Royal participation highlights final day of racing in the 35th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta

Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana sails on Vayu THA72 as the Thai yacht wins both races in the prestigious IRC Zero Class

Phuket, 9 December 2023 –  Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalaksh sailed on Vayu THA 72 in the prestigious IRC Zero class in the final day of racing at the 35^th Phuket King’s Cup regatta. Her presence indeed proved fortuitius as the TP52 won both races today in the eleven-race series.      

Ray Roberts TP52 Team Hollywood, which placed second in both races, won the class and the overall King’s Cup title for the fourth straight year. James & Kate Murray’s Callisto, a Pac 52, placed third in the four-boat IRC Zero class with Steve McConaghy’s Aftershock Syndicate, a Davidson 55, finishing fourth in the class. 

And what a week of racing it was: fair sailing conditions, close competition, and world-class sailors combined with great weather and fabulous onshore parties to create a great atmosphere topped off by Her Majesty’s presence on Vayu THA 72. She also handed out the trophies at the Royal Awards Ceremony.

The elegance of the four-boat Premier class certainly turned heads during the regatta but the class belonged to Ithinai Yingsiri’s Thai vessel Pine Pacific, an X-Yacht 55, who won all seven races. Peter Cremers’ Shatoosh, a Warwick 75, finished second five times, and took second in the class. Hans Rahmann’s JV 72 custom-built Yasooda chances were hurt with a DNF in race three and had to settkle for third overall. Bernard Huybens’ Aphrodite, a Vitters 92, was fourth in the class and did not sail on the final day.  

Nick Burns’ Witchcraft, edged out Rolf Heemskerk’s The Next Factor in the seven-boat IRC One class, just as it did two weeks ago at the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta. Witchcraft won seven of the ten races sailed in this class. Craig Douglas/Gordon Kettleby’s Ramrod, finished third in the class. 

Craig Nichols Alright nosed out Susurnu Kurose’s Char Chan by one point to take fourth spot in IRC One. Robert Carr & Sandy Farquharson’s Aquarii was hurt by a DNS in race eight and had to settle for sixth overall. Clayton Craigie’s Anjo had a challenging regatta with four DNFs & one DNS and finished last in the class.            

The six-boat Bareboat Charter Class saw Dean Peng’s & Tiffany Khoo’s Gragonborn win five of the seven races sailed in this class. Mike Downard’s Piccolo narrowly edged out Toshihiko Iijima’s Hippocrates by one point to take second in the class. Moonshine featuring the ASA Sailing Dream Asia, was fourth while Team Hayato took fifth in the class. Alan Anderson’s Judy did not start the last three races in this class and as such was relegated to sixth position.     

The five-boat Monohull Cruising class was the tightest class going into the final day with three boats tied with nine points. But when it was all sailed and done, Philippe Dallee’s Swan II won edging out Steve Maine’ Enavigo by two points and Jianhao Yang’s Isabella by three points which was disqualified in the third race for carrying an anchor on the bow. Thomas Veltin’s Brisk was fourth in this class with Mo Yiwei’s Sumalee, fifth.   

The two-boat Multihull Racing class saw Dan Fidock’s Kata Rocks Parabellum zip around the course winning seven of the nine races sailed in its class. John Newnham’s Kata Rocks 2, aka Twin Sharks was the only boat competing in this class. The flashy Parabellum won overall line in evey race in the regatta.          

Andrew McDermott’s Trident has won all five races in the Multihull Cruising class after having to sit out day one because of a dismasting. It won out over Frank Kastelein’s Team No Escape (Pooichat), the only other yacht competing in this class. 

The regatta’s International Dinghy Classes this year competed in a three-day competition off of  Kata Beach. The event was divided into four classes: Monohull Dinghy Handicap (12 boats); ILCA 4 (15 boats); Open Skiff (17 boats); and Optimist (79 boats). 

The overall Optimist winner was Patcharaphan Ongkaloy, continuing on her gold-medal performance from the Southeast Asian Games. Pailin Jaroenpon was second followed by Karit Phrammanee, all Thais.

The Open Skiff class was won by India’s Anandi Chandavarkar – no surprise as she won the class each day. Dom Kaewpradab of Thailand placed second each day capturing that position and India’s Ayaan Nath was third.     

The ILCA4 class was swept by Thailand with Nanvatorn Supaamphonwit capturing top spot each day, Ton Rattana finishing second overall and Thanaphat Sirichaoren placing third. 

The Monohull Dinghy Class (Handicap) was won by Claudia Nazarov with Voravong Racharattanaruk coming in second and Morten Jakobsen in third. 

By the way, sailing with Her Majesty on Vayu THA 72 today was Noppakao Poonpat, the 2010 World Optimist champion.       

In closing, Kevin Whitcraft, the President of the 35th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Committee said, “The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is considered an important international sailing competition in Asia. The event is organized in line with Phuket’s Development Plan which wants to develop Phuket as a leisure marine hub making it a world-class yachting destination. This will help spur on the country’s tourism industry, which is one of the ten industries targeted to drive Thailand’s future economy. Phuket generates the most tourism income from any of the southern provinces on the Andaman coast, which combined generate the highest tourism numbers in the country.  

“This year, the 35th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta achieved its objectives as expected. More than 200 million baht was circulated throughout the week of sailing. The regatta is also an excellent platform for young Thai sailors who want to improve their sailing skills pitted against some outstanding international sailors.”

The Regatta’s sponsors, including Host Sponsor Kata Group, RMA Group, Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, Ford Motor Company (Thailand), Ricoh (Thailand) Limited, Haad Thip PCL, Pine Pacific Corporation Limited, Singha Corporation Co., Ltd., and National Telecom Public Company Limited.

For more information and result, please visit www.kingscup.com.

# # #

About the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta – Asia’s legendary yacht race under Royal Patronage
Under Royal Patronage, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is organized by the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy and the Province of Phuket.