Origins of the Phuket King's Cup Regatta

In 1986, a number of Thailand’s yachting fraternity met to discuss what they could do as a special tribute to His Majesty the King’s forthcoming Fifth Cycle, or 60th birthday, the following year on December 5, 1987.
After considerable discussion, it was decided to hold a Royal Regatta – in Phuket – the first ever held in the beautiful waters of the Andaman Sea.
The inaugural Phuket King’s Cup Regatta was founded in 1987 by Royal Varuna sailors including Commodore Chris King, Dr Rachot Kanjanavanit, Al Chandler, Adolph Knees and others. It was yachting and Phuket aficionado M.L. Tridosyuth Devakul, better known as renowned architect and developer Mom Tri, who placed the resources of his then recently opened Phuket Yacht Club Hotel at Nai Harn Bay in Phuket at the regatta organiser’s disposal.
The regatta began with a mixture of keelboats, catamarans, Lasers and even windsurfers. Few who were there at the time will ever forget Varuna member Reg Chambers, who sailed a Laser, calling “starboard” on a 45-ft keelboat, which had to give way.
Like any prominent yacht racing event, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta has developed its own folk-lore. Scott McCook, for example, who sailed his beach-launched catamaran up from Singapore, won all five races one year, then sailed the small cat back to Singapore.
More recently the regatta has become a big boat event, attracting keelboats and ocean-going catamaran teams from around the world. As a principal fixture on the Asian Yachting Circuit, the regatta annually features upwards of 90 boats (record of 103 in 2007) and 2,000 sailors, ranging from the Formula One of the sea lanes, the Racing Class, to live-aboard ocean cruisers, multihulls and classics.
International-standard race management has been combined with lively beach parties on most nights during regatta week to create a world-renowned yacht racing event.
Under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King of Thailand, the Regatta is organised by the Phuket King's Cup Regatta Organising 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.


In Honor of His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) : Regatta Royal Patron And A Gold-Medal Sailor
By Peter Cummins
It was 16 December, 1967, when world sporting history was established right here in Thailand: it was an occasion that probably will never be equalled. At the National Stadium, on that day, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his eldest daughter, Princess Ubolratana, mounted the winners' podium, to receive a gold medal from Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. The occasion was the Awards Ceremony of the Fourth South East Asia Peninsular Games (now known as the South East Asian (SEA) Games). King Bhumibhol, racing OK dinghy number 27 and Princess Ubolratana sailing OK 18, finished equal first in the OK Dinghy Division of those Games.
It was only in the last race where the Princess, trailing father, with the late Dr Rachot Kanjanavanit in the lead, spotted a slight wind-shift, tacked on it on the last beat to the finish line. Although with her light frame, she was overwhelmed by the 20-knot north-easterly, the Princess compensated by displaying incredible sailing skills – and she was all of 16-years-of age. The Princess crossed the fleet, to finish first and equal on points with the King who still trailed Dr Rachot, in third place.
When a father and daughter finish equal first in an international yachting competition, it is history. But, when the equal winners are a King and his daughter, the Princess, it is immortal. That day, 16 December, thirty-seven years ago, has now been enshrined as Thailand's National Sports Day, in honour of the occasion.
It was actually M.C. Bhisatej Rajani who introduced the King to sailing - perhaps by default. In early 1963, the King was rowing off the Klai Kangwol Palace, when he passed Prince Bhisatej sailing along - VERY SLOWLY.
Upon arriving back at the beach, the King examined M.C. Bhisatej's boat and thought there must be a way of sailing faster. That started the interest and together they built a number of boats in a room at the Chitrladr Palace in Bangkok, using the Palace 'moat' to test some of the dinghies.
King Bhumibhol and Prince Bhisatej sailed the King's Enterprise, "the Rajpatan" and, later, in April 1966, in the single-handed OK dinghies they had also built, they sailed across the Gulf from Klai Kangwol to Toey Harbour, Sattahip.
This gruelling crossing has been commemorated each year as the "Vega Rudder" race, so named after the King presented the dinghy's rudder, as a perpetual trophy.
During the 1960s, the Royal family often went to sail at the newly-formed Varuna Marine Club at South Pattaya and many there, including such visiting Royalty as UK's Prince Philip and the then Danish Princess - now Queen Margrethe II - enjoyed the hospitality and camaraderie of the Thai Royal Family.
In recognition of the late King's prowess as a dinghy sailor - and his great contributions to sports, generally - at the time of his fifth cycle, 60th birthday in December, 1987, the International Olympic Committee awarded the "Insignia of the Olympic Order" - the only reigning Monarch ever to receive such and honour.
That was also the occasion of the inaugural Phuket King's Cup Regatta, now entering its 33rd sailing.
We were, indeed, very fortunate when His majesty agreed to become the Regatta's Revered Patron and, each year, through His Personal Representative, His Majesty graciously bestows the handsome permanent King's Cup Trophy to each year's winners.

Royal Diamond Jubilee

Twenty years ago Thailand celebrated the fifth cycle of His Majesty the King’s birthday with many memorable celebrations, including the grand Royal Barge Procession on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.
December 2006 was another special time for Thailand and its people as they celebrated the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne. Other monarchs and royalty from around the world are in the Kingdom this month to celebrate and honour His Majesty King Bhumiphol’s Diamond Jubilee.
Throughout 2006 the people of Thailand have been paying homage to their beloved King, who has given tremendous support to the development of the country and its people both socially, economically and at times by mediating and offering advice in many varying political circumstances. When His Majesty the King turned 60 in 1987, many celebrations were held. Among those who gathered to celebrate the occasion were a number of sailors and seamen, who came together to organise a yacht race to commemorate and celebrate the auspicious occasion. The organisers decided that a sailing race was a very good and appropriate way to celebrate the 60th birthday of His Majesty the King, himself a very good and competitive sailor. The first Phuket King’s Cup Regatta was held that year under Royal Patronage. His Majesty the King is an expert sailor and represented Thailand at the fourth South East Asia Peninsular Games – which are now known as the SEA Games – in December, 1967, and won a gold medal in the OK Dinghy Class. The Thai Monarch sailed OK Dinghy No. TH 27 and his daughter, Princess Ubolratana, sailed OK Dinghy No. TH 18 and they finished equal first at the Games.
2006 is also the 20th anniversary of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, the sailing race that was started in 1987 in His Majesty’s honour. Once again the organisers joined the nation in celebrating His Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, as well as celebrating his 80th birthday on December 5, 2006. During the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta every year a candle-lit ceremony is held on His Majesty’s birthday, and this year was special for a number of reasons – His Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, his 80th birthday and the 20th anniversary of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta.
The annual Phuket King’s Cup Regatta has grown from a small, mostly locally-contested regatta in 1987 to Asia’s premier yachting event and a world-class outing for some of the world’s leading sailors. 2006 saw sailors and yachts from all over the world take to the beautiful waters of the Andaman Sea off Phuket, with many racing-class yachts from Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Australia taking part.