5th Top of The Gulf Regatta 2009 & Coronation Cup
5th Top of The Gulf Regatta 2009 & Coronation Cup

“Another AY Grand Prix Championship Event

Another AYGP Event


5th Top of The Gulf Regatta 2009

AY Pre-Race Report

Ready to rock and roll...
30 April 09: As the street protestors in Thailand seem to be the only news on mainstream media these days, it is yet again left to the sailing fraternity to reassure the rest of the world, that Thailand's popular tropical resort cities are open for business and operating normally. Despite issuing International travel warnings, life away from the main streets of Bangkok goes on as per usual. Chairman of the TOG Organizing Committee, William J. Gasson.was singularly up-beat about this year’s event, the fifth such.to be contested of Ocean Marina Yacht Club. “TOG continues to attract sailors and guests, numbering more than 500 Thai and International sailors, with entries from all around Asia, including Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore”. Bill also c
onfirmed that ”Pattaya remains a popular destination and one of Asia’s best sailing venues"

The stage is set and nothing can stop Thailand’s only all-class regatta which incorporates three trophies including the prestigious HM The King - Royal Sponsored ‘Platu Coronation Cup’, ‘TOG Regatta Trophy’ as well as the ‘Optimist National Championship’ for junior sailors from going ahead. It is also the second event on the annual Raimon Land One Design PLATU Championship which is the biggest One Design fleet regularly racing in Asia that produces exceptionally close and exciting racing in warm waters and good winds. There will be nine classes over the four days of racing, including IRC Keelboats, Cruising, Sports Boat, Platu, Ocean Multihull, Beach Catamaran, Dinghies, Optimist and the King's designed Super Mod. Racing will be held on three different courses, some as close as 500m from the Ocean Marina breakwater (Spectators welcome), and each will have its own race management team.

This year the TOTGR became the 8th event on the 2008-09 AsianYachting Grand Prix Championships.as organisers hoped to attract the top racing class yachts to the historic home of sailing in the Gulf of Thailand waters,.where many champions (Including HM the King) have successfully raced. Local media have dubbed the AYGP as 'The sailing equivalent to Formula 1', were the annual Champion Skipper and Yacht of the Year are crowned. By winning the President's Cup and scoring podium places at all major regattas included in the AYGP Championship this season Neil Pryde and his Welbourne 52 Hi Fi have rapped up the 2008-09 Skipper and Yacht of the Year award with two regattas left to run. However this will not deter the IRC Racing Classes from going out and making a good fight of it and perhaps we will see some new faces on the podium blocks. CYCA Commodore Matt Allen's Beneteau 44.7 Ichi Ban has arrived and having won every Asian regatta they have entered could be penciled in as favourite in the mixed company of IRC boats contesting here. Eight skippers and yachts have scored points so far in the Championships, that fairly grades competing boat owners ability to successfully run a racing campaign in Asian waters each season. Check out the scores at: http://asianyachting.com/news/AYGP08-09.htm

Some skipers have had trouble with there yachts delivery across the South China Sea, this time of the year but are undeterred and more than ever determined to race in one way or other. A turn for the books sees Aussie Ray Roberts and reigning AYGP Champion chartering a Platu 25 to take on 14 other highly competitive racing teams for the hotly contested Coronation Cup. Hope he has chosen some agile and fit crew members as the Platu can be a real handful especially in a breeze. Last year's winner, Scott Duncanson is returning on the Raimon Land sponsored The Lofts Southshore and as they are proving very hard to beat and cleaned up most of the RL One Design PLATU Championship events held so far, will be firmly starting as favorites. Some of the Singapore, Malaysian, Japanese, Australian and Thai teams are the best of the best from those nations and not likely to let Scott, ferret away the title without a fight.

The recent influx of Vietnamese built Corsair trimarans will see a healthy Ocean Multihull class take to the water. If the breeze is in, these boats will be the fastest and can easily be identified as the ones with all the spray flying off the bows as they sail along on a knife edge or two. Despite all these nifty lightweight trimarans showing a turn of speed, Kirati Assakul's heavier displacement catamaran Sonic is not only Ocean Marina's flagship but also won the title last year, by consistently taking podium places and wearing down the opposition during events they enter. Radab Kanjanavanit's Cedar Swan will be one to watch as they have won all of the major regattas in Thailand at least once and if conditions suite will be knocking on the door for further success.

Off the beach catamarans and a wide range of dinghies account for many of the 300+ boats on the water over the four day event, which also includes His Majesty the King's own design the Super Moth, which is a stepping stone class for many Thai sailors prior to competing in the Olympics and regional games. The region's top Optimist racers will be competing in fleets of over 100 boats for the National Championships. Teen-age 'Terror' 2008 champion Noppakao Poonpat won both the overall, Thai and the female class, so there is expected to be a major fight back by the boys to defend their honour in 2009.

Principal sponsors, supporting Raimon Land, are host Club the Ocean Marina Yacht Club,  the Bank of Ayudhya and PTT Exploration. This year's regatta is also supported by Thai Airways, Gulf Charters, Seat Boats, Grampian Foods, Singha Beer, QBE Insurance, Nivea, Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, Buzzcats Thailand and Corsair Yachts. Media partners are Asia Boating, The Nation, SEA Yachting and AsianYachting with valuable support from the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, Pattaya City, The Royal Thai Navy and Royal Varuna Yacht Club.

More TOTGR 2009 news and results can be found at: http://www.topofthegulfregatta.com

TOTGR 09 Photo Gallery: http://www.asianyachting.com/photos/photo.htm?TOTGR09

Race Report 4 & Summary: http://asianyachting.com/news/TOTGR09/4.htm
Race Report 3:
http://asianyachting.com/news/TOTGR09/3.htm

Race Report 2:
http://asianyachting.com/news/TOTGR09/2.htm

Race Report 1:
http://asianyachting.com/news/TOTGR09/1.htm

April Press Release: http://asianyachting.com/news/TOTGR09/PR.htm

AY Race Reports are proudly sponsored by the following advertisers.

Ocean Marina Thailand
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