Phuket King’s Cup Regatta: Youth dinghy racers lead the way

PHUKET: Promising young Thai sailors took to the waters in Optimist and Laser dinghies to mark the first competitive class racing action under the umbrella of this year’s Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, in the 5th Phuket Dinghy Series.

Twelve back-to-back races ran in front of the Sailing Club at the Royal Thai Navy Third Naval Command at Cape Panwa, on Phuket’s east coast, earlier in November, culminating in the final at Kata Beach over the weekend to coincide with the launch of this year’s Phuket King’s Cup Regatta (story here).

Teerapong Torkratoke put in an excellent performance to emerge winner of the Laser Class, with Nattapong Yongram claiming overall winner in Boy’s Optimist Class

Narinmas Nitsuwan won the Girl’s Optimist Class race series

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee, led by its President, Kevin Whitcraft, joined Phuket Dinghy Series sponsor PTT Global Chemical in offering their congratulations to the young sailors in all of the regatta’s dinghy classes (see full results below).

“The dinghies are a key component of the King’s Cup, and one of the things that makes this such a massive event for sailing in Thailand,” said Whitcraft.

“It is a huge encouragement for Thai sailing youth, and magnificent to see such strong progress year on year. Many of the dinghy sailors are now upper intermediate level, with consistent progress with each coming regatta.”

Racing begins today in the keelboat and multihull classes in the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, which has become renowned worldwide for its epic big boat battles (story here).

This year’s regatta has attracted a total of 150 boats, crewed by sailors from more than 40 countries, together generating significant revenue for the local economy and serving to the benefit of Phuket hotels and restaurants, which enjoy a surge of custom during and around regatta week.

Phuket Dinghy Series – Overall Results
Laser
1. Teerapong Torkratoke
2. Kittitouch Kaopradub
3. Winai Sukasaem

Optimist – Boys
1. Nattapong Yongram
2. Cartoon Juladej
3. Sarawut Kurak

Optimist – Girls
1. Narinmas Nitsuwan
2. Natnicha Maneecharoen
3. Keeratika Klongboon

Inaugurated in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday of His Majesty the King of Thailand, the event has been held during the first week of December every year since.

Under Royal Patronage, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is organized by the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing 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.

Sponsors of the 2014 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta include Kata Group Resorts Thailand, PTT Global Chemical, Jaguar Land Rover, FINCA de MALPICA by Siam Winery, Singha Corporation, and Haadthip PLC. Media Partners include Phuket Gazette, Phuket Today, Sail-World.com, SEA Yachting, YachtStyle Asia, Prestige, Real Life Magazine, The Guide Phuket, Image Asia, Art & Culture, and Phuket Marine Guide.

For more information, visit www.kingscup.com

This event is proudly sponsored by the Phuket Gazette and PGTV’s nationwide ‘Phuket Today‘ show, which broadcasts daily on True Visions channels 85 and 59.