The Sailing Club Hua Hin Welcomes the 2015 Regatta

[tiadyett]

The Sailing Club Hua Hin Welcomes the 2015 Regatta

HUA HIN:- It seems strange that since the year 2000 there has been an Annual Sailing Regatta in Hua Hin, but no Hua Hin Sailing Club. This year things have changed!

The Sailing Club Hua Hin ‘opened its sails’ in January this year and welcomed the 2015 Hua Hin Sailing Regatta with the chance to put the Club on the national and international sailing map. The Club is the only sailing club on the West Coast of the Gulf of Thailand. This Hua Hin Regatta 2015 was held in April to honour of His Majesty King Bhumiphol Adulyadej who excelled in sailing. Over 300 competitors from across Thailand and many other Asian as well as European countries took part. The organising authority was The Yacht Racing Association of Thailand (YRAT), in conjunction with the Royal Thai Navy, Tourist Authority of Thailand, ChaAm Municipality and Phetchaburi Province. During the Regatta Royal Thai Navy ships were chaperoning the fleet off-shore and the eager helping hands of navy sailors provided the first greeting and for returning competitors.

But racing regattas are not really what the Sailing Club Hua Hin is all about. The founder Richard Vine describes the Club as “a family club where everyone can learn to sail from 8 – 80 years. But it’s about much more than just sailing, it’s a great place on the beach with cool shade, a trendy bar and a laid back atmosphere where all the family can enjoy the facilities shooting the breeze with their fellow club members.” “Our goal is to bring sailing to a wider audience in Thailand. Our club is to become a centre of excellence to help kids develop all the personal skills necessary for handling a boat.” Club Members will have preferential rates for sailing courses and also for renting the Club’s boats. Members will be able to bring and store their own boats securely. Members can participate in the regular regattas organised by the Club, be able to enjoy the cool deck, bar and restaurant as well as make use of the showers and changing facilities.

Baifearn Meeyousamsen is the Club’s Royal Yachting Association qualified Chief Instructor. Fearn is the daughter of the coach of the Thai national squad and has been in boats all her life. She is currently ranked No 2 in Thailand in Laser Radials and is a regular participant in Asian International Regattas. She brings a bubbly personality to the club and loves being around kids. She is currently completing her degree in Sports Management. Richard is an English ‘old salt’ with a wealth of sailing experience. He taught sailing for three years at Club Med in the 1970’s, discovering the pleasure of sailing in warm water.

Having lived in Hua Hin for 10 years he was surprised that there were no sail boats on the waters. As retirement loomed he bought a Laser for himself and an Optimist for his son. In the Hua Hin Regatta in 2013 he saw 130 kids from Bangkok, Pattaya and Sattahip competing in their Optimists and decided that Hua Hin needed a sailing club. Both father and son were competitive sailors in the 2015 Regatta. In 2014, Richard successfully negotiated a deal to take over a prime piece of ocean frontage land, built the necessary hospitality, storage and launching infrastructure and now manages the idyllic Club premises. This a great place to savour the ocean breezes and action or just to relax, enjoy a drink or something to eat at the ‘Eight Bells’ Bar and restaurant. (Eight bells is the signal that your sailing watch is over and you can relax.) The Sailing Club Hua Hin is an informal and very welcoming venue for visitors and Club Members alike; the sort of place you can adopt as your own and become a ‘regular’, even if you’re not sailing.

About The 2015 Hua Hin Regatta – An Internationally recognised Event and competition for Royal Trophies:

– Royal Vega Rudder trophy for various classes from His Majesty the King

– Super Mod National Championship trophy from His Majesty the King

– OK Dinghy National Championship trophy from Her Majesty the Queen Princess Cup for Optimist Championship from HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana

About The Sailing Club Hua Hin (just call in and say hullo anytime)

Where: Suan Son Loi Road Cha Am. That’s next door (north) to the Regent Chalets, about 15 kms from Hua Hin.

Map: Coordinates 12°43’56.5”N 99°57’52.8”E

Contact: English – 087888 7565,

Thai: 084413 5038,

E-mail – [email protected]

Available:

– Club Membership; annual or monthly.

– Boat rental (Laser or Optimist), including buoyancy aids with the Club’s safety boat on hand at all times.

– Sailing tuition

– Boat storage.

Suggestion: If you are finding the golf course hard going (especially when the weather is hot), this could be your recreational rather than the pool table or dart board. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to learn and enjoy one of the world’s most popular pastimes.

-- Hua Hin Today 05/20/2015