Postcard weather for Koh Samui Regatta

by Rob Kothe on 22 May 2005 The original idea for a yachting event on Samui came from long term resident John Stall, affectionately know as Captain Squall, who opened Tradewinds, a bungalow hotel with a bar - very popular with the sailing community - on Chaweng Beach Road over 10 years ago.

He and Bill Gasson, one of the founding fathers of the Phuket Kings Cup, would sit under the palm trees looking out over the Gulf of Thailand, telling each other what a perfect sailing location it would be in future.

For more than five years John pursued the idea, seeking support from hoteliers, resort owners and the local community. In January 2002, after some considerable discussion about weather windows, the decision was made to name a date for the first regatta.

British expat and long time sailor Peter Plant became the founding secretary of the event, working full time to bring the first event to fruition, with the help of a strong organising committee.

Looking at the calendar, the organisers decided to position their regatta right at the beginning of the western monsoon season, because it offered reliable winds and fine conditions.

On April 29th 2002, the starting gun was fired for the 2002 Koh Samui Regatta, with keelboats from Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia and Thailand supporting the event.

In the second year, the keelboat support grew and the event featured a strong ‘off the beach’ catamaran division, but heavier than expected winds played havoc with the fleet.

In its third year last year, the weather co-operated and the keelboat fleet increased again.

Now the event has really come of age, with five charter boats joining the fleet and sailors flying in from around the world.

There is as yet no marina on Koh Samui, so the fleet moors just off Chaweng Beach.

Eight miles to the north, there is a sheltered cove at Bo Phut Beach and it would not be surprising to see a significant marina development there in years to come.

Central Samui Beach Resort provided the regatta headquarters from year one. General Manager Jacques Mury and his team work hard to ensure the success of the venue.

The gala dinner/presentation night has become a highlight on the Samui calendar and is probably the biggest party of the year.

Koh Samui Regatta is renowned for its entertainment and for sailors arriving early to the annual regatta.

Last night, at Coco Blues Bar on North Chaweng, the first function of this event, the Pre-Regatta Party, proved very popular.

Samui’s CoCo Blues, a major force behind the Koh Samui Music Festival, presented New Orleans blues singer CoCo York.

The large Australian contingent attending watched the rugby in one of the popular sports bars on Chaweng Beach Road and were excited following the New South Wales Waratahs defeat of the Bulls to advance to their first ever Super 12 final.

Today, pre-event registrations will continue at the regatta office at Central Samui Beach Resort, while David Brookes, Executive Director of the International Hobie Class Association and Race Director, prepares for tomorrow’s racing.

Tonight there will be a Skippers' Briefing at 17:00, then the Welcome Party.

Weather for the next few days is likely to continue unchanged, with sunshine and light breezes gradually strengthening over the course of the regatta, providing postcard sailing conditions.

Crews, as they arrive fresh off their respective planes, enjoy the warm breezes blowing off the Gulf of Thailand.

Looking off the beach this morning, Lindsay May, navigator of the famous Australian maxi Brindabella, believes that George Snow’s chartered Jeanneau Princess Athena will have her storm jib bricked for at least a few days.

No squalls are expected to spoil the fun in 2005.