Remembering His Majesty's efforts to promote sport

As Thai people from all walks of life and, in fact, people all around the world honoured His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s on his birthday  last Monday – in this the auspicious year of his diamond jubilee – some might be surprised to learn that our beloved King is a world-class yachtsman.

It’s rather difficult to encapsulate the incomparable contributions His Majesty the King has made to the domestic sports scene and to the men and women who participate in a wide range of sports in Thailand, but it was through sailing that he became internationally known as a sportsman.

Few things in life can give greater pleasure than sailing, and it’s this sport for which His Majesty the King has a passion.

On April 29, 1966, His Majesty set out single-handed in his own handbuilt OK Dinghy named Weka, at a length of 13 feet, from Klai Kangwon Summer Palace in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, travelling 60 nautical miles to Toey Ngam Beach in Sattahip, Chon Buri. The voyage across the Gulf of Thailand took 17 hours to complete.

Nearly a year later, on December 16, His Majesty and his eldest daughter Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya, then aged 16, shared the gold medal in the OK Dinghy class at the fourth Southeast Asian Peninsula (SEAP) Games, hosted by Bangkok. The SEAP Games later became the Southeast Asian Games. 

It is a sporting record never likely to be equalled. And His Majesty the King’s sailing prowess has been a great source of inspiration to Thai athletes for almost five decades since.

December 16 is now celebrated nationwide as Thailand’s National Sports Day, to commemorate His Majesty the King’s significant success in sports, and sailing in particular.

In recognition of his enormous contributions to the development of sports generally, and to his prowess as an Enterprise and OK sailor, the International Olympic Committee in 1987 presented its highly prestigious “Insignia of the Olympic Order” to His Majesty at Chitrlada Palace.

“The King is not just a world-class yachtsman, but he has also participated in, and encouraged, many other sports,” the then-president of the Olympic Committee of Thailand, the late Air Chief Marshal Dawee Chullasapya, was quoted as saying.

“The Olympic award was made not only to recognise His Majesty the King’s skill as a dinghy sailor, but also to acknowledge the leading role he has played in promoting all sports in Thailand, in the region and internationally.”

Although other monarchs – the King of Malaysia and King Olav of Norway – have also been awarded the Olympic “Medal of Honour”, His Majesty is the only longest-reigning living monarch to receive such an award.

Among his numerous other talents, His Majesty is also a skilled carpenter, having built a number of sailing dinghies, converting a small backroom at Chitrlada Palace into his “boatyard”. He has even used the lake in the middle of the Chitrlada Palace grounds for launching and for “shake-down” cruises.

Not long after His Majesty’s international success, in order to turn sailing into a more exciting and popular activity, local regattas were organised around the country. They gradually became international events, with an increasing number of participants from several countries each year.

In 1987, His Majesty was once again at the helm of his OK dinghy, leading his own Royal Chitrlada Yacht Squadron in a regatta competition against the Royal Thai Navy, controlling the vessel marvellously to beat them soundly.

This regatta bodes well for the future of yacht racing in Thailand and the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta in particular.

In fact, the Regatta, which was also founded in 1987, is well known as the largest sailing event of its kind in Asia. Earlier this week, on December 5, His Majesty the King’s birthday, all the participating boats joined in an awe-inspiring “sail pass”, and His Majesty was graciously donated the perpetual King’s Cup Trophy. He is also the Royal Patron of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta.

A fitting tribute indeed.