Asia Superyacht Rendezvous sends sublime ripples through Phuket’s lifestyle scene

PHUKET: The first night of the Asia Superyacht Rendezvous 2012 kicked off yesterday evening at the Angsana Laguna Phuket resort on the shores of Bang Tao Bay, on Phuket’s west coast.

The annual three-day superyacht extravaganza began with the formal welcoming of local and international sponsors, media and guests, as well as the captains and owners of all the magnificent participating yachts.

The welcome briefing was soon followed by the opening cocktail party on board the classic Indonesian-style Phinisi ketch Silolona. Sitting proud in the middle of the bay, the 50-meter wooden yacht played host to an evening filled with traditional Indonesian music played on classic instruments, accompanied by traditional Indonesian canapes.

The Rendezvous would not be complete without the annual fun race around the bay. Start boat Maverick went out early this morning with the race officials on board, and the sailboats Shamoun, Twizzle, Asia, Yanneke Too, Si Datu Bua and Silolona all in her wake and ready to set sail along the course.

The Xana Beach Club is tonight hosting another Rendezvous tradition: to see which team can construct and blow its model sailboat along metal gutters using only their breath as wind.

The 12th Asia Superyacht Rendezvous, supported for more than a decade by leading Dutch shipbuilder Feadship, will conclude tomorrow after a sail-past parade on the bay by all participating yachts, both sail and motor.