Samui Regatta 2025 - Day 4
by Scott Murray 31 May 03:18 AEST
25-31 May 2025
The wind continued to play hide-and-seek with Samui Regatta Race Director Simon James and regatta participants. But about midday, Simon was able to dip into his bag of magic tricks and conjure up some gusts to get two races in on the day, the first a windward-leeward and the second, a coastal course.
Ray Roberts and his professional crew on Team Hollywood Samurai again whisked across the course as the Cookson 50 Samurai crossed the finish line first to win the windward-leeward with an elapsed time of 47:02. AfterTremor (aka Tenacious), skippered by Olympian Steve McConaghy placed second, and Iolanthe 3, an Archambault A35, led by Australian skipper Terry Foster, was third. Gloria (Philip Harris, David Hepburn & Simon Plunkett) was fourth, with SV Senetor, skipped by Chriss (Super Smart & Sexy) Uptegrove, placing fifth.
The coastal course saw an upset as Steve McConaghy's tenacious crew on AfterTremor took down frontrunner Team Hollywood Samurai by two minutes on corrected time. Iolanthe 3 placed third with Gloria and SV Senetor, placing fourth and fifth, respectively.
The two Cruising class races were won by Gloria (an Oceanis 45), whose crew hails from the Royal Perth Yacht Club. SV Senetor (a Jeanneau 45), with noted Danish yachtsman Nils Degenklow on board, was second. The second race in this class today was shortened at the top mark, as the wind died out.
Simon James and his partner Kae Wattana are committed to keeping the regatta going; Samui's longest-running major sports event. Indeed, Koh Samui has a great sailing history as back in the day it was the jewel in the crown of Captain Marty Rijurkis' Asian Yachting Grand Prix. It was here that Captain Marty presented his customary Amari jacket and bottle of bubbly to the annual winner of his highly competitive series. And the skippers that used to bring their crews here (Frank Pong, Neil Pryde, Ray Roberts, Sam Chan) were among the most celebrated in the region. Well Ray Roberts, at the spry age of 82, is back and Frank Pong, though not racing has continued to support the regatta.
The Samui Regatta is a prestigious event in the sailing calendar, and runs from May 25 to May 31. It features keelboats racing in the IRC Open and Cruising classes. The event is centered at Nora Beach Resort and Spa, which offers an ideal backdrop for both participants and spectators.
The regatta competition itself spans five days, from May 26th to May 31st, with May 29th marked as a lay day and an opportunity for the sailors to explore and experience the hospitality of Koh Samui. The competition resumes on May 30th and continues through May 31st. Each day's competition concludes with a ceremony to honour and award the winners, culminating in a gala dinner at the Fair House Beach Resort and Hotel on the final day. The Nora Beach Resort and Spa Hotel was the gracious host of the opening ceremony, and the host of the daily award ceremonies.
The Samui Regatta Organizing Committee organizes the Samui Regatta in collaboration with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand under the Royal Patronage, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, the Surat Thani Province, and Regattas Asia.
The 22nd Samui Regatta is proud to be supported by an array of sponsors whose collaboration and support are essential to the event's success. Co-sponsors include: Bangkok Airways, Bangkok Hospital Samui, Chaweng Gardens Beach Resort, Chaweng Regent Beach Resort, Haad Thip PCL, Singha, Samui VertiColor, SUNNE, Team Jelik (Frank Pong), Workforce International. Media Partners include SEA Yachting and the Thailand Marine Guide.
About the Samui Regatta
The Samui Regatta is the island's longest running sports event and solidifies Thailand's position as a premier sailing destination and an essential stop in the Asian yachting circuit. Since its inception in 2001 with a modest fleet of beach catamarans, the Samui Regatta experienced remarkable growth up until 2019, rapidly expanding each year and is now in a rebuilding process post covid. The event's objectives remain focused on increasing tourism to Koh Samui, elevating the profile of sailing in Asia, and promoting water sports activities.
For more information on participating in the Samui Regatta or to registration, please visit the regatta's website at www.samuiregatta.com and update activities on Facebook www.facebook.com/SamuiRegatta