Phuket Sailing, Diving, Cruises and Water Sports in Thailand

Phuket's King's Cup Regatta was inaugurated in 1987 to celebrate the Fifth Cycle or 60th Birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej whose birthday is 5 December. An international regatta was chosen to honor His Majesty's accomplishments as both a sailor and builder of custom boats.

In addition to winning a gold medal for sailing in the fourth Southeast Asian Peninsula Games, His Majesty designed and built the Rejpatan, an international Enterprise dinghy number E11111 as well as the Super Mod V, a three meter boat designed for the sailor with a smaller physique.

Each year the King sends His representatives to Phuket to bestow his blessings on the King's Cup Regatta as an indication of the fondness he holds for yachting and the regatta which bears his patronage. The 1999 Regatta completes an astrological cycle and marks His Majesty's Sixth Cycle or 72nd birthday.

From what started as an event with mostly local participation has become a major international yacht racing event. There were more than 80 entries in last year's Regatta from as far away as Australia that included racing, cruising and classic sailing yachts.

The first ten years of the King's Cup Regatta had headquarters at what is now Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club at remote Nai Harn Bay. Last year, the Regatta moved operations to the Kata Beach Resort located near the wide variety of entertainment venues available to weary sailors after each day's race.

Pamuke Achariyachai is the owner of Kata Beach Resort and President of the Phuket Tourist Association and well known for his support of the increasing number of international events that are staged on the island. The resort provides rooms and services to participants and officials.

"We are proud to be associated with a prestigious event that is in honor of His Majesty King Bhumipol Adulyadej who is an accomplished sailor," stated Khun Pamuke, "we hope that the Kata Beach Resort is the permanent home for the King's Cup Regatta."

The Kata Beach Resort will host the prize giving party for the QBE Andaman Sea Race held on 7 December and the Royal Awards Ceremony and Closing party on 11 December. Both events begin at 18.00 hrs and are open to the public.

The 1999 King's Cup Regatta will start in neighboring Krabi Province with a practice race off Ao Nang on 5 December followed by the Opening Ceremony Celebration on the beach.

The Krabi Province Race on 6 December will find yacht racing between Ao Nang and Phi Phi Island where they will moor for the night and celebrate again with a prize giving. The following morning, the QBE Andaman Sea Race will bring the racing yachties to Kata Beach.

December 8 is Lay Day or a day of rest, however the Ao Chalong Yacht Club will sponsor a Classic Keelboat Rally and a Charity Golf Competition will he played at Phuket's Loch Palm Golf club.

On Thursday, 9 December, the Phuket Sunwest Homes Race, are a series of sequence races around nearby southern islands followed by a major party at the Ao Chalong Yacht Club's headquarters at Jimmy's Lighthouse.

The Boathouse Wine and Grill will sponsor the 10 December race which has different race sequences off Phuket with a prize giving celebration also on Kata Beach and the final race, sponsored by the Kata Group, are yachting sprints off Kata Beach with the formal Royal Awards Ceremony later in the evening.

Members of the general public are welcome to join in King's Cup celebrations. For ticket information, contact the Regatta Secretary, Sita Holroyd, at 383 325 or kingscup@loxinfo.co.th