Wind in their sails
The Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek will be back on the Andaman coast from July 19 to 23, with Sydney’s Balmain Sailing Club join a group of female sailors from Phuket to race on the Farr 1104 Farrago Express.
Organised by Media Business Services, the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek appeals to a growing number of charterers and sailors from Australia keen to escape the Australian winter for sunshine and warm weather.
“The Balmain girls had been recommended to Phuket Raceweek by club members who had taken part in the event before. They got in touch with me and after a few emails, I put them together with a group of experienced Phuket-based female sailors,” explains Stuart Compton of Phuket charter company Sailescapes.
“Together they will be competing as an all-female team on the Farr 1104 Farrgo Express which has podiumed at every Raceweek it has competed in so far, so there’s plenty of pressure on the ladies to deliver the goods.”
With strong support from the Phuket and Thailand sailing community, participants are coming from around Asia and as far afield as Russia and the UK to compete in what has become a “must do” destination regatta, and the opening event of the 2017/18 Asian Yachting Grand Prix championship.
“The response from Australian sailors who have competed at Phuket Raceweek has always been positive. Happy sailors are going back home and telling their friends and we can see how the regatta’s awareness in Australia is growing,” says Byron Jones, managing director of Media Business Services.
“In addition to Con and the all-female team, we have two more Australian-chartered boats confirmed this year, as well as many individuals from Australia and around the world flying in to compete.”
This year, Johnny Holder will be sailing the Farr 11.06 Plus 16 from Darwin to Phuket especially to take part in Raceweek and then will likely stay on in Phuket to do some of the other regattas.
“The budget is always a factor when choosing a boat for the regatta, but this year we have been lucky in being able to sponsor Plus 16, which is owned by an old friend of mine, Johnny Holder.”
With a core nucleus including five S80 skippers on board as well as the current state champion, Macarlino says, “the chatter on board may get interesting. The weather in Perth has just turned cold, so we are all looking to get over there to enjoy ourselves and thaw out for a few days.”
Find out more details at www.PhuketRaceWeek.com.
