Phuket Raceweek slated for July 19-22

THE fourth Evason Phuket Raceweek will be held at Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa on July 19-22, with registration and the opening ceremony and party on July 18.

Online registration is now open and the notice of race has been posted on the official regatta website.

Approaching its fourth year as Thailand’s only “Green Season” regatta, the organizers expect a record number of entries. “We’re anticipating the biggest Phuket-built Firefly One Design fleet ever to set sail,” said Grenville Fordham, managing director of Image Asia, the event organizer. “The impressive Classic boats are also expected there in even greater numbers than last year, going all-out for the second Seraph Perpetual Trophy.” The Seraph Trophy was inaugurated in 2006 by Tom Howard, Seraph owner, to commemorate the Danish schooner’s 100th birthday.

Evason Phuket Raceweek has grown steadily from 19 entries in 2003 to 31 in 2006 and the organizers are optimistic that the ever-increasing number of boats in Phuket will contribute to the regatta’s continued growth. “While Raceweek does draw boats from Malaysia and Singapore, it is more of a local event than most other regional regattas, with Ao Chalong Yacht Club members as its mainstay. The club members, however, welcome the opportunity to pit their skills against visiting boats—in their own back yard,” he added.

Raced over five or six classes this year, Raceweek incorporates 4 days of great racing in the southwest monsoon, topped off by five nights of fun parties.

Following the same format as 2006, with a total of six parties, four parties will be held at Evason’s “Into the Beach” deck, a venue that regular participants hail as the best regatta party venue in Asia. Two parties will be held off site: the Raimon Land party in nearby Kata Beach and the Big A pig