2017 Kings Cup Regatta stage backdrop

2017 Kings Cup Regatta

Sunday evening on Kata Beach and Phuket Island Radio was delighted to join the many dignitaries and VIP’s along with some 800+ sailors for the Opening Ceremony of the 2017 Phuket Kings Cup Regatta.

The Kings Cup Regatta is hosted at Beyond Resort Kata. Over 100 keelboats, multihulls and dinghies from around the world have joined the 31st Anniversary race. The 2017 Kings Cup Regatta reaffirms the reputation of Phuket as a sports and marine tourism paradise and also contributes to the future of sailing in Thailand.

This year’s regatta has a particularly strong focus on growing the sport of Youth Sailing in Thailand and building a great sailing future for the country. Phuket Island Radio is delighted to read this incentive and will as always help to promote youth sailing in Thailand. 

Kings Cup Regatta

In Photo (from Left): M.L. Tridhosyuth Devakul; Kevin Whitcraft, President of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee;

Norapat Plodthong, Phuket Governor; Rear Admiral Arkom Tang-on, Deputy Commander,

Third Naval Area Command, the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand representative and Chairman of Kata Group Resorts Pramookpisitt Achariyachai join the opening ceremony of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta 31th at Beyond Resort Kata, Phuket.

The Opening Ceremony at Beyond Resort Kata, part of Kata Group Resorts, which remains the longstanding spiritual home of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. The Opening Ceremony is joined by Phuket Governor Norapat Plodthong, Rear Admiral Arkom Tang-on, Deputy Commander, Third Naval Area Command, the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand representative, M.L. Tridhosyuth Devakul, Chairman of Kata Group Resorts Pramookpisitt Achariyachai, sponsors, sailors and support crews, along with VIP attendees and esteemed media guests.

2017 Kings Cup Regatta Phuket Governor
Norapat Plodthong, Phuket Governor

Norapat Plodthong, Phuket Governor, spoke of the importance of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta for the island of Phuket.

“This prestigious sporting event reaffirms the reputation of Phuket Island as a Mecca for marine and sports tourism.

We are also proud of our island’s reputation for offering world-class hospitality services for visiting guests.

We continue to grow in stature as one of the world’s best destinations for watersports, yachting and competitive sailing”.

Kevin Whitcraft, President of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee, says,

“The 31st Phuket King’s Cup Regatta features a grand fleet of Keelboats, Multihulls and International Dinghy racers. It’s great to see familiar names and faces returning year after year to compete in what has become Asia’s most coveted yachting trophy.

The Regatta endures as a big attraction for sailing teams from around the world; this year’s race has successfully received strong fleet entries from over 100 competitive teams.

We are now positioning the race so that it remains highly relevant to future generations and the ongoing development of the sport”.

Kings Cup Regatta Entries

2017 Kings Cup Regatta stage backdrop

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta welcomes the return of some familiar teams and boats which have already proven their pace, pedigree and performance in regattas past. Ray Roberts’ Team Hollywood and Sarab Singh’s Windsiker are to head up IRC zero.

Team Mandrake, which has dominated in previous years, will go up against a highly charged pack consisting of Karasu (JPN) and Madame Butterfly (GBR), whilst Premier class sees the return of the pace-setting Pine-Pacific (THA) team.

Both the Bareboat Charter and Cruising classes comprise large fleets, and the Cruising Multihull fleet continues to grow. A smaller but ever-more-tightly competitive Firefly 850 grouping features familiar names Twin Sharks and Voodoo.

The One-Design class this year runs with the Pulse 600 design.

Kevin Whitcraft continues

“For 2017, we have a special focus on growing the dinghy components of our overall regatta, as we in the sailing community in Thailand can feel the positive effect this is having over the years as the sport of sailing continues to grow in popularity here”,

says Kevin.

“The International Dinghy fleet is a fast-growing racing program designed to promote and encourage youth sailing in Thailand. The program continues to be highly successful in furthering the sustainable growth of the Thai marine industry in the years to come. Many of the young sailors competing will go on to join the crews of full-size keelboat racing teams, and compete in the larger Phuket King’s Cup Regatta in future regatta years”.

The Phuket Kings Cup Regatta website has all the latest entries and information HERE. There is also a Facebook page HERE.

Phuket FM Radio will be at the Regatta all week with regular updates and results on 91.5 and 102.5FM and online via our mobile apps. We wish all the entrants safe sailing and look forward to seeing everyone on the water