Superyachts weekend of fun in Phuket

SY Asia SW

Many of the arriving yachts are motorised © SW

There may have been more motor yachts than sailing boats there, sadly, but the sailing boats still made a spectacular sight in Phuket last weekend. Superyacht spotters were in for treat as some of the finest luxury yachts in Asia sailed Phuket’s west coast as part of the annual Asia Superyacht Rendezvous.

The Rendezvous, now in its 11th year, is the longest-running superyacht event in Asia and boasts the largest gathering of superyachts in the region, explained Nina Larsson, Public Relations and Event Manager for the Rendezvous.

The event got underway on Friday with the marshaling of the superyachts in Surin Bay, where captains, crew and guests headed ashore to the Surin Hotel.

Surin Beach, site of some of the activities © SW

Race Director Andy Dowden conducted the Captains’ Briefing at 6pm with sailing instructions for the next day’s course, before loosening his top button for the opening cocktail party on board the MY Andara.

'Andara Resort & Villas Phuket had customized two private motor yachts – the 28-meter Andara and the 35m Celebrity – to explore the coastline and visit nearby islands in absolute luxury,' said Ms Larsson.

'Finished to match the Andara standard, the yachts offer the same level of comfort and service while floating on the crystal clear Andaman Sea,' she added.

The superyachts got underway at the respectable time of 10:30am Saturday on their cruising course. After a jaunt along Phuket’s west coast, the superyachts reconvened back in Surin Bay in time for The Feadship Challenge and Cocktail Party.

SY Silandra, Swan 76-680 © SW

Asian Superyacht Regatta - getting down to serious sailing © SW

Now a tradition at the Rendezvous, the 'Challenge' is a gutter boat race in which crew from the competing yachts are required to construct a unique model boat from a simple kit and with only one team member’s wind power, blow it down a three-meter gutter course amidst cheers from all.

Teams were competing for nothing less than the glory of being crowned champions for 2011.

The final day of the event this year saw crews contesting the Rendezvous’ first-ever 'Treasure Hunt'.

The latest fun contest to be added to the Rendezvous marks the event’s growth in appeal to superyacht owners over the past decade.

'While enjoying a luxury yacht setting, some of the Asia Superyacht Rendezvous superyachts stream out for the distinctly different cruising on Thailand’s Andaman coast following our event,' said Gordon Fernandes, General Manager of Asia Pacific Superyachts and co-organizer of the annual prestigious event.