King Bhumiphol Adulyadej of Thailand dies
by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 14 Oct 2016
King Bhumiphol Adulyadej of Thailand SW
The Editors of Sail-World are deeply saddened to report the death of King Bhumiphol Adulyadj of Thailand.
His Majesty died yesterday, after a reign of 70 years. He was a pillar of stability in the often troubled political landscape of Thailand.
Sailors will always remember him as the monarch who designed, built, and sailed his own dinghies. In 1966 the King sailed an OK dinghy, the
Vega, across the Gulf of Thailand from Hua Hin to Sattahip, and later presented the boat’s rudder as a trophy; the Vega Rudder Race remains an annual event. King Bhumiphol also won a gold medal for sailing at the fourth South-East Asia Peninsula Games in 1967, doing much to popularise the sport in Thailand.
His Majesty was also Patron of the Phuket King’s Cup, the regatta inaugurated in 1987 to mark the occasion of the King’s 60th birthday, and considered by many to be Asia’s premier sailing event.
We extend our sincere condolences to a grieving nation.
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