11th December at Kata Beach Resort & Spa.
Divisions will include: Optimist boys, born in 1995 or later; Optimist girls, born in 1995 or later; Laser Standard men; Laser Standard women; and Tasar. The entry fee per weekend event is THB500 (Optimist), THB1,000 (Laser) and THB1,200 (Tasar).
"As host of the prestigious Phuket King's Cup Regatta for 23 years, it's time for the Phuket community to go further and to support youth sailing. The Phuket Dinghy Series is a good start and will help make the sport of sailing more accessible in Phuket," commented Chairman of Kata Group Resorts Thailand, and Host Sponsor of the Phuket King's Cup Regatta, Pamuke Achariyachai.
Phuket is home to the Phuket Yacht Club and the Ao Chalong Yacht Club, as well as two new sailing schools Sailing of Phuket and Phuket Sailing Club. Phuket Yacht Club has a long tradition of encouraging youth sailing and earlier this year sent six children to compete in the Thailand Optimist Nationals held at Ocean Marina Yacht Club in the Gulf of Thailand, and more recently to the Open Championships held at the Hua Hin Regatta. Phuket junior Akapoj Kankeaw took second place overall, out of 64 sailors in the Optimist Division B fleet.
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.
With one of the Regatta's aims to promote and encourage sailing in Thailand, the dinghy series is supported by the Phang Nga Naval Base and sailing schools "Sailing of Phuket" (at Tha Nun by Sarasin Bridge) and "Phuket Sailing Club" (on Koh Maphrao). Up to 25 Optimists and six Lasers (Standard) are available for each event, with the Phuket Tasar owners also taking part.
This will be the first time that Optimists have sailed in the Phuket King's Cup Regatta.
After reintroducing dinghy sailing at the 2009 Regatta with Laser, Topaz and Tasars sailing on the opening weekend, the Regatta Organising Committee have gone one-step further for 2010 and made a commitment to supporting youth sailing in Phuket and beyond.
While there are strong youth sailing programs by the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in the Gulf of Thailand, which have resulted in a number of Thailand Optimist successes in international competitions, Phuket currently lacks similar infrastructure and support.
Having supported sailing in the kingdom for many years, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta decided this year to take a grass roots approach and have established the Phuket Dinghy Series with the aim to encourage more youths to sail and make sailing more accessible.
It is the first time an event of this scale, comprising Optimists Lasers and Tasars, will take place on the southern island of Phuket.
Each event in the Phuket Dinghy Series will consist of five races - a total of 20 races over the series. The first three events in September, October and November will be hosted by the Sailing of Phuket sailing school at Tha Nun, next to Sarasin Bridge, which is run by Royal Thai Navy Sailor Lt. Crd. Pornprom Sakultem.
The fourth event of the series, in December, will take place over the opening weekend of the Phuket King's Cup Regatta, off Kata Beach. Prizes for the overall series winners will be awarded at the Royal Awards Ceremony, by His Majesty the King of Thailand's personal representative, on Saturday 11th December at Kata Beach Resort & Spa.
Divisions will include: Optimist boys, born in 1995 or later; Optimist girls, born in 1995 or later; Laser Standard men; Laser Standard women; and Tasar. The entry fee per weekend event is THB500 (Optimist), THB1,000 (Laser) and THB1,200 (Tasar).
"As host of the prestigious Phuket King's Cup Regatta for 23 years, it's time for the Phuket community to go further and to support youth sailing. The Phuket Dinghy Series is a good start and will help make the sport of sailing more accessible in Phuket," commented Chairman of Kata Group Resorts Thailand, and Host Sponsor of the Phuket King's Cup Regatta, Pamuke Achariyachai.
Phuket is home to the Phuket Yacht Club and the Ao Chalong Yacht Club, as well as two new sailing schools Sailing of Phuket and Phuket Sailing Club. Phuket Yacht Club has a long tradition of encouraging youth sailing and earlier this year sent six children to compete in the Thailand Optimist Nationals held at Ocean Marina Yacht Club in the Gulf of Thailand, and more recently to the Open Championships held at the Hua Hin Regatta. Phuket junior Akapoj Kankeaw took second place overall, out of 64 sailors in the Optimist Division B fleet.
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.
