Strong fleet expected - Evason Phuket Raceweek 05

by Rob Kothe on 26 Jul 2005 Although the December 26th 2004 Tsunami severely damaged the coastal resort area around Phuket on the Thai west coast, the resort community has bounced back quickly. The record fleet for the 2005 Evason Phuket Raceweek, which runs from July 28 to July 31st 2005, is a great sign for the future.

The inaugural Race Week held in July 2004 attracted a fleet of 19 race boats. Post Tsunami there were concerns about the degree of support for the event but it is clearly on track, with a 30-32 boat fleet already entered. Activities are heating up in Phuket with the Quantum Naga Cup, which is the Phuket 8 one-design regatta, this weekend.

‘Running a major regatta in post-tsunami Phuket has given us more than a few headaches,’ said Grenville Fordham from the Evason Phuket Raceweek organisers, Image Asia Events. This same group are the organisers of Phuket International Marine Expo (PIMEX) and Fordham is the chairman of the Thai industry group, the Marine Alliance (Thailand) - (MAT).

Fordham is pleased with recent progress. He commented, ‘The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has earmarked the marine area as a key growth industry and the Thai Government has removed import tax on imported boats.

‘This is clearly going to provide a boost to the Charter sailing industry and Thai regattas', and we are seeing this already at Phuket Race Week with a large numbers of charter boat entries.’

This year, after being in direct contact with all potential entries, Fordham is confident of between 30 and 32 boats on the Phuket Race Week start line.

‘We are very happy with our 2005 fleet. The sailing community heard just how much fun the 2004 event was and we are pleased with the anticipated 50% growth increase.

‘The entry numbers are solid. We’ve learnt from last year and we’ve spoken to each and every boat owner in the last few weeks,’ he commented.

‘This is the Tourist low season in Phuket, but its an ideal time of year for sailing, with the south west monsoon delivering 12-15 knot winds day after day. We are hoping to have these conditions from the first race.’

Evason Phuket Raceweek staged in conjunction with the Ao Chalong Yacht Club will be run in the following five classes: - Racing/Sports Boats, IRC, Club Class, Ocean Sports Multihull and Ocean Performance Multihull.

For more information visit www.phuketraceweek.com or email raceweek@image-asia.com

Evason Phuket Raceweek sponsors are; Evason Phuket Resort and Six Senses Spa, Raimon Land, Royal Phuket Marina, Phuket International Hospital, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Sunsail, Latitude 8 Yachts, Thai Marine Leisure, Sea-phuket.com, Perfection Spa, Yacht Haven Marina, Phuket Inter Woodwork, Electrical Marine, SIMRAD, Yacht Haven Marina, Emergency Asia, Boat Lagoon Marina.