Koh Samui counts down to Second International Regatta

by Peter Plant on 30 Sep 2002 After getting the thumbs up from the international yachting fraternity for its inaugural regatta (April 28 to May 4, 2002) Thailand's Koh Samui is already gearing up for next year's event to be held from the 25th to 31st May 2003 and the Notice of Race has now been posted on the web site, www.samuiregatta.com

Meanwhile a report on the inaugural event has been sent to the International Sailing Federation, the governing body of yacht racing, and the organising committee hopes to see the event included on the official international regatta calendar.

Organised under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and the Royal Thai Navy have indicated their continued backing for the event.

Last year two racing yachts from the Naval Academy competed and the Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Prasert Boonsong served as the regatta's honorary chairman gracing the inaugural event with his presence on the penultimate day of racing.

Already two of last year's major sponsors, the Central Samui Beach Resort and Coconut Land and House have committed support for the 2003 Regatta and many of the smaller co sponsors and participating outlets are expected to be back, having seen the benefit of the publicity generated by the first regatta.
The first confirmed entry for 2003 is George & Melissa Olivit's 'Big Buzzard' from Singapore.

Under her previous owner, Bill Gasson, one of the founding fathers of the Koh Samui Regatta, Big Buzzard was a multiple King's Cup winner. No doubt her current crew are keen to retain their trophy for 'Best Dressed Crew', won at the inaugural event.

Other confirmed entries include this year's winner, Pla Loma and runner up
Frank Pong who is hoping to campaign with his new 115 ft. ultra high tech. 'Maiden Hong Kong', which is currently under construction at DK Yachts Malaysia.

Asian Yachting Circuit champion Neil Pryde will be hoping for continued success with Hi Fidelity and Malaysian yachts Yo and Irmirven will also be making their first appearances.

The organisers are expecting to see a doubling of numbers to 50 entrants in the 2003 Regatta, with a fleet of beach catamarans once again coming down from the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Pattaya.

High profile race officials including former Sydney Olympics race officer Mark Pryke, (last year's Principal Race Officer), will also be returning to Koh Samui in 2003. As well as being the Official Starter for the Sydney to Hobart Race, Mark has umpired many of the America's Cup skippers, currently gathered in Auckland for this prestigious event.

On Koh Samui the regatta has become more than just a sailing event with the entire community of this island in the Southern Gulf of Thailand, having benefited from the wide publicity generated by the inaugural event.

All agree that the Koh Samui International Regatta serves to further enhance the island's reputation as an idyllic yachting and lifestyle destination.

For further information please contact:
Peter Plant, Secretary. Tel. +60 (0)9 726 5728
E-mail; info@samuiregatta.com