The Countdown begins...Phuket King’s Cup Regatta 2007

This Year’s Races Held in Honor of His Majesty’s 80th Birthday

The 2007 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is gearing up for another strong showing from the world’s racing community with high profile confirmations coming in and the list growing every day. This year’s event, from December 1 to 8, will be held to celebrate His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 80th Birthday. Another exciting year of races is expected.

Last year saw record turnout of over 100 boats and around 200 international and domestic media. Competition was strong and sporting, with a lot of old rivalries being retested for another year.

"We are expecting a strong racing class again this year with Hong Kong entries from Nick Burns and Fred Kinmonth sailing Mandrake, Sam Chang's TP52 Freefire, Frank Pong's Jelik, and Neil Pryde's re-designed Hi-Fi already confirmed. These will be joined by the newly launched DK46 from Port Dixon and South African Philipp Gutsche's new yacht, commissioned especially for this years event,” said Simon James, Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Race Management Director. Philipp Gutsche and his crew are known of course for winning the Mauritius to Durban race last year. He has also won the South Atlantic Race in the past.

"We have appointed Australian Race Officer Tony Denham of the Koh Samui and Sydney International Regatta to look after Racing Classes this year and hope to give them the best series yet,” he added.

In premier class Ian Nicholson's Intrigue returns, along with Hans Raimans Yasooda. Adding to the excitement, this year watch out for Bob Yapps new speed machine Yo Mo. In Sunsail One Christian Eshenburg and the teams from Germany return to challenge for the trophy after having won in 2005 only to lose it in last year’s races.

"There will also be a good spread of boats in both IRC and Multihull classes with leading charter companies Sunsail and Elite Yachting already full for this year’s event. Each year we try to add something new and keep it fresh for our returning competitors. This year’s race courses will include passage races, around-the-cans, Olympic trapezoids and courses taking boats around outlying islands. We have a number of race management personnel returning this year, after an absence last year, and I'm confident the standard of racing and on-water management will be very high," said James.

In IRC (TCC 1.013 and above) the Mumm 30s Panic and Happy Endings continue their battle, while Ben Copley's Asia Spirit and David Lindhal's La Samudra fight for the finish. In IRC (TCC 1.012 and below) Madam Butterfly returns to challenge the Royal Thai Navy. Also watch out for Phuket Yacht's Phoenix and Minx,” he said, while “IRC Cruising, with an IRC Hull factor of 7.3 or less is a new division added to provide more competitive racing for older and cruising designs,” James explained.

The SBR Sports class will see Scott Duncanson and the Phuket 8's defend their home waters against Japanese and Thai teams sailing the Platu 24's.

Bareboat Charter will see Keith Blankly and his team from Dubai returning to defend their trophy for the 3rd year on Sunsail Bintan.

Source Reference : Phuket-post