FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Japanese yacht Karasu maintains its lead position in IRC 1 class

Japanese yacht Karasu maintains its lead position in IRC 1 class

KARASU, skippered by Japanese Yasuo Nanamori and locked in a tight contest in the IRC 1 class, is ahead of Hong Kong’s Mandrake III after Wednesday’s races in the 30th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta in Kata Bay.

Unreliable light winds forced the race to start in the afternoon. It also tested the crew’s skills and opened opportunities for sailors to come up on top of each class.

The larger grand prix boats did eventually put in two races. Nick Burns and Fred Kinmonth aboard Mandrake III recorded another win on Wednesday in the day’s first race of IRC1 class, but dropped to the third place in the second race. 

Karasu, which captured the lead after the first two days, finished third and second in Wednesday’s races. However, after three days, Karasu remain atop the IRC 1 class with an aggregate 10 points, as Mandrakes III trailed in a close second place overall.

Australian team Judy led by April Jorgensen were first across the shortened finish line, winning on corrected times in IRC2. Thai boat Angel skippered by Sarawut Janthong won by under a minute at the finish in Multihull Cruising. Brian Smith’s Jing Jing took the Open Charter (only one race Wednesday for several classes due to extremely light conditions, again on shortened courses), while Russian Andrey Novikov on Alexa was victorious in Bareboat Charter (split into the faster “A” category this year). Supakit Duangngern, skippering a Thai team on Sea Hub (Tong Fah), won Wednesday in Cruising class.

Kevin Whitcraft, president of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organising Committee, remains invincible in the IRC Zero class. The experienced skipper sailed THA72/TP52 to cross the finish line first in both races on Wednesday to maintain the lead with five points from six races (one worst race has been deducted). Team Hollywood with Australian Ray Roberts at the helm finished second place in both races to stay in second place overall with 10 points. These two teams are the only two entries in IRC Zero class this year due to three of five entrants dropping out prior to the event.

Baby Tonga, a Chinese-registered entry by the Eastfan Sailing Club (Ningbo) won in Premier class. A frustrating day for sailors but some beautiful weather for representatives of sponsors, who enjoyed the sunshine and a chance to relax on the sponsors’ boat, a 90-foot luxury motor cruiser.

Refreshments were provided by Haad Thip, distributor for Coca Cola products in Thailand and an ongoing sponsor of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. Athitaya Benjakul,

Wholesale Deputy Manager, spoke of the company’s support for the regatta: “This event is exactly the sort of highly visible attraction that provides excellent leverage for Coca Cola and other brands distributed by Haad Thip. We’re happy to continue to sponsor the regatta as it’s highly attractive to international markets beyond the shores of Thailand. We’re delighted to once again be involved in the success of the King’s Cup.”

The race also enjoys superb strategic support from governmental agencies in Thailand and stakeholder organizations. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) sees this event as a huge opportunity and recognizes its contribution to inbound visitor numbers.

Supranee Pongpat, Executive Director for Advertising and Public Relations said, “Thailand has enjoyed 5% year-on-year growth in arrivals, and this year is set to be one of the best ever. The regatta is a crucial event in promoting beautiful Thailand and Phuket Island to the world. It helps the economy in the tourism sector and develops the local economy also. We recognize how important the Regatta is in involving the youth in the Dinghy Series which is a market that supports the next generation of sports tourism and luxury tourism in Thailand. We’re working on things like making immigration processes simpler for arrivals by sea, and other things that will consolidate Thailand’s position as the number one global tourism destination.”

TCEB, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, also serves as a strategic partner. Puripan Bunnag, Director of MICE Department, says, “On behalf of the President of TCEB, we are pleased to support international events occurring in Thailand. The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta 30th Anniversary is a highly international event, heavily involved with international level corporate and local sales.

“There are sailors and support teams coming into Phuket from over forty countries. Phuket is one of five MICE cities in Thailand so we work with TAT and the Phuket administration to achieve the promotion of Phuket which has many aspects as a great MICE destination. It is also home to PIMEX and Thailand Yacht Show 2016. Also, we receive large incentive groups, and so we need to build infrastructure, more hospitality destinations to house MICE events. Marine tourism is a key policy of ours and so we are closely involved with businesses coming into Phuket. We strive for Phuket to become a leading MICE destination in the region. The King’s Cup supports our strategy in the same way as our sponsorship mutually supports the regatta.”

The 2016 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta competitive classes include Keelboats and Multihulls and International Dinghy Classes. All participants, local and international sailors and organizers joined in 89 seconds of silence to mourn the passing of HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the opening event. There will also be the “Sail Pass” ceremony off Kata Bay in honor of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun.

Sponsors of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta include Principal Host Sponsor Kata Group, and Strategic Partners: The Government Lottery Office (GLO), Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Co-Sponsors: Central Pattana and Haadthip PCL.

Media partners include Phuket Gazette, Gazette Radio, The Nation, Prestige, Sea Yachting, The Greater Phuket Magazine, True 4 you, Madame Figaro, Luxury Society Asia, Yachtstyle, The Guide Phuket, RL Magazine, One Coast and Phuket Marine Guide.

 

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