Thai Sailing Star Noppakao Poonpat Reigns Supreme in Pattaya

by TOTG Media on 4 May 2010 The Thailand Optimist Nationals took place off Jomtien Beach, Pattaya, Thailand 1 – 3 May 2010, and welcomed a record line-up of 129 junior sailors from many countries. With ages ranging from a little over six years upto 16, the competition is of the highest calibre with national and world champions taking part.

In 1976 the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand started Junior Sailing, a programme to encourage and train young Thai sailors and send them to compete in international sailing events. Subsequently in the same year, YRAT started what was then called the Optimist Thailand Championship Cup, known today as the Thailand Optimist Nationals.

Now in its 34th year, the Thailand Optimist Nationals is as competitive as ever with many leading Thai juniors and international sailors competing for the title. This year there are participants from Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, and Belgium, as well as Thai teams from Samui, Phuket (Phuket Yacht Club), the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, Junior Sailing Squadron of Thailand (Sattahip Naval Base), Royal Varuna Yacht Club and Ocean Marina Yacht Club.

As the eight-race series progressed it became clear the competition for the top places had become a battle of the nations, pitching Thailand against Malaysia.

After a hard fought series the winner, for the third time, was Noppakao Poonpat (THA). Second place went to Tacharin Narbonne (THA) with Malaysian National Team sailor Ahmad Syukri Abduazizl (MAS). The top ten places were filled by six Thai sailors and four Malaysians.

Top Thai junior Optimist sailor is Noppakao Poonpat also won the female division from Chaninat Poolsirikot (THA) in second and Kanapan Pachatikapanya (THA) third.

In the Under 12 division, Pongsapat Poomyam (THA) took the honours from Jim Vincent (HKG) and Apiwat Sringan (THA) in second and third respectively.

Having won the Thailand Optimist Nationals three times, including in 2009, Noppakao Poonpat has gone on to compete in a number of international Optimist events. Her biggest win to date was Gold Medal in the girls division at the 2010 International Optimist World Championship in Brazil.

“I'm happy to win the Thailand Optimist Nationals again his year. It is the third time I have won and is my last year as an Optimist sailor,” commented Noppakao.

“I will race in two more championships this year – Asian Games and then the Worlds in Malaysia in December. After that I will move on to a bigger boat.”

With the help of YRAT and the Royal Thai Navy, Optimist sailing has grown in Thailand and today there is a strong core of junior talent. With approximately 200 Optimists in the country, the majority of which are owned by YRAT and based on Thailand's Eastern Seaboard, there is now a need for more boats around the country to grow junior sailing elsewhere in Thailand. While both Phuket and Samui were represented at this years Thailand Optimist Nationals, they currently lack the boats and a developed training programme to grow a fleet of juniors and future sailing stars, and need further support.