Intensive Oppie courses at Phuket Yacht Club

by National News Bureau of Thailand on 22 Oct 2008 Phuket Yacht Club, based at Ao Yon near Cape Panwa, ran an intensive 10-day beginners Optimist sail training course 10-19 October during the Thai school holidays. The last two days of the course included a regatta for the students, which was open to other Optimist sailors to enter. The course was free of charge and open to all Thai speaking children living on Phuket between the ages of 7 and 15.

PYC has long been the most pro-active club on Phuket where junior sail training is concerned, but this course marked a new milestone in the club's achievement. It was the first time a yacht club in Phuket had worked together with the Royal Thai Navy and the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand to bring a professionally-run intensive sail training course to Thai youngsters. Additional Optimist dinghies to bolster the PYC fleet were loaned to the club by the Navy and were transported from the Navy base at Sattahip especially for this course. Jaray Tipsuk led the training course, supported by experienced instructors and Thai national sailors who flew from Sattahip to teach the intensive programme both in the classroom and on the water. PYC provided all the logistics, including safety boats, as well as volunteers to administrate and assist with the programme.

Race Report
With 29 youngsters and only 21 boats, the youngsters were split into two groups A & B, with 11 of the youngest in B group and 18 in A Group.

The last two days of the course incorporated a mini-regatta. With a triangular course set, a beat to windward on the first leg proved a challenge with strong tides and only light winds, but Group A managed to complete all four races during the day with all starters completing the course set. Nattavut Limnantapisit (Liang) got off to a good start winning the first two races but losing out to Akapoj Kankaew who won the next two races but still winning overall for Saturday races.

Sunday morning, and again calm winds made it difficult for the B team to beat upwind, with Tanawat Sarawaree (Ton) winning the passage sail. The next course set was a triangular course, the wind picked up but wasn't to stay, again making it difficult to beat to windward but eventually all the sailors made it to the first windward mark to be carried with the tide downwind and to finish with another short windward leg with Tanawat Sarawaree (Ton) taking first place again and winning overall.

Sunday afternoon Group A waited for a small breeze to fill in but were only able to complete one race with Charif Prayadsup taking first place in his group. Four club members joined in with the racing adding to the numbers making it a great sight seeing 21 youngster racing Optimist together and seeing Philip Johansson winning his class.

On October 23-26th, PYC will hold an advanced Optimist race training course for youngsters who can already sail an Optimist.

For more info contact Jaray Tipsuk (Thai speaking) on 081 858 9345 or the Club Secretary, Katy Gooch (English speaking) on tel. 085 215 9185 or email phuketyachtclub@gmail.com or go to www.PhuketYachtClub.info

Full story at:
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews2.php?news_id=761&news_headline=VDO%20Special%20Young%20Report:%20sailing%20training%20for%20Thai%20kids%20at%20Phuket%20Yacht%20Club