Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana sails on Vayu THA72 as the Thai yacht wins both races in the prestigious IRC Zero Class

Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalaksh sailed on Vayu THA 72 in the prestigious IRC Zero class in the final day of racing at the 35th Phuket King’s Cup regatta. Her presence indeed proved fortuitius as the TP52 won both races today in the eleven-race series.      

Ray Roberts TP52 Team Hollywood, which placed second in both races, won the class and the overall King’s Cup title for the fourth straight year. James & Kate Murray’s Callisto, a Pac 52, placed third in the four-boat IRC Zero class with Steve McConaghy’s Aftershock Syndicate, a Davidson 55, finishing fourth in the class. 

Evey year, the regatta attracts sailing greats from around the world, and this year is no different. Adam Minoprio was back and behind the wheel for Team Hollywood. His list of sailing accomplishments are long and legendary including being the youngest winner of the New Zealand Optimist Nationals at age 11 in 1997. In 2009, he displaced James Spithill as the youngest World Match racing Tour Champion beating Sir Ben Ainslie in the finals. He competed in two Volvo Ocean Races; in 2011–12 on Camper Lifelovers and in 2014–15 on Team Brunel. He also sailed SAP Extreme Sailing Team in the Extreme Sailing Series winning the 2017 series championship. And he sailed for Groupama Team France during the 2015–16 America's Cup World Series, helming their second boat at the 2017 America's Cup. A very tough resume to match. 

And what a week of racing it was: fair sailing conditions, close competition, and world-class sailors combined with great weather and fabulous onshore parties to create a great atmosphere topped off by Her Majesty’s presence on Vayu THA 72. She also handed out the trophies at the Royal Awards Ceremony.

The elegance of the four-boat Premier class certainly turned heads during the regatta but the class belonged to Ithinai Yingsiri’s Thai vessel Pine Pacific, an X-Yacht 55, who won all seven races. Peter Cremers’ Shatoosh, a Warwick 75, finished second five times, and took second in the class. Hans Rahmann’s JV 72 custom-built Yasooda chances were hurt with a DNF in race three and had to settkle for third overall. Bernard Huybens’ Aphrodite, a Vitters 92, was fourth in the class and did not sail on the final day.  

Bruno Tristan Peyron  was another international star competing in this regatta as he helmed Aphrodite. The French yachtsman, along with his crew on the catamaran Orange II, broke the outright round-the-world sailing record in March of 2005. In 1994, he also became the first winner of the Jules Verne Trophy completing a round-the-world trip in less than 80 days.

Nick Burns’ Witchcraft, edged out Rolf Heemskerk’s The Next Factor in the seven-boat IRC One class, just as it did two weeks ago at the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta. Witchcraft won seven of the ten races sailed in this class. Craig Douglas/Gordon Kettleby’s Ramrod, finished third in the class. 

Craig Nichols Alright nosed out Susurnu Kurose’s Char Chan by one point to take fourth spot in IRC One. Robert Carr & Sandy Farquharson’s Aquarii was hurt by a DNS in race eight and had to settle for sixth overall. Clayton Craigie’s Anjo had a challenging regatta with four DNFs & one DNS and finished last in the class.            

The six-boat Bareboat Charter Class saw Dean Peng’s & Tiffany Khoo’s Gragonborn win five of the seven races sailed in this class. Mike Downard’s Piccolo narrowly edged out Toshihiko Iijima’s Hippocrates by one point to take second in the class. Moonshine featuring the ASA Sailing Dream Asia, was fourth while Team Hayato took fifth in the class. Alan Anderson’s Judy did not start the last three races in this class and as such was relegated to sixth position.     

The five-boat Monohull Cruising class was the tightest class going into the final day with three boats tied with nine points. But when it was all sailed and done, Philippe Dallee’s Swan II won edging out Steve Maine’ Enavigo by two points and Jianhao Yang’s Isabella by three points which was disqualified in the third race for carrying an anchor on the bow. Thomas Veltin’s Brisk was fourth in this class with Mo Yiwei’s Sumalee, fifth.   

The two-boat Multihull Racing class saw Dan Fidock’s Kata Rocks Parabellum zip around the course winning seven of the nine races sailed in its class. John Newnham’s Kata Rocks 2, aka Twin Sharks was the only boat competing in this class. The flashy Parabellum won overall line in evey race in the regatta.          

Andrew McDermott’s Trident has won all five races in the Multihull Cruising class after having to sit out day one because of a dismasting. It won out over Frank Kastelein’s Team No Escape (Pooichat), the only other yacht competing in this class. 

The regatta’s International Dinghy Classes this year competed in a three-day competition off of  Kata Beach. The event was divided into four classes: Monohull Dinghy Handicap (12 boats); ILCA 4 (15 boats); Open Skiff (17 boats); and Optimist (79 boats).

The overall Optimist winner was Patcharaphan Ongkaloy, continuing on her gold-medal performance from the Southeast Asian Games. Pailin Jaroenpon was second followed by Karit Phrammanee, all Thais.

The Open Skiff class was won by India’s Anandi Chandavarkar – no surprise as she won the class each day. Dom Kaewpradab of Thailand placed second each day capturing that position and India’s Ayaan Nath was third.    

The ILCA4 class was swept by Thailand with Nanvatorn Supaamphonwit capturing top spot each day, Ton Rattana finishing second overall and Thanaphat Sirichaoren placing third.

The Monohull Dinghy Class (Handicap) was won by Claudia Nazarov with Voravong Racharattanaruk coming in second and Morten Jakobsen in third. 

By the way, sailing with Her Majesty on Vayu THA 72 today was Noppakao Poonpat, the 2010 World Optimist champion.       

The Phuket King's Cup Regatta has evolved from its inception in 1987 from a local contest to a globally recognized event. It began with Thailand's yachting community uniting to honour Rama X’s father, the late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Fifth Cycle Birthday. The inaugural event was set against the backdrop of the Andaman Sea's crystal waters, with the Phuket Yacht Club Hotel, serving as the venue. Founded by Royal Varuna sailors, including Commodore Chris King and M.L. Tridosyuth Devakul (Mom Tri), the Regatta has since blossomed into a world-class sailor event.

The event's economic impact is profound. Local businesses, from hotels to restaurants and transport services, experience a significant upturn during regatta week. The festive atmosphere, coupled with the influx of visitors, substantially boosts the local economy. An economic impact study has shown that the Regatta contributes several million Thai Baht to the local economy annually.

For more information and result, please visit www.kingscup.com

About the Phuket King's Cup Regatta – Asia’s legendary yacht race under Royal Patronage
Under Royal Patronage, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta is organized by the Phuket King's Cup Regatta Organizing Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy and the Province of Phuket.

Story & Photos by Scott Murray

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