THOUSANDS of sailors have been flocking into Phuket over the past week to take part in Asia’s biggest sailing yachting race, the annual Phuket King’s Cup Regatta.

Now in its 22nd year, the Regatta attracts sailors from around the world and has become almost as famous for its parties as for its racing.

Almost 100 yachts will race off the southern tip of Phuket during the first week of December, with five days of spectacular events over a variety of courses.

The King’s Cup Regatta boasts the biggest fleet of any other regatta in Asia, and even more than the famous Sydney-to-Hobart event.

One of the great attractions of the King’s Cup, and one of the main reasons the regatta has become so popular over the past 22 years, is the welcome and wonderful hospitality the skippers, their crews and their families receive from the locals on Phuket.

The social side of the regatta is also a highlight, with nightly parties held at some of the more exotic locations on Phuket, featuring the sensational southern Thai food Phuket is famous for, as well as a wide variety of international dishes, and just about every type of beverage a thirsty sailor can think of.

There will also be world-class entertainment.

Out on the water, the huge fleet will be divided into 10 divisions.

The serious sailors with the biggest and fastest boats will contest the racing class.

This year, some of the world’s top skippers have entered, including China’s most famous yachtsman Frank Pong and legendary New Zealand skipper Neil Pryde.

Pong, a retired steel magnate, has a fleet of at least 13 yachts at his base in Hong Kong, and was the advisor to China’s team at the last America’s Cup in Spain.

Veteran Kiwi skipper Pryde is also based in Hong Kong, and along with Pong, is one of the most competitive sailors on the water.

Both use professional crews to man their sleek racing yachts.

“This year’s racing class is hotting up in what looks like a very competitive division, with four of the super-fast TP 52s joining the event,” said Simon James, the tournament’s race management director.

“Bill Bremner, on Foxy Lady IV, leads the challenge after an absence of three years, against regatta regulars Neil Pryde on his boat Hi-Fi, Mandrake, skippered by Nick Burns, as well as Fred Kinmonth and Hong Kong’s Frank Pong, who will be sailing his 76-foot boat Jelik,” he said.

The next class is the premier division, followed by the IRC, Sunsail, bareboat, multi-hull, ocean rover, firefly 850 Sport, sportsboats and the classics classes.

The King’s Cup caters to all types of sailors, from professionals to those who live on their boats with the families as they cruise around the world. Boats entering the King’s Cup don’t necessarily have to be fast – some are quite the opposite – so the organisers came up with 10 different classes to cater to just about every yacht that floats.

Apart from the racing class, one of the most hotly contested divisions is between the Firefly 850s, which are identical catamarans and some of the fastest boats in the Kingdom.

One of the Firefly 850s holds the record for the fastest sailing boat ever in Thai waters.

These super-quick cats are also native to Phuket, and were designed and built on the island.

They were conceived by Phuket-based Australian yacht designer Mark Pescott who builds them at the Latitude 8 boatyard by fellow-Australian, Mark Horwood.

Many of the boats contesting the multi-hull class were also built at the Latitude 8 boatyard by
Horwood, who grew up sailing on Sydney Harbour.

For any sporting event in Thailand, the ultimate prestige is the have the backing of the Kingdom’s most famous and most revered person, His Majesty the King, himself an award winning sailor.

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta was started 22 years ago as a tribute to this revered man who is the world’s longest reigning monarch.

The King and one of his daughters, Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolrat, won the gold medal for sailing in 1966 at what is now the Southeast Asian Games.

One of the annual highlights is the candle lighting ceremony held on the night of December 5 on Kata beach to celebrate His Majesty the King’s birthday on December 5.

It’s an impressive sight with more than 1000 skippers and their crews holding up candles while a choir sings the national anthem.

Another highlight is what’s known as the sail-past, when the entire fleet sails in single file past a Royal Thai Navy ship anchored off Kata Beach.

In a spectacular display, the sailors on the warship line the deck in their white dress uniforms and salute as the yachts slowly pass by in single file.

Some of the scruffiest sailors on the planet return the salute, and for many of them, it is the first time they have ever saluted anyone.

But they all do it without a second thought as a mark of respect to Thailand’s popular King.
On the final day, His Majesty’s representative, His Excellency Mong Luang Usani Pramoj, presents the trophies on behalf of His Majesty the King.

M.L. Usani, whose brother was once the prime minister of Thailand and appeared with Marlon in a Hollywood movie, always takes a light-hearted approach to the presentations and putting everyone at ease, with a few jokes to lighten the mood.

“We are privileged to present what we know will be another wonderful regatta for Thailand and the whole of Asia,” said Kevin Whitcraft, the president of the regatta organizing committee.

“We have always worked to provide our own unique blend of fun and competitive camaraderie.

The regatta is a memorable experience that reflects the best of Thai character and charm coupled with a world class race environment.”

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is held 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.

The Third Naval Area Command of the Royal Thai Navy, which is based in Phuket, helps out with logistics, equipment, officers, boats, helicopters and a SEAL unit for security and rescue.

For more information, go to www.kingscup.com