Cape Panwa Phuket Raceweek – sailors from over 25 countries ready

by Phuket Raceweek Media on 11 Jul 2017 Entries continue to be received for the 14th Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek which will take place 19 – 23 July off Phuket's east coast.

The four-day four-party format has proven popular with sailors from around the globe as the fleet is expected to reach approximately 40 boats come race day, with sailors from more than 25 countries taking part.

Kicking off the 2017/18 AYGP season, the line-up of monohulls and multihulls for this year's award-winning Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek is impressive in both quality and diversity, with a number of newcomers from around the world joining regulars from the Asian region.

“The fleet already looks exciting and we are still taking entries. As awareness of the event continues to grow overseas, and word of what a great place Phuket is to sail and the exceptional service provided by host venue of Cape Panwa Hotel spreads, sailors from all corners of the world are putting Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek on their must-do list of regattas in Asia,” commented Mr. Byron Jones, Managing Director of organisers Media Business Services Co. Ltd.

Monohulls
The racing classes read like a who's who of the Asian sailing scene with Ray Roberts returning on his newly modified TP52 Team Hollywood (ex Kodo, ex Team Origin) and looking to defend his title, while Singapore-based sailor and stalwart of the Asian regatta scene, Sarab Singh will be competing at Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek for the first time on his custom Welbourn 52 Windsikher II (ex Hi Fi).

The two Sydney 40's Emagine (Scott Bradley) and Rerefine (Kenn Eyears) will be on the start-line as Keith Garry's X-412 BeauX Esprits returns together with the Swan 42 Loco, Niels Degenkolw's Phoenix and an all-female team on the Farr 1104 Sailescapes Farrgo Ladies.

Joining the IRC fleet for the first time is the Farr 40 Ramrod, skippered by Steve McConaghy, the Ker 32 Discover Sailing Asia Getaway Ichi (ex Foxy Lady 5, ex KukuKerchu), skippered by Chong Wei Yong, and the Mark Mills design Meraki (ex Ambush), skippered by Geoff Masters.

New comers in the Cruising fleet include the 54-foot Swan Who Dares Wins, skippered by Ian Kennedy, and the Farr 11.06 Plus 16 which has sailed up from Australia especially to take part. They will join a strong local fleet including Chris Mitchell's Lady Bubbly (second overall in the 2016/17 AYGP), Rick Blomfield 's Linda and Cape Panwa Hotel's Kantus Bride amongst others.

Multihulls
The multihull fleet looks set to be the biggest ever with a packed one-design Pulse 600 class, upto seven of the super fast Firefly sport catamarans with crews from UK, Germany, Australia, Japan and Thailand, and an impressive Multihull Racing class including no less than seven Stealth designs from the Asia Catamarans yard. Taking on the Stealth cats is the Seacart trimaran Thor, the Formula 40 trimaran Adrenalin and the 43-foot trimaran Tantrum Too, skippered by Robert van Paridon.

With the multihull fleet in the region growing, a Multihull Cruising class has been introduced for the first time this year and MOJO, Siesta and Davinici are already entered with interest from more being received.

Last chance to enter
There's still time to get in on the fun. A crew ticket costs just 5,000THB and this includes four days of great racing with international-standard race management, while onshore the one-time fee includes four excellent buffet dinners fully supported by Cape Panwa Hotel and Kantary Bay Hotel and free-flow drinks from some excellent drinks brands, including Mount Gay Rum.