Phuket King’s Cup 2011 – sunshine opening on HM’s birthday
by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 5 Dec 2011
Phuket King’s Cup Regatta 2011 - Sail Past Guy Nowell
http://www.guynowell.com
Opening day of the King’s Cup today was the 84th birthday His Majesty King Bhumiphol Adulyadej – the very reason that the event was founded back in 1987. So with today being opening day of the 25th edition of Asia’s biggest big boat regatta, it was thoroughly right and proper for the sun to put his hat on and come out for the Royal Salute and Sail Past taken on board HTMS Chonburi.
And then it was off to the race courses, with the Cruising classes sailing a scenic trip around the islands to the southeast of Phuket and the Racing divisions completing two windward/leeward courses in 10-12 kts of breeze.
Watching the Premier Cruising class parade past Koh Kaeo was a goodly sight – string together Silandra (Swan 76), Chao Ren Plus One (Swan 80), Farr Out (Farr 72), Titania (Swan 68), Curious (Oyster 56), Shatoosh (Warwick 65) and Maduzi (Oyster 53) and you get the impression that there are a lot of good-looking big boats at the King’s Cup!
IRC 1, the ’40-footers division’, provided a fleet that would impress anywhere in the world – Cowes, Sydney, wherever. Enjoy some pics from sunny Thailand:
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