Regatta Fleet Begins Arriving In Tropical Koh Samui

[churchill]

Boats, crews and spectators have already begun arriving for the Sawadee.com Regatta. Now in its 8th year, this international yacht regatta takes place off Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui from 1st-6th June.

The well-anticipated early arrival is typical for this regatta – which has developed into one of Asia’s leading sailing events. The festival atmosphere and fun build-up provides crews with some time for rest and relaxation before the social events calendar begins on 31st May and the first regatta challenge on Monday 1st June.

And competitive it will be, with six boat classes expected and the return of many regatta favourites. Classes in 2009 will include Racing, Premier, IRC, Bareboat, Sports Boats and Multihulls. Neil Pryde’s Hi-Fi and Ray Roberts’ Quantum Racing will provide a formidable challenge in the Racing Class and will be joined by Boracay (Jelik II), Foxy Lady IV, Freefire 52, Mandrake, Katsu, Windsikher and Ichi Ban – making this a must-watch class in Samui.

Others returning to Samui to take up the challenge include Pornstar (Sports Boat Class), Constanza (Bareboat Class) and Cedar Swan (Multihull Class). In all, over 40 boats will compete for honours in their class, providing a fantastic on-water spectacle.

The Sawadee.com Regatta will bring much to the island of Koh Samui when it begins in just over one week’s time. In addition to a spike in the number of spectators and tourists that will pour in to experience the regatta and its great evening parties and fun social events – the regatta is also fast earning itself a name as ‘The Regatta That Gives Back’. The schedule will feature the second running of the ‘Samui Junior Sailing Squadron Challenge’ – an event that gives island children the opportunity to experience just what it’s like to be in a yachting race – competing just off the beach in a challenge every bit as competitive as a full regatta.

The regatta week will also see the launch of the ‘Sawadee.com Regatta Samui Bluewater Scholarship’ – a new scholarship programme to support education at the island’s Bluewater School. Donations from crews and spectators and a first time ‘beach clean-up’ on the regatta lay day, will all raise funds towards giving local children a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend Bluewater School.

The regatta, which welcomes new title sponsor Web Sawasdee Plc, one of Thailand’s leading inbound travel companies, along with co-partners Centara Grand Beach Resort, Dunlopillo and Singha, will also feature a 12ft Skiff Challenge in the run-up to the main regatta.

Callum Laing, Chairman of the Sawadee.com Regatta, commented, “Not only do we have a full fleet registered and already arriving on the island, but the social and party schedule is sure to make this one of the most memorable Asian sailing events of 2009. With the great on-water viewing opportunities, we know that spectators will be in for a real treat. I’m also particularly happy that we can give back to the community – a community that continues to support this regatta and that has helped make it the great spectacle that it is today”.

The Sawadee.com Regatta begins in Koh Samui, Thailand, on 1st June with the final race on 6th June.

http://www.samuiregatta.com/group/newsmedi...ay-22nd-regatta

[Mark Wolfe]

What time of the day would one go to Chaweng to see whatever it is there is to see? Will the boats be far out to sea? Where are they docked?

[sketcher]

What time of the day would one go to Chaweng to see whatever it is there is to see? Will the boats be far out to sea? Where are they docked?

The races start at 10am but will mostly only be visable with a large pair of binoculars. There is a spectators boat (Seatran Discovery) which for 1500 Baht per day can get you out closer to the racing. All the boats will be anchored outside Centara and Tradewinds resorts. I was speaking to the person from Sunsail (Yacht charter company in Bo Phut) yesterday who are the people providing the yacht for the kids to race on and he said anyone mentioning Thai Visa can get a 20% discount on their charter fees. PM me for contact details

[japandan]

I have never understood why the organizers picked just about the worst time of the year for wind

[Mark Wolfe]

That's so the boats don't go whizzing past too fast to see them well...(WindGURU Web site has the opening afternoon forecast to be almost dead calm)

I have never understood the fascination with this sort of thing. If I need a pair of strong binoculars just to see the thing happening (can I tell who is winning, I wonder), it seems just barely to qualify as a "spectator sport." Couldn't they come in closer to shore? Maybe they could, on the last day, have some demolition derby close to shore; that would be cool. I bet you'd get lots of people coming to watch that.

[japandan]

That's so the boats don't go whizzing past too fast to see them well...(WindGURU Web site has the opening afternoon forecast to be almost dead calm)

I have never understood the fascination with this sort of thing. If I need a pair of strong binoculars just to see the thing happening (can I tell who is winning, I wonder), it seems just barely to qualify as a "spectator sport." Couldn't they come in closer to shore? Maybe they could, on the last day, have some demolition derby close to shore; that would be cool. I bet you'd get lots of people coming to watch that.

only some rich people with their expensive boats care...its not really a sport, just a chance for rich people to think they are athletic and have other rich people see how rich they are

[lom]

That's so the boats don't go whizzing past too fast to see them well...(WindGURU Web site has the opening afternoon forecast to be almost dead calm)

WindGURU has a forecast of 3 knots for Samui tonight.

[maccaroni man]

That's so the boats don't go whizzing past too fast to see them well...(WindGURU Web site has the opening afternoon forecast to be almost dead calm)

I have never understood the fascination with this sort of thing. If I need a pair of strong binoculars just to see the thing happening (can I tell who is winning, I wonder), it seems just barely to qualify as a "spectator sport." Couldn't they come in closer to shore? Maybe they could, on the last day, have some demolition derby close to shore; that would be cool. I bet you'd get lots of people coming to watch that.

only some rich people with their expensive boats care...

its not really a sport, just a chance for rich people to think they are athletic and have other rich people see how rich they are

[Samuian]

That's so the boats don't go whizzing past too fast to see them well...(WindGURU Web site has the opening afternoon forecast to be almost dead calm)

I have never understood the fascination with this sort of thing. If I need a pair of strong binoculars just to see the thing happening (can I tell who is winning, I wonder), it seems just barely to qualify as a "spectator sport." Couldn't they come in closer to shore? Maybe they could, on the last day, have some demolition derby close to shore; that would be cool. I bet you'd get lots of people coming to watch that.

It isn't, but it's great fun!

Maybe one can see more from the "View Points" as Beverly Hill and Dr.Froggs..

yes why Chaweng - guess Mae Nam viewing would be much better.

, but then the winds might not be sufficient

F1 is a sport too!

[MSingh]

It isn't, but it's great fun!

Maybe one can see more from the "View Points" as Beverly Hill and Dr.Froggs..

yes why Chaweng - guess Mae Nam viewing would be much better.

, but then the winds might not be sufficient

F1 is a sport too!

That's what i'm thinking...

[Mark Wolfe]

I have never understood why the organizers picked just about the worst time of the year for wind

Well, now you know...forecasts for winds of up to 20 knots. Currently clear as a bell and blowing like a MF. The Rolex crowd should be well pleased.

[japandan]

I have never understood why the organizers picked just about the worst time of the year for wind

Well, now you know...forecasts for winds of up to 20 knots. Currently clear as a bell and blowing like a MF. The Rolex crowd should be well pleased.

no they just got lucky...and we will see if the forecast ends up correct.

[maccaroni man]

i would really like to know who is the amature in charge of the marketing this year because imho who ever it was really dropped the ball. Last year was full of energy and 7 nights of fun, this year there is no excitement and quite frankly the reggatta seems to be the best kept secreat in samui. I made a trip down to lamie to see what the new owner sawadee dot com was doing to promote the reggata and was taken by surprise when i saw that he does not even advertise it with a large banner on those huge glass buildings. the promoter did such a poor job that IMO the only people visiting the regatta this year are the people who would have been here anyway so the marketing that was done was pretty much worthless. I believe that the regatta is an excellent tool to promote koh samui on the local and international stage, the players are already coming so the promoter does not have to deal with the expence of paying the talent all they have to do is get the word out, say in the same way the coco jazz festival and the impact for tourism on samui would be much more than what we are seeing this year. amatures be gone and don't come back!