Platu Championships Pattaya, Thailand

by Sabrina Bonaiti on 4 Mar 2011 The 2011 One Design Platu Championships of Thailand will start in a few days from the 12 to the 14th of March.

After the success of the 2009 and 2010 One Design Platu Championships of Thailand everything is ready in Pattaya, Gulf of Thailand, to begin the 2011 edition. Crews from all over the World are expected.

The prestigious event organised by the Ocean Marina Yacht Club of Sattahip Chonburi, South Pattaya, a few kilometres from Bangkok, is an important appointment for the Platu 25 International class. In Pattaya, it will be possible to race against the most competitive International crews and a unique occasion to sail in the Platu 25 homeland.

Thailand is the home of the Platu. Bruce Farr designed it especially for the Gulf of Thailand and the word PLATU is the name of a small Thai fish.

As Kev Scott, Thailand Platu National Class Association coordinator, reminds us, 'Last year saw another increase in quality and international participation and all the signs are that 2011 will see this continue. We already have interest for the Championship events from the Italian champions and possibly the double World champions, the Greek 'Modus Vivendi' team and the Spanish 'Vilagarcia' team, plus four Japanese crews, a Turkish crew, Danes and Australians etc. We also hope the Russian crew will return after a year off'.

Last year there were entries from Italy, Denmark, Russia and Australia to compete with the best Asian teams to produce a truly international competition. Edoardo Barni, the Platu 25 International President, underlines the importance of this event: 'Sailing in Pattaya is a wonderful experience. Last year we could compete with guys coming from Australia, New Zeland, Holland, UK, Malaysia, and so on. The technical level of competitors is very good and it’s a great occasion to know we have an increase in crews from the Far East.

The Marina, with its five star hotel, is modern and comfortable and Thailand 'The land of smiles' is simply fantastic. As I have already remarked, the Platu 25 centre is moving towards the East and Thailand is getting to be the protagonist of one of the most intensive sailing seasons in the Far East: it offers an enthusiastic calendar for many classes and especially for the Platu'.

Platu crews will gather in a few days in South Pattaya. They will compete against the defender Rolf Heemskerk, a Dutchman living in Malaysia, who won the Thailand Platu Open Championship 2010.

The 2011 Dates are:
Platu OPEN.................12/14th March with a one day feeder event on the 11th for practising.
Top of The Gulf...........30 April – 3 May. Including the famous Coronation Cup for Platus
Platu NATIONALS......12/14th August with a one day feeder event on the 11th for practising.
Platu Cup......................8/9th October.

English edited by Kev Sott (Thailand NCA)