Bangkok, 17 February, 2016 – Billed as ‘Asia’s fun regatta’, The Bay Regatta 2016 kicked off today, welcoming over 40 yachts and more than 250 competitors to the four-day inter-provincial regatta that starts and finishes in Phuket and races through some of the best sailing grounds in the world. Now in its 19th year, the regatta is taking place from 17-21 February.
This year’s competition is split into six classes: Racing Class, Cruising A, Cruising B, Bareboat Charter Class, Racing Multihulls and Open Multihulls, and racing includes a mix of “coastal passages” and “around-the-islands”.
Bareboat Charter Class sees a number of Russian entries lining up while in the Cruising classes local stalwarts such as Kevin Gillow and Jack Christensen are up against a multi-national fleet including Cedric Rimaud’s 90 year old Selma, first launched in 1926 and recently restored at Krabi Boat Lagoon.
In the multihull classes all entries but the 40-foot trimaran Adrenalin are built in Phuket, highlighting the strength and quality of local craftsmanship, while in the Racing Class past winner Phoenix is back and will be up against the all-female entry Farrgo Ladies Team, Scott Bradley’s Sydney 40 Emagine and Mick Tilden’s Fujin, amongst others.
Starting in Ao Po on Phuket’s east coast, after registration and an opening party at Chandara Resort and Spa, yachts race north through the stunning rocky outcrops of Phang Nga Bay finishing off Koh Yao Noi where yachts anchor and enjoy a prize-giving party on the beach at Paradise Koh Yao.
On Day 2, yachts again race through the stunning seascape east across the Bay to Krabi where they finish off Ao Nang and have a free night in Krabi. On Day 3 sailors race around the islands of Krabi finishing back at Ao Nang where competitors head to shore for the prize-giving party at Ao Nang Villa.
The final day is a “downhill” spinnaker run back to Phuket with the evening’s prize-giving and closing party at O2 Beach Club in Chalong.
