Countdown Begins for Kings Cup 2007

by Event Media on 6 Sep 2007 The 2007 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is gearing up for another strong showing from the world’s racing community with high profile confirmations coming in and the list growing ever day. This year’s event, from December 1 to 8, will be held to celebrate His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 80th Birthday. Another exciting year of races is expected.

Last year saw record turnout of over 100 boats and around 200 international and domestic media. Competition was strong and sporting, with a lot of old rivalries being retested for another year.
 
'We are expecting a strong racing class again this year with Hong Kong entries from Nick Burns and Fred Kinmonth sailing Mandrake, Sam Chang's TP52 Freefire, Frank Pong's Jelik, and Neil Pryde's re-designed Hi-Fi already confirmed.

These will be joined by the newly launched DK46 from Port Dixon and South African Philipp Gutsche's new yacht, commissioned especially for this years event,' said Simon James, Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Race Management Director.

Philipp Gutsche and his crew are known of course for winning the Mauritius to Durban race last year. He has also won the South Atlantic Race in the past.
 
'We have appointed Australian Race Officer Tony Denham of the Koh Samui and Sydney International Regatta to look after Racing Classes this year and hope to give them the best series yet,' he added.

In premier class Ian Nicholson's Intrigue returns, along with Hans Raimans Yasooda. Adding to the excitement, this year watch out for Bob Yapps new speed machine Yo Mo. In Sunsail One Christian Eshenburg and the teams from Germany return to challenge for the trophy after having won in 2005 only to lose it in last year’s races.

'There will also be a good spread of boats in both IRC and Multihull classes with leading charter companies Sunsail and Elite Yachting  already full for this year’s event. Each year we try to add something new and keep it fresh for our returning competitors.

This year’s race courses will include passage races, around-the-cans, Olympic trapezoids and courses taking boats around outlying islands. We have a number of race management personnel returning this year, after an absence last year, and I'm confident the standard of racing and on-water management will be very high,' said James.

In IRC (TCC 1.013 and above) the Mumm 30s Panic and Happy Endings continue their battle, while Ben Copley's Asia Spirit and David Lindhal's La Samudra fight for the finish. In IRC (TCC 1.012 and below) Madam Butterfly returns to challenge the Royal Thai Navy. Also watch out for Phuket Yacht's Phoenix and Minx,' he said, while 'IRC Cruising, with an IRC Hull factor of 7.3 or less is a new division added to provide more competitive racing for older and cruising designs,' James explained.

The SBR Sports class will see Scott Duncanson and the Phuket 8's defend their home waters against Japanese and Thai teams sailing the Platu 24's.

Bareboat Charter will see Keith Blankly and his team from Dubai returning to defend their trophy for the 3rd year on Sunsail Bintan.

The principal sponsor of the Regatta is Raimon Land Plc, who is joined by Kata Group, TMB Bank Plc, Thai Beverages Plc, Mom Tri’s Boathouse, Sunsail, Phuket Magazine, Phuket Gazette and a host of local businesses which support the event.

Regatta Officials:
International Jury
Mark Pryke (AUS) - Chairman, 2006 Asian Games ISAF Technical Delegate Mark Pryke returns for his role as the International Sailing Federation technical delegate overseeing the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.
Li Quan Hai (CHN) - Secretary General, Chinese Yachting Federation
Howard Elliot (AUS) - Australia, International Jury Race Officer, Official Scorer
R Adm Prasart (THA) - Thailand, International Jury
Katsu Hibashi (JPN) - Japan, International Jury

Race Management
David Brookes (AUS) - Race Officer, Last year PRO Asian Games in Doha 2006
Tony Denham (AUS) - Race Officer, Koh Samui Regatta 2006/2007, Sydney International Regatta 2006/2007
Zhou Changcheng (CHN) - Race Officer, Asian Games Doha 2006

IRC Representative
Jenny Howells – IRC Official (UK)

OMR Multihull Class Representative
Geoff Cruse - (AUS)

Official Measurer
Malcolm Runnels - National Measurer (AUS)

Classes:
1.Racing
LOA: Greater than 10.5m
IRC Series Date: 1995 and later
IRC Hull factor 9.8 and higher
IRC DLR 145 and lower
IRC TCC Greater than 1.110

2.Premier
Keelboats with a maximum hull factor of 9.0, TCC of 1.055 or greater, and overall length 15 meters or greater.

3.Sunsail One Design
Sunsail SO35s shall comply with the UK Dept. of Trade & Industry Code of Practice for Charter Boats, Category 2 and with such other regulations as stipulated by Sunsail.

4.IRC Classes (Provisional Class Splits)
IRC TCC 1.013 and above
IRC TCC 1.012 and below
IRC Cruising IRC Hull factor 7.3 or less.
IRC Day Boats
Boats over 24.0m LOA racing under IRC may be accepted at the discretion of the Race Committee.

5.SBR Sports Boat
Boats shall have a valid RYA/RORC Sports Boat Rule certificate or be an SBR one-design recognized by the RYA/RORC.

6.Bareboat Charter
Bareboat Charter will race under the IRC Handicap system. Each boat must be confirmed to be part of a bona fide bareboat charter fleet sailed in charter trim, with standard mainsail, jib and one cruising chute/spinnaker with pole. Boats that are chartered with full sail inventories and or not carrying a full charter inventory are not eligible.

7.Ocean Rover
Boats participating with the owner onboard or chartered by people visiting Phuket and are who are acceptable to the Race Committee. This class is designed for cruisers that do not normally race and therefore may not have a valid handicap certificate.

8.Firefly 850 Sports
Racing under the one-design rules as stipulated by the Firefly 850 Sports Class Rules.

9.Multihulls
Trimarans and Catamarans of a size and condition acceptable to the Race Committee. Based on entry numbers, Multihulls may be divided into two classes based on design criteria as decided by the Race Committee.
In this event the race committee may propose an overall Multihull prize.
Boats shall have a valid endorsed OMR rating certificate.

10.Classic
Vessels built or converted to sail and launched prior to 1950, or launched more recently but retaining the original grace and style of the old classics. All yachts, traditional boats and ships should be of the 'one off' type, with a hand-crafted hull. All entries should have a full keel with a keel hung rudder; however, short keels with a separate rudder may be accepted at the discretion of the Race Committee if the yacht is of a traditional design.

Entries will be open until 9 November 2007, after which entries will be at the discretion of the Race Committee.

For general information on the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, contact Regatta Secretary at info@kingscup.com or +66 0 7627 3380.

For racing inquiries, contact Simon Jame on racing@kingscup.com. The regatta web site is www.kingscup.com where further information, Notice of Race and online entry forms can be found.

Media Contacts:

Matthew Smith (English)
Mobile: +66 89 142 5558, Office: +66 2 319 1031 Ext 1195
Email: matthew.smith@vivaldipr.com

Pattaranit Imampai (Thai)
Mobile: +66 89 893 4819, Office: +66 2 319 1031 Ext 1195,
Email: pattaranit.imampai@vivaldipr.com