Phuket King's Cup 2016 - under starter's orders

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 5 Dec 2016 It was a somewhat subdued opening to the 2016 Phuket King’s Cup this evening. The regatta was inaugurated in 1987 to mark the 60th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumiphol Adulyadej of Thailand, “the Sailor King”, and has developed over the past 29 years to assume the position of Asia’s premier inshore regatta, regularly attracting 100-odd boats and crews from all around the world.

The recent death of His Majesty the King has cast a shadow of sorrow over the event. Thailand is a nation in mourning, as evidenced by public buildings draped in black and white, and the somber dress of almost everyone, everywhere.

However, such was His Majesty’s enthusiasm for sailing – the stories have been run elsewhere in these columns already – that we are quite sure that a continuance of this event is “what the King would have wanted”. As the sun dropped over the horizon in front of the Kata Beach Resort & Spa, home of the King’s Cup for 20 of its 30-year history, the President of the Organising Committee, Kevin Whitcraft, welcomed participants to what this year is a commemoration rather than a celebration, and noted that “for this special year, the regatta is organised in memory of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun.”

At a quiet and moving Opening Ceremony, young Thai sailors paid homage to the late King, an 89 seconds' silence was observed, a Royal Thai Navy band played music composed by His Late Majesty, and eventually the event was declared open by the ringing of the bell by Admiral Photchana Phuekphong, Vice President of YRAT and Chokchai dej Amornthan, Governor of Phuket.

Opening tally for the 30th Anniversary edition of what is still Asia’s blue riband inshore regatta is 96 keelboats and multihulls in 12 classes, and 106 Optimists, Toppers and Lasers in the dinghy section. At the top of the table only Kevin Whitcraft (THA72) and Ray Roberts (Team Hollywood) will be duking it out for IRC 0 honours, but a 10-boat entry for IRC 1 promises to be more interesting. There are a couple of notable absences – having just won the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta in Malaysia, Sarab Jeet Singh and his band of Windsikhers were no doubt looking forward to some more on-water battles at the King’s Cup, but a rock in Bass Harbour, Langkawi put paid to the boat’s bulb and to any chance of competing in Phuket. Adrian Bell’s new Azuree 46, Outlaw, suffered the same navigational error at the same rock and is likewise hors de combat.

Grey skies are forecast for the start of the regatta, with breeze, and building.

Standing by on 72.

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