Bangkok--2 Dec--Vivaldi Public
Sailing the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta has proved to be a challenge for all classes on Day Two of Asia’s most popular regatta. Strong currents and variable wind conditions were an advantage for the most experienced skippers only. The day two race is sponsored Kata Group Resorts Thailand.
In the racing class, Neil Pryde’s HiFi eclipsed the rest of field with a corrected time of 4:49:28. Full Metal Jacket skippered by Chris Mead came in just 36 seconds behind, with Australia’s Ray Roberts in Evolution Racing climbing to third place. An Australian and New Zealand rivalry is in full swing at the Regatta this year.
In the IRC Class 1, Ichi Ban, skippered by Matt Allen recovered from a near costly mistake, after rounding one of the race course islands allowing Katsu and Tantrum to pass. Ichi Ban closed the gap quickly managing to pass Tantrum just a few hundred meters from the finish line. After handicaps were factored in, Ichi Ban finished first, Katsu second and Tantrum third
Said Matt Allen, “the conditions today were quite tricky with strong currents and inconsistent winds which made the race very tactical. At times, the current was up to two knots and wind only 6 knots. Ichi Ban is a good all round boat and allowed us to recover well.”
Premier Class saw Baby Tonga — Hideaway Club under Anthony Hastings take first place over Shahtoosh and Australian Maid which placed in second and third respectively.
Brent Gribble in Twin Sharks took a bite out of the rest of the Firefly 850 class finishing first in a race that was close from start to finish. Second placed was Voodoo Child and in third SEA Property.
Henry Kaye’s Thor, one of the fastest boats in the Regatta pulled ahead in the Multihull Racing Class. In second was Miss Saigon and Pimalai Charm took third.
One of the top events in the yachting world, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta is now in its 23rd year and continues to set its mark both as a magnificent maritime event and an annual attraction for up to 2,000 high spending visitors.
The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta has set the bar high, as a record breaking 111 boats took to the Andaman Sea off Phuket.
Asia's biggest and most popular regatta, the event was inaugurated in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday of His Majesty the King of Thailand and has been held every year since, during the first week of December.
Under Royal Patronage, the Regatta is organised 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 2009 Regatta include Kata Group Resorts Thailand, Chang Beer, Mont Clair, Mom Tri's Boathouse and The Moorings. Media Partners include Asia Pacific Boating, Blue Wave 90.5FM, Ensign Media, Multihull World, The Nation, Phuket Gazette, Prestige Thailand, Sail-World.com, Superyacht Asia magazine and Yacht Style.
Media contact:
Joseph Henry (English)
Managing Director
Vivaldi Public Relations
T: +66 85 834 5557
F: +66 2319 9303
[email protected]
http://www.vivaldipr.com
Wijitra Pechpalakorn (Thai)
PR Executive
Vivaldi Public Relations
T: +66 85 834 1116
F: +66 2319 9303
[email protected]
http://www.vivaldipr.com