THORA Sailing Team takes second place at Thailand Platu Championship 2026
by Gatis Rozenfelds 6 Mar 05:59 PST
27 February - 1 March 2026
Latvia's THORA Sailing Team secured second place overall at the Thailand Platu Championship 2026, held at Ocean Marina Jomtien in the Gulf of Thailand.
The regatta brought together six teams from Australia, the United States, Thailand and Latvia, with a total of 13 races completed during the series. Under the event format, two discard races were applied, leaving 11 races counting toward the final standings.
Racing took place in typical tropical Gulf conditions with temperatures reaching 35°C, high humidity and highly variable winds. These demanding conditions required precise starts, tactical decisions and strong teamwork throughout the fleet.
The regatta was won by the Australian team Easy Tiger, skippered by Aaron Taunt, finishing on 21 points. Latvia's THORA Sailing Team, helmed by Rihards Vaivods, finished second overall with 27 points, while The Next Factor (AUS), skippered by Christopher Mapp, completed the podium.
Overall Results:
1. Easy Tiger (AUS) - skipper Aaron Taunt - 21 pts
2. THORA Sailing Team (LAT) - skipper Rihards Vaivods - 27 pts
3. The Next Factor (AUS) - skipper Christopher Mapp - 30 pts
4. Southerly (AUS) - skipper Matt Triglione - 40 pts
5. Challenge Sailcloth (USA) - skipper Nathan Masopust - 45 pts
6. Stingray (THA) - skipper Prin Subying - 60 pts
Throughout the regatta the Latvian team demonstrated consistent performance, finishing repeatedly among the leading boats.
Race results for THORA Sailing Team included:
4 race wins
2 second places
3 third places
This level of consistency proved decisive in securing second place overall in the series.
The Latvian team competed with skipper Rihards Vaivods, alongside crew members Klavs Vasks, Karlis Gramatnieks, Gatis Rozenfelds and Edvins Tankelsons.
"It was a very intense and tactically demanding regatta," said crew member Klavs Vasks. "The tropical conditions - heat, humidity and shifting winds - required full concentration in every race. Competing in the same fleet with teams from Australia, the USA and Thailand is always a challenge, but also a valuable experience for our team."
The Thailand Platu Championship is one of the key Platu 25 class regattas in Southeast Asia and regularly attracts experienced international crews.
For THORA Sailing Team, international regattas like this provide an opportunity to represent Latvia on the global sailing stage and compete against experienced teams from around the world.
The team has been actively competing in international regattas for several years, including ORC World and European Championships, continuing to build Latvia's presence in international yacht racing.
The next major target for THORA Sailing Team will be the ORC European Championship 2026 in Klaipeda, where many of Europe's strongest offshore racing teams are expected to compete.
We believe Latvian sailing teams have a place in the international sailing community, and we are proud to represent our country in events around the world.