2012 Results | Photos | Sailing Instructions | Courses

THE BAY REGATTA SAILS SMOOTHLY THRU ITS 15TH YEAR

Forty-three boats sailed through the stunning karst topography of southern Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay last week celebrating the 15th year of one of the most enjoyable sailing events in the region: The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi.

The regatta was relatively mishap free, despite enjoying unheard of strong breezes throughout most of the races. The biggest drama was a drunken sailor trying to return to his boat after the opening night party. He couldn’t find his boat, he couldn’t even remember its name, and so after exhausting his fellow longtail passengers’ patience, he was eventually taken back to shore and left to contemplate life on the beach.

The Russians turned out in unprecedented strength and put in a very impressive performance at this year’s regatta, with Arbuzov Andrev’s Ruby Tuesday capturing the five-boat Racing Class. Fellow countryman Nikiforov Evgenii’s Gastion placed second and Scott Duncanson’s Quantum Fusion came third. Duncanson’s boat was the fastest through the water for three of the races, but on corrected time was consistently placed behind the Russian boats.

In the nine-boat Cruising A class, Neils Degenkolw’s Phoenix took top honours on the strength of three first-place finishes, while frequent regatta winner, Jim Ellis’ Remington had to settle for second place. Richard Macfarlane’s Aida placed third.

The 13-boat Multihull Class was won by Andrew Stransky’s Fantasia with David Roberts’ DaVinci coming second and Hans Rahmann’s Voodoo placing third.

Two classes saw two boats tied with the same number of points at the end of four days of racing. Gavin Welman’s Rascal and Kevin Perran’s Rusalka tied with eleven points each in the eight-boat Cruising B class, but Rascal took class honours on countback having finished first on the third day. Charlie Preen’s Seventh Heaven came third in the division.

The seven-boat Bareboat Charter division also saw Kochnev Petr’s Tonicola 2 and Kozub Sergey’s Creme Brulee (aka Venture) tie with six points each, both having two first and two second-place finishes, but Tonicola 2’s victory on the final day saw it claim the overall prize. Paul Kendall’s Anchali was third.

The Ao Chalong Yacht Club, let by Commodore Grenville Fordham, deserves tremendous credit for a putting on a great regatta. All members of the organizing committee have multiple other responsibilities but they managed to pull together and stage a great event. Principal Race Officer Simon James and his team of on-water volunteers once again did a terrific job, while Kae Wattana and her regatta management team made the logistics look easy. Rolien Beute highlighted the region’s stunning karst topography snapping away as the regatta’s official photographer, while Captain Shane Granger graciously lent his historical vessel Vega as the regatta’s media support boat.

The “Fun Regatta” did indeed live up to its reputation with five nights of revelry and prize presentations, each night in a different tropical venue. The main sponsor of the event was DaVinci Yacht Charters, with Thai Sri Insurance and Neil Pryde also putting cash in the regatta pot, while a whole host of other official suppliers, local sponsors and supporters enable this regatta to keep going – and growing.

THE PARTY THAT SAILS AROUND

That’s how long-time Phuket sailor Barry Kennaugh describes the The Bay Regatta and it’s an appropriate moniker. This year’s event, held from February 1-5, will see dozens of colourful spinnakers sail through some of the world’s most famous cruising grounds, enjoying spectacular scenery and partying well into the night at some of the region’s most beautiful resorts.

A channel race, this regatta takes place over four days. The regatta kicks off with a party at The Village Coconut Island, Koh Mahprao, on the evening of February 1st. It then sails north through Phang Nga Bay, stopping off at Paradise Koh Yao Boutique Resort & Spa on Koh Yao Noi for a party on the first night of racing. On the second day, sailors head to Krabi where they have a free night with no regatta party scheduled. The third day of racing sees the fleet following a course, which sees it mooring off of the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort, site of the regatta’s third party. The final day of racing sees competitors head to Ao Chalong, where upon finishing the regatta participants will celebrate at the Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC).

Forty plus yachts in five different classes (Racing, Cruising A, Cruising B, Bareboat Charter, and Multihull) will compete in this year’s event with sailors coming from as far as Canada, Australia, Russia, Germany and Switzerland not to mention those who are from the region - Singapore, Malaysia and of course Thailand.

The Regatta started life as “The Phang Nga Bay Regatta” but since it spans three provinces – Phang Nga, Krabi and Phuket – organizers felt it best to change the name to simply “The Bay Regatta” last year. Early on, the regatta was strictly held during the Chinese New Year, but again wanting more flexibility organizers made that switch last year to in and around that holiday.

This is surely the only regatta in the region founded by a photographer and friends (John Everingham, Chris Schaefer and Andy Stephens). Everingham, a long-time Phuket King’s Cup Regatta committee member, was motivated in part by frustration at the annual struggle over setting that regatta’s courses. On the one hand, he wanted to shoot the fleet of sails contrasted against the dramatic scenery. The hard-core sailors, on the other hand, wanted their boats as far away from land as possible to avoid fickle winds. Dramatic photos would attract more sponsors, argued the photographer; but the sailors always won. So the stymied lensman rounded up some like-minded friends and established a regatta designed to sail among the dramatic limestone island towers and mainland forests of the waters off Phuket’s east coast.

Nowadays, the regatta is organized by the Ao Chalong Yacht Club, whose Commodore Grenville Fordham founded the spectacularly successful Six Senses Phuket Raceweek. Grenville and crew are assisted by Andy Dowden, who co-founded PIMEX, the annual Phuket Boat Show with Grenville and the racing will be overseen by PRO Simon James, one of the best race officials in the region.

Part of this regatta’s special flavour comes from the need to sleep on one’s yacht, since the fleet moves to a different anchorage each day. But most serious racing yachts, to save on weight, have neither accommodation nor most other luxuries on board. Some dedicated racers nevertheless want to join a lifestyle regatta such as this one, and their crews often have to rough it with blankets on deck and forage for breakfast and lunch from cardboard boxes and ice coolers. The experience leaves memories of more than just spectacular scenery. The heavier, slower boats might get thoroughly trounced by the speedsters during the day. Come evening, however, when the comforts of home can be drawn up from the bellies of the heavyweights, the laughter of the cruising and classic boat crews rolls across the anchorage like a kind of revenge.

Since its inception in 1998, this regatta has been billed as the “fun” regatta. Nothing’s changed; it just keeps getting better. And this is in great part due to sponsors supporting the event. The people behind DaVinci Restaurant & V Lounge, the Italian restaurant, who have supported yachting for several years now, have now entered the yachting business. DaVinci Yacht Charters comes on board as Co-Sponsor this year. One of Asia's top racing sailors, Neil Pryde, comes in as a supplier with his company of the same name. The Regatta also welcomes Thai Sri Insurance, a well-known company that is now making its entrance into the marine market.

THE 15TH 'FUN REGATTA' SETS SAIL!

The provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi will provide the backdrop to The Bay Regatta (formerly the Phang Nga Bay Regatta), one of the world’s most scenic sailing events, from February 1 – 5. Showcasing some of the most stunning maritime scenery in the world – beaches, limestone karsts and cliffs – the Regatta takes racers on a tour of the bay and, as an extra bonus, offers a fun-filled time off the water – fantastic parties and camaraderie – for the 40 to 50 yachts in attendance.

Now in its 15th year, the Regatta is unique amongst Thailand sailing events. Hugely popular yet low-keyed, it has established itself as one of the key fixtures on the Southeast Asia yachting calendar with boats and crew returning to compete each year during the late January/early February appointed dates.

Hugely popular yet low-keyed, it has established itself as one of the key fixtures on the Southeast Asia yachting calendar with entrants from Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Russia and of course Thailand returning each year to compete for honours in the classes of Racing, Cruising A, Cruising B, Bareboat Charter and Multihulls.

Affectionately billed as ‘the fun regatta’, The Bay Regatta appeals to the serious as well as the not-too-serious racers with most participants sleeping on boats as the courses lead them to a new anchorage and party venue each night. Camaraderie and fun are cornerstones of the event: an often light wind cruise or heavier race day inevitably leads to post-race beverages and lively conversation to be followed by a casual dinner, prizegiving ceremony and entertainment on shore. Yachts include those which regularly compete in Asian regattas and family liveaboards. Low on breakages, low on protests and sometimes low on wind (!) yet always high on enjoyment, the nature of the Regatta speaks for many.

For the 2012 event, the sailing will adopt a varied route once again and includes registration and the opening party at The Village Coconut Island, Koh Maphrao, a course which follows a northeast course to Koh Yao Noi with presentations and party at The Paradise Koh Yao Boutique Resort & Spa, Koh Yao Noi and then racing to and around Krabi for Days 2 and 3. The first evening in Krabi offers participants an evening to explore the area on their own while the evening of the 3rd will see presentations and the party held at the Sheraton Krabi. On Day 4, the 5th the fleet will race from Krabi to the southeast end of Phuket. Final award presentations and party will be at the venue of the event organizer, the Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC).

The Bay Regatta is a non-profit event. Thanks to the support of sponsorship, the Regatta can continue to provide varied and interesting race courses through breathtaking maritime scenery to reach unparalleled anchorages and party venues - all factors which contribute to this exciting event which keeps participants returning each year.

The 15th running of the event sees both new sponsors and several who have been long time sponsors, returning to show their support. This year's 'Co-Sponsors' include DaVinci, The Paradise Koh Yao Boutique Beach Resort & Spa, Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort and The Village Coconut Island. 'Official Suppliers' include Lee Marine, Nautica, Manta-Blue Nautical, Quantum Sails, Regattas Asia and S/V Vega. Some promotion and publicity of the Regatta comes through media partnerships with IMAGE asia, Phuket Gazette and SEA Yachting. 'Local Supporters' include SKGF Trading (Barbasol and BOH), Electrical Marine, Octopus Electrical and the Phuket International Hospital.

2012 REGATTA DATES

The regatta typically attracts 40 to 50 yachts each year. Unlike most other regattas, this event takes the fleet to a new anchorage each evening, holding awards parties in a wide variety of different locations.

Most participants sleep on their boats, while others take advantage of shoreside accommodation.

Previous regattas
If you'd like to know more about the Phang Nga Bay Regatta over the years, click here.