MORE than 50 yachts from around the world will line up for the start of this year’s Phang Nga Bay regatta which starts on Tuesday.

The fleet will spend four days racing from Phang Nga Bay, first to Laem Sak, then to Koh Yao Noi, to Railay Bay in Krabi, and finally back to Phuket.

A new race course has been set for this year’s event which will sail through the Koh Hong islands.

Regatta Committee spokeswoman, Vicki Gregory, said 52 yachts had already registered for the regatta and interest was very high, considering the world’s current economic conditions.

Regatta registration will be on Monday, and the opening party will be at the new Ao Por Grand Marina at the north-eastern end of Phuket Island, and within easy striking distance of Phang Nga Bay.

The regatta proper will begin on Tuesday and follow a route north to the top of Phang Nga Bay to the new pier facility at Laem Sak.

The course will take the fleet past Koh Phanak, the Koh Hong group of islands and James
Bond island.

The first night’s party at the Laem Sak Seafood restaurant will be hosted by Raimon Land.

The following day, the fleet will head south to the secluded island of Koh Yao Noi and finish with a beach party at the Paradise Koh Yao, hosted by Kingfisher Beer.

On Thursday, the fleet will head west to Railay Beach in Krabi.

The route will take the sailors either over the top or through the spectacular karsts of the Koh Hong Group.

Day four will see the fleet crossing the open waters of Phang Nga Bay and under Koh Yao Yai to Phuket for yet another party.

“The Phang Nga Bay regatta is popular with sailors because, unlike other regattas, it follows a scenic course with a different stop-over each night,” said Vicki.

“The night-time parties are almost as famous as the scenery,” she said.

Vicki said the fleet was limited to a maximum of only 60 yachts because anchorages in some of the bays along the route were limited.

This year’s sponsors include Raimon Land, QBE, Kingfisher Beer, Ao Por Grand Marina, and SEA Yachting.