Phuket yacht race heralds the start of the Asian championships.
Phuket leads the way as the signature destination for the Asian Yacht circuit championship in 2012.
It was voted ‘Best Asian Maritime Capital’ in the annual Asian Boating Awards this year and hosts at least four annual regattas.
The island’s famous Six Senses Phuket Raceweek, 18 to 22 July, is the lead-off race in the annual Asian Yachting Grand Prix Championship fixtures that attracts the region’s top sailors to compete at several popular Asian regattas.
The Six Senses Phuket Raceweek convenes off the coast at the southern tip of the island with the group’s Evason Phuket as the race headquarters. Sailors have high expectations and expect a closely contested event. One reason is that the race course faces the seasonal southwest monsoon, which will carry considerable clout by the time it blows across the Andaman Seas and reaches Phuket.
Following on from regattas in Pattaya, Hua Hin and Samui, the Phuket regatta is organized by Image Asia Events. It is anticipating a strong fleet of competitors from Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines.
At least 30 race yachts will enter the regatta, but late entries are still expected before the starting pistol breaks the morning calm in bay near Evason Resort.
Sailors who don’t have a yacht can join a participating yacht as crew, or they can charter their own yacht through one of the charter companies operating in Phuket.
Based on last year’s turnout the organizers are expecting around 400 participants and spectators, mainly families of crew take the opportunity to turn a race into a family-style vacation.
Date: 18-22 July, 2012
Location: Phuket
For more information: TAT Phuket 07-621-1036, 07-621-2213
