Phatra Marina Platus join Sunsail yachts at Phuket:

1998 Puhket King’s Cup Regatta gains some entries

Six Phatra Farr Platu 25 racing yachts have been assigned to Sunsail, the world-wide yacht charter company based at the Phuket Boat Lagoon. This is not only a great boost to this year’s Twelfth Phuket King’s Cup Regatta but it is also a big leap forward in promoting the marine leisure industry in general and tourism as a whole among Thailand’s southern provinces.

Although there are charter boats available at Jomtien’s Ocean Marina, Sunsail does not operate in the northern Gulf due to the exorbitant costs of maintaining a fleet at Jomtien added to the problem of pollution in the Gulf.

Nevertheless, Platus have sailed over on our eastern shores many times and there are plans to include the Pattaya-Jomtien coastal areas in a number of big international races in future.

Peter Cummins reports

A convoy of six Farr Platu 25 racing keelboats left home base at the Phatra Marina and Yacht Club, Pranburi last week, bound for Phuket where they are now ensconced at the Sunsail yacht charter base at the Phuket Boat Lagoon. All six craft are already booked for the forthcoming Phuket King’s Cup Regatta to be sailed from 6 - 12 December, increasing entries, at the time of filing this report, to more than 40 craft.

Sunsail’s charter base at the Phuket Boat Lagoon-now to add the Platus. Photo Peter Cummins.

The Pla tu, also known as the Indo-Pacific or the short-bodied mackerel, is a vital component of the prolific Thai sea-food range. Depending on how it is prepared, the Pla tu can be a rich man’s delicacy or a poor man’s staple diet.

Appropriately enough, this Platu is a denizen of the Gulf, located in the waters around Prachuab Khiri Khan to the southern areas off Koh Samui and Surat Thani.

Several years ago, entrepreneur Viroj Nualkair, chief executive officer of Phatra Thanakit, commissioned New Zealand marine architect Bruce Farr to design and develop a compact racing yacht, specifically for Thai waters.

Thus it was no surprise that the resulting prototype was called the "Platu", for the consignment of the 28 craft - constructed and fitted out by New Zealand’s leading boat builders, McDell Marine of Auckland - was housed at the Phatra Marina and Yacht Club at the mouth of the Pranburi River. The new Platu yachts share the waters of Prachuab Khiri Khan - preferring, of course, to stay above the sea, while the Pla tu, the true denizens of these waters, swim below.

The addition of the Platus - only the second time a one-design class yacht has been included in the keelboat racing at Phuket - is one of the many innovations for this year’s events. The now-famous regatta was originally established in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday of H.M. the King - the Regatta Royal Patron - and has been celebrated every year since then on dates to coincide with His Majesty’s birthday week.

The 1998 regatta organizing committee, under president Adolph-Antoni Knees, will decide whether the Platu should be designated in a separate "Sports boat" category as were the controversial "Magic 25s" two years ago.

Platu sailors, however, would like to pit their machines and skills against racing class aces like four times King’s Cup racing class champion Bill Gasson, rather than race just against each other in a "sports boat division". This is more challenging they feel, especially after their showing at the Second President’s Cup last April at Subic Bay, Philippines, when Viroj Nualkair’s winning Thai Platu team won the last race outright against much bigger and faster yachts, such as world-beating Sydney 46ers.

The major change, as the regatta embarks on its second decade, has been the re-location of the principal venue from Nai Harn Bay in Phuket’s far south-west corner, to Kata Beach - a move welcomed by organizers and participants alike. "Our new venue at the Kata Beach Resort," said Mr Knees in an interview last week, "is more convenient, offers a wider choice of accommodation and entertainment."

Another change is that the regatta will start from the Phuket mainland off Kata, rather than at Koh Phi Phi, as in the past few years. Otherwise, the format which guarantees a first-class event with great world-wide media coverage of the regatta - and Phuket - will be the same.

It is also appropriate that, with a shrinking global economy and the necessity to stage such events on vastly-limited budgets, management of the complex racing, media and secretarial programmes is passed over to the professionals in Phuket who did such a great job last year: Andy Dowden for the racing and Neil Cummings for the media, to mention just two Phuket stalwarts.

In spite of the difficult times, president Knees is very happy with both the level of participation and the sponsorship to date, with the Kata Hotel Group and Le Meridien Phuket as hosting sponsors and QBE Club Marine Insurance, together with the Laguna Phuket as co-sponsors. Others to "come aboard", so to speak, include Coca Cola, Phuket Island Access, perennial regatta supporter the Royal Thai Navy, the Office of the Governor of Phuket, Lufthansa (Star Alliance) and Inchcape NRG. The national yachting authority the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Varuna and the Phuket Yacht Clubs will render logistic and management support.

But the advent of the "Phuket Platu" is not only a great addition to the next King’s Cup Regatta. It is also an interesting development for the Thai marine leisure sector, as a whole, hard hit as it is by the economic down-turn and the recent enforcement of customs regulations affecting a large number of craft in all categories, already in the Kingdom.

In an agreement signed last week between the Phatra Marine Products Company and Sunsail, the world’s premier yacht chartering company, the Farr Platus are now an integral part of the big Sunsail charter fleet.

The Phuket Boat Lagoon thus becomes the second Thai base for the Platu, the fine, lively racing keelboat designed especially for Thailand by one of the world’s leading naval architects, New Zealander Bruce Farr, who designed eight of the nine yachts which participated in the last Whitbread Round-the-World Race.

Since the first consignment of 28 of the prototype craft arrived in the Kingdom some four years ago, the Platu has spread rapidly to bases in Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines in the Asian region. Beneteau, the French boat-building giant, has already commissioned upwards of 200 Euro Plateaus, under the designation of "Beneteau 25s".

Kevin Quilty, managing director of Sunsail (Thailand) is happy to add the Phatra Platus to Sunsail’s huge world-wide operations which cover some 40 of what he calls "the most desirable corners of the earth’s best cruising areas," with fleets of more than 700 yachts, catamarans and motor yachts available for charter.

Although the Platu is not designed primarily as a cruiser, lacking as it does many of the creature comforts incumbent upon the larger craft such as the luxurious Oceanis and Suncharm, nevertheless, Mr Quilty sees a very popular type of charter looming for the Platu.

Given the beautiful year-round cruising areas off Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, Phang Nga Bay, the Koh Dam Islands group and as far south as Tarutao, all of which have good anchorages and shore facilities, the Platu’s speed and ease of handling make the little craft ideal for such "island-hopping".

Further, based on his Sunsail experience in such exotic waters as Corsica and the Ionian Sea, Mr Quilty sees the south of Thailand as even more appealing for it is "uncrowded and unspoiled". He envisions for Phuket the very popular "flotilla racing" type of charter practiced from various bases in Greece and Turkey.

This type of charter combines the safety and camaraderie of cruising, with the thrill and challenge of competitive racing en route to a given land-fall anchorage. The Platu and the proximity of many beautiful areas around Phuket lends themselves ideally to this charter concept.

Mr Quilty pointed out that, although the Platu’s Phuket debut will be at the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, noting that "all six Platus, as well as more than 15 of our regular Sunsail fleet, are already accounted for as entries in this year’s regatta, "nevertheless, the Platu’s future in Phuket is as a desirable charter yacht," he added, with some conviction.

First Ashes Golf Challenge

Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce (ATCC) & New Zealand-Thai Chamber of Commerce (NZTCC) vs. British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) - Saturday, 7th November 1998, Thana City Golf Club

The ATCC, NZTCC and BCC are delighted to announce the date and venue for the first Ashes Golf Challenge. Although there will be a serious contest for the coveted trophy, it will be organised such that fun golfers can also have a good time. All net proceeds of the event will be donated to charity.

At this time, organisers are looking for corporate sponsors to make this event a great success and of course make the charity donation larger. The Ashes Golf Challenge will provide excellent exposure to a wide range of foreigners and Thais in addition to the competing nationalities. Combined membership of the three Chambers is over 800 companies and individuals although it is acknowledged that there is some cross-membership. Exposure will be achieved through internal Chamber publicity and external press releases and advertisements prior to and after the event.

Categories of sponsorship are as follows:

1. Naming Rights (Baht 100,000) - Only One Company

Naming (i.e. event title) on all publicity, merchandise and correspondence involving the Ashes Golf Challenge including press releases, mentions in newspapers and magazines in Thailand, post and pre-event Chamber publicity, prominent exposure on the course (signs to be provided by sponsor), on the backdrop at the post-event function and in the handout on the day, and publicity associated with the charity donation.

2. Corporate Gift Sponsor (Baht 30,000 each plus cost of gifts)

Including, but not restricted to, pin flags, golf balls, bag name labels, caddy bibs, tee markers, ball markers, club head covers, towels, range bags, etc. Other suggestions considered.

3. Special Hole Prizes (Baht 15,000 per hole plus cost of prizes)

Naming and presentation of prizes provided by sponsor for nearest pin, longest drive and straightest drive. Exposure includes signage (provided by sponsor), mention in flyers, publicity on post-event function backdrop, listing in Chamber publications and handout on the day and verbal mention at post-event function.

4. Standard Holes (Baht 10,000 per hole plus cost of prizes)

Same as 3 but excluding the naming and presentation of prizes.

If you would like to sponsor this event please contact either Greg Watkins, Executive Director BCC, tel. 260 7288-9, fax 260 7287; Kathy Lindsay, Executive Director ATCC, tel. 210 0216-7, fax 210 0218; or John Guy, President NZTCC, tel. 260 4564, fax 260 4570.

PSC Rules Invitational

"If you change your ball (which is not unfit for play) while playing a hole, what is the rule?" "When may an unplayable lie be declared?" These are a couple of the questions that were part of the rules quiz given at the Hare House on Friday night.

In its continuing effort to maintain the highest standards of golf in the Pattaya area, the Pattaya Sports Club sponsored a new tournament. The Rules Invitational combines a team competition between the different golf venues, followed by a multiple choice test on the Rules of Golf.

By any standards this was a very successful day that promoted friendly rivalry on the golf course at Khao Kheow and a heightened awareness of the rules that allow that rivalry to exist.

The inaugural competition was between TAGGS that plays out of the Hare House and the Splinter Group that plays out of the Green Bottle. It was very simple. Each group would play their normal Stableford tournament at Khao Kheow and the ten best scores from each venue would count in a team competition. The winning team would receive the Stableford Cup, which would be presented at the rules quiz that evening.

The Alternative Golf Gentlemen’s Society (TAGGS) played their competition first and when they got back to the Hare House they were already in the mood to celebrate. They had kicked butt. Their ten best scores totaled 377 points for an average of 37.7, a Stableford score that would win a lot of tournaments. These guys already have the PSC Match Play Challenge Cup and they were going to add to their collection.

The Splinter Group showed up later that afternoon for a Mexican buffet that the folks at the Hare House had put on for free. They seemed pretty confident as well. The rules quiz would come first and then the winning team would be announced. Only Mike Franklin knew who that would be.

He first gave the ten best scores from the Hare House. They had played well and were proud of it. Then came the scores from the Green Bottle and pandemonium broke out. Their lowest score of the ten was 37 points. Mick O’Meara had an astonishing 46 points to lead all the golfers. Their team total was 393 points, or an average score of 39.3. Unbelievable. Congratulations to Mick O’Meara, Joe Smiley, Bernie Tuppin, Al Laurie, Sven Vistung, Doug Jeffrey’s, Stan Fry, Ed Rosencrest, Jerry Quinn, and Neil Cameron for a job well done.

The top three scores on the rules quiz each received a very nice trophy to show the importance that the Pattaya Sports Club places on a good knowledge of the rules of golf.

In third place with 27 points out of a possible 33 was Neil Hughes. Tying at 30 points apiece were nine handicapper Bill Collis and ten handicapper Neil Cameron, which goes to show that the ability to play golf well goes hand in hand with an heightened awareness of the rules.

Neil Cameron took the first place trophy in a three rule playoff. "What is the diameter of a golf hole?" (Answer is 4 1/4 inches). "What is the least amount that a golf ball may weigh?" (Answer is 1.62 ounces). And finally, the question that won the contest for Neil Cameron: "How many rules of golf are there?" (Answer is 34).

The Stableford Cup will reside in the Green Bottle and at some point in the near future the Cafe Kronborg will have their chance to take it away. They better have their "A" game at hand because the golfers from the Splinter Group looked pretty unbeatable.

Tippy’s crowned champions of Premier League

Tippy’s were crowned champions of the Friday Premier Darts League as the season drew to a close last week. In their last match, Tippy’s defeated the Rose Garden to secure the championship going away.

Runners up, the Londoner lost their last match to Texxan Inn. Billy & Da finished in third spot, yet they also lost their final match to Sports Corner.

The other match played in the final week was between the Last Resort and Thistle. If Thistle were to lose, they would collect the dreaded wooden spoon. They put up a brave fight, but did lose the match.

The end of season party is going to be held at Tippy’s Bar on Soi 6 with a lucky draw and a free buffet on the 25th of September at 8:30 p.m.

If there are any bars wishing to join the league, please make it know on or before the party. The first matches of the new season will be starting on Friday the 2nd of October. Any persons wishing to play can turn up at any venue and will be assured a game.

Final League Table

Tippy’s Londoner Billy & Da Last Resort Sports Corner Texxan Inn Rose Garden Thistle

Win 12 9 9 8 7 5 3 2

Beer 7 10 8 8 8 8 1 5

Tons 95 67 77 91 103 63 32 59

Lost 2 5 5 6 7 9 11 12

Green Jacket up for grabs

TQ Masters returns next month

For the fifth straight year, the coveted green jacket will be up for grabs as the 1998 TQ Masters returns to Phoenix Country Club on Thursday, October 22nd.

The TQ Masters Tournament has become one of the most anticipated tournaments in the area, and organizers are once again billing it as a "not-so-prestigious tournament" that is both challenging for serious golfers and fun for duffers.

Eddie Henheffer was the first to don the coveted green jacket with his victory in 1994. He was followed by Serge Straeten in 1995, Leroy Blasi in 1996, and Kevin Bukowski in 1997.

Stay tuned for details, as sign ups will begin soon with Woody at the TQ, Wayne at the Hare House, and Richard at the Pattaya Driving Range.

Glavina and Cross win Bogey & Stableford

TAGGS... golf from the Hare House

Wednesday, September 16 - Rayong Green Valley Country Club (Bogey)

1st: Ciano Glavina, 1 Down
2nd: Vic Cross, 1 Down
3rd: Gary Parkinson, 2 Down

Golfers understand the need for course maintenance, especially when it pertains to the greens. They just want it done when they won’t be playing the course for a while. The gentlemen from the Hare House found a good number of the greens aerated and top dressed with sand when they played their Bogey Competition at Green Valley on Friday. A tough course was made tougher when putting became an iffy situation and the scores were higher than usual.

Australian Ciano Glavina, playing off a sixteen handicap, struggled on the front nine. He shot a 48, but somehow managed to keep his match with the course close and was only two down at the turn. Coming on strong on the back nine, Ciano shot a 43 and narrowed the gap to one down overall. He didn’t beat the course but he won the competition as his back nine gave him the edge in the count back over second place Vic Cross.

Vic, with his twenty handicap, shot a five over par 97. Playing his usual steady game, he didn’t win too many holes but he didn’t lose too many holes and also ended the day at one down. One behind Ciano and Vic was third place Gary Parkinson.

Friday, September 18 - Khao Kheow Country Club (Stableford)

1st: Vic Cross, 42 points
2nd: Gary Parkinson, 40 points
3rd: Dennis Willett, 39 points

Friday was an almost perfect day for golf in Pattaya. Heavy cloud cover kept away the sun and the prevailing wind kept away the heat. Khao Kheow was in great shape and the greens were immaculate. This would be a day to score well and score well they did. Vic Cross shot an 86 for a net six under par and a whopping 42 Stableford points. Vic has been a big factor in the golf played out of the Hare House since he retired in Pattaya two years ago. Just in the past six months, Vic has won eight tournaments and come in second or third in an additional ten. Not bad for a guy who walks every hole. And not bad for a guy who served in the U. S. Navy in World War II.

Playing in the same group with Vic was Gary Parkinson. Gary, playing his best round in Thailand, shot a gross 75 off his seven handicap for 40 Stableford points. Gary keeps saying goodbye to his buddies in the Hare House but then cancels his plane reservations and shows up for the next competition as if he never had any intentions of going back to Australia. Gary’s inquiries about visa extensions had given credence to the suspicions that he isn’t going back anytime soon.

Dennis Willett, playing off a nine handicap, brought home 39 points and edged out Ciano Glavina on a count back to take third place.

A successful return by Brooks

PSC Pattaya Golf Society

The Pattaya Golf Society’s stroke play competition was played at Pattaya Country Club and a welcome return was made by Welshman Norman Brooks after a 2 year absence.

Some may argue with the term "welcome" since Norman triumphed on the day with a 5 under par, winning on the back nine holes from Ken Lill with the same score. Both players had exceptional rounds.

Dick Barbi was back in the frame, coming third with a net 70. Apologies are due to Dick since his surname has previously been spelt with an "ie" and not an "e" with a hyphen. This grievous error will not be repeated.

For lovers of good music it should be noted that Taffy Brooks has taken over as lead singer at the White House Scandinavian Bar at Jomtien. Admission is free.

Members should be advised that "Tiger" Mitchell is now serving meals at "The Bunker" from breakfast to dawn at most reasonable prices.

Ishinaga in good shape and O’Meara on form to win at Siam, and again at Eastern Star!

Pattaya Sports Club Golf from the Cafe Kronborg

Siam Country Club, Monday 14th September (Stableford)

Heavy overnight rain detracted little from the excellent condition of this course, on a day pleasantly overcast with some light wind. Herbie Ishinaga, now fully recovered from his recent incapacity, produced sufficient form on the back nine to beat Joe Smiley on count-back. Michael O’Meara proved to be the clear winner in the ‘B’ Flight.

‘A’ Flight
Winner: Herbie Ishinaga, 38 points C/B
2nd: Joe Smiley, 38 points
3rd: Daryl White, 37 points

‘B’ Flight
Winner: Michael O’Meara, 40 points
2nd: Pete Galle, 38 points
3rd: Mike Franklin, 37 points

Long Drive: Milanko.
Near Pins: #4 John McMullen, #8 Svend Berthelsen, #12 John Gibson, #16 Sture Brisholm.

Eastern Star, Thursday 17th September (Stableford)

The weather was good and the course in fair condition, which again enabled Michael O’Meara to produce a winning score of 40 points and complete a double for the week. Ebrahim, not surprisingly, came second with 38 points and Bernie Tuppin third with an even par 36 Stableford points.

Winner: Michael O’Meara, 40 points
2nd: Ebrahim, 38 points
3rd: Bernie Tuppin, 36 points

Near Pins: #6 Anders Karlsson, #17 Ed Rosenquest.

PH3 Run 757

14/9/98. After a short bus trip we found the A-site to be somebody’s front lawn. Hares Boy George, Daisy Duck, and Tadpole assured us that this time we had permission to use the grounds. Unlike that incredibly excellent run by Spunk Bubble, when we actually asked for permission AFTER 10 cars and 20 motorbikes were already chipping away their precious concrete!

Ewok, who should know better, started the fun by being brought up for a new shoes offense. There were some other suspicious feet around, but she was the only one caught. Boy George said a lot of things that nobody was listening to, while we all stared at his lovely but silent co-hares. I did catch some muttering about manila envelopes, but then we were off.

All was well with the usual checks, FT’s and lots of paper, until I followed Sweet Squeeze into a muddy field alongside a dam. After drudging through a bit of mud and over mounds of earth we found - NO MORE PAPER. Since Sweet Squeeze has over 500 runs, and I’ve done only eighty, I decided to follow her. We didn’t find any paper, but after dodging some barbed wire we did find the only remaining HHH sign, and managed to enter the A site from the entirely opposite direction. At least the cheese was good (I heard later that it was imported especially for the Hash). Tadpole did an excellent job of guarding it so that none of you Fat B’s got more than one piece.

The circle was going well until I was iced (for no apparent reason) and forced to be the scribe. It all got a bit blurry after that, although I do remember some Potato Head suggesting that I get a pen and write down what was happening. Bad idea since: A) Nobody had a pen and, B) I was in no condition to write anything down. So here’s what I remember: I was iced with Glass Hopper and given permission to Hare a run again before Macau is returned to China, but only if I do the run with Glass Hopper. I’ll probably wait for the Chinese invasion. I received my Fiftieth Run Mug. It was a touching moment, especially since my fiftieth run was in 1994.

We named Sam from New York something totally unforgettable. I voted for Sam, Sam the Garbage Man, since Sam is from NY and we used to have a guy there by that name who ate garbage. I think I was outvoted though. Chicken F. was also left holding a box of tampons which had something to do with the manila envelopes Boy George was on about earlier.

I don’t really remember much else except for Boy George, Tadpole, and Daisy Duck dancing around in grass mini-skirts. For sure, Boy George had the hairiest legs. There was some sort of Ruckus involving Needle D. and Dino, but then there usually is. The highlight of the night was at (my personal favorite) the happy hour bar TQ2 when the assorted runners were presented with 50 pairs of socks. This was done by myself, Spunk Bubble, with great humbleness to stop all the winging and whining by those few people who got a little dirty on my excellent run a few weeks earlier. Fried things and Saloon Bar Pizza were also to be found, and eaten by those in any fit shape to eat, amongst which I was not one.

To end the night Needle D. won our first annual TQ2 Spoof Masters Tournament, beating the formidable Daisy Duck, Sam the Garbage Man [Seagull S.], Boy George, Dino [Duck F.], and the ever-present Spunk Bubble. Needle D. won something good and the rest of us drank far too many Kamakazees. Has anybody seen my Fiftieth Run Mug?

On-On Spunk Bubble!

Look us up on the Internet at http://members.tripod.com/~The_Nerd/hashsheet.html or email Susie at [email protected] or call 364 185. We meet every Monday 16:00 hours at the Hare House in Soi Post Office.

The Pattaya Hash House Harriers Preamble Run to Interhash in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday 26 September will start with sign-up at 2pm at the Hare House in Soi Post Office. Price 450 Baht for men, 300 Baht for women. Beer, food and the use of the Sea, Sand & Sun swimming pool are included. Bring your bathing suit along.

PSC Golf next week

September ends with two Stableford competitions on Monday the 28th at Pattaya Country Club from the Cafe Kronborg and at Laem Chabang with PSC Splinter Group.

PSC Pattaya Golf Society go to Rayong Green Valley for a Stroke Play competition on Tuesday the 29th, and on Wednesday the 30th a choice of playing Bangpra with the Splinter Group, or a visit to Natural Park Resort with TAGGS from Hare House.

PSC Golf from the Cafe Kronborg goes to Bangpra on Thursday the 1st of October to play a two man scramble and the fixture list is clear for Friday 2nd October when the Delaney’s Inaugural Irish Open, organised by PSC Golf, takes place at Rayong Green Valley. If not too late, sign up for this at Delaney’s or with Mike Franklin. Closing date for entries is 6.00 p.m. Wednesday 30 September.

More details of this event and the full October Schedule can be seen at PSC Golf venues, and on our WebPage at www.pattayasports.org

Updated every Friday
E-mail: [email protected]
Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sungwanlek.