Iridium Joins 1999 Phuket Regatta

by Peter Cummins

As preparations for the forthcoming Thirteenth Phuket King’s Cup Regatta - to be held from the fifth to the eleventh of December - intensify, the Organizing Committee, under the able direction of President Nigel J. Hardy, has announced that Iridium, which was a first-time sponsor last year, has now become the principal sponsor of the 1999 event.

Iridium, producer of the world’s first hand-held satellite phone and paging system, joins ongoing supporter QBE Marine Insurance, the Kata Beach Boathouse and the Kata Beach Resorts group which, understandably, is happy to be the new, permanent “home” of the regatta.

David Ratcliffe (L) and Nigel Hardy confer with Krabi Governor Dr. Sira Chowanawirat on regatta logistics. Peter Cummins photo

Ricoh, which has consistently assisted the regatta management with the provision of its top-class reprographic and up-market information technology equipment, has agreed to do so again for the 1999 event.

Nigel pointed out that the shift of the regatta focus last year, from Nai Harn Bay on Phuket’s southern extremity, north to Kata Beach, after being ensconced at the former location for the first decade, had a most beneficial effect. Primarily, it brought the event closer to the people of Phuket while, at the same time, it ‘returned’, so to speak, to the Regatta co-founder and perennial supporter, M. L. Tridosyuth Devakul whose magnificent Boathouse Inn is adjacent to the Kata Beach Resort.

New format for 1999

Nigel, who has racked up his ‘flying hours’ as the treasurer over several years, took the reins in January and was determined to seek a new format for the thirteenth Regatta, which would be a special tribute to His Majesty the King, the Regatta Royal Patron, on the occasion of his sixth-cycle, seventy-second birthday. A Krabi start was mooted and eventually accepted by the Committee.

Ao Nang Beach, Krabi: beautiful even during a rainstorm. Photo Petre Cummins

The Governors of Phuket, Chadej Insawang and Krabi, Dr. Sira Chowanawirat have enthusiastically given full support and have placed their respective provincial offices at the disposal of regatta officials. The Krabi start requires a myriad of additional details and considerable logistic support to ensure that all teams and their essential equipment are in place at Ao Nang in time for the opening ceremony to honour His Majesty on his seventy-second birthday, Sunday, the fifth of December.

The original Phuket King’s Cup Regatta was inaugurated in December 1987 as a celebration of the his fifth-cycle, 60th birthday and has been re-dedicated each year to the Royal Sailor. The committee reasoned that a start the next day, Monday, off the towering headlands of Krabi, with the spectacular limestone cliffs rising sheer out of the blue-green waters of the Andaman Sea, would be a worthy nautical salutation to the King. Furthermore, it will not be a first Krabi Province start - having done so on previous occasions from Phi Phi Island, an integral appendage of Krabi.

Another factor favouring this year’s new starting sequence is that even more of the beauty of the Andaman Sea area will be exposed. With some of the region’s most spectacular scenery as a backdrop for the press and media coverage expected for the event, it will present a lasting glimpse of the marine magnificence of the Kingdom, as the “Amazing Thailand” promotional biennium draws to a close.

The opening race on Monday the 6th will be from Krabi, across the Andaman Sea to Koh Phi Phi, after which the regatta format will then follow the time-honoured programme, with the anticipated 100-strong fleet racing back from Phi Phi to Kata Beach in the usually exhilarating Andaman Sea Race. Then the rest of the event will be in-shore racing up and down Phuket’s coast.

From Gulf to Golf

A special feature on the Thursday lay-day will be a golf competition for all regatta participants and supporters at the Loch Palm Golf Club, with all proceeds donated to the Phuket Special School for disadvantaged children, and to HM the King’s charities.

As usual, His Majesty’s Personal Representative will preside over the Royal Awards and Closing Ceremony at the Kata Beach Resort on Saturday, 11 December.

Many entries have already been received for the 1999 event, unprecedented at this early stage in any past regattas.

Obviously, the committee has found the right blend, with Phuket-based vice-presidents David Ratcliffe, Andy Dowden and their cohorts, looking after on-shore and off-shore management, respectively. The Royal Thai Navy continues to provide major logistic and management support, while the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, the Phuket Yacht Club Association and the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand will be providing personnel to assist the Phuket teams.

Theerawit Lansan (L), Director TAT at Krabi, confers with Regatta Principals (L to R) John Everingham, Andy Dowden and Nigel Hardy. Photo Peter Cummins

As the new “Golden Triangle” - Krabi, Trat and Surat Thani - is poised to take off as the new tourism destination, perhaps the 1999 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is going to be in the vanguard. It also bodes well for the Regatta, particularly, that the new Krabi airport is now open and participants will be able to fly direct from Don Muang for the opening gambits.

Interestingly enough, a recent letter from Barry Rose, Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club - the world’s oldest - at County Cork, places Phuket in clear perspective: “Even though the (Phuket) King’s Cup is a comparatively new event,” writes the Admiral, “its reputation has spread rapidly as being one of the top regattas in the world.”

More recently, an accolade was forthcoming from Mark A. Pryke, President of the prestigious Hobie Cat International Association, who has been an active member of the Regatta’s international jury for the past five years. “The organization that goes into this event would be on a par with the biggest and best sailing events in the world.” Mark should know, for he has officiated at most of them.

Above all, the regatta is dedicated to upholding the strictest standards of protection of Phuket’s beautiful and fragile environment - a plea oft heard around the waters of Phuket and one which is strongly re-iterated by regatta co-founder, M. L. Tridhosyuth Devakul at successive regattas and which will, no doubt, be repeated this year. “Keep Phuket beautiful - SAIL” is M. L. Tri’s motto.

See you in Phuket for the last GREAT REGATTA of the millennium!

Lions and Sataya Golf to hold Priness Cup Golf tournament

Lions Club President Visit Ek-Ak announced that the Lions Club, in cooperation with Sataya Golf Association, will hold the Princess Cup Golf competition to raise funds for Sight First project. The tournament will take place at Laem Chabang International Golf Club on the 13th of August.

Golfers will be competing for the Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Cup. Funds raised from the tournament will be donated to poor people with eyesight problems who cannot afford treatment.

Golfers will be competing in 6 different divisions: A Flight A (hcp. 1-9), B Flight (10-14), C Flight (15-19), D Flight (20-24), a Ladies Flight (1-24) and Seniors Flight (1-24).

In addition to the many technical prizes, a new Toyota will be up for grabs if anyone should happen to achieve a hole-in-one on the par 3 7th.

Anyone interested in entering may do so with Sataya Golf Association, or at Greenway Driving Range, or call 231388, 232038-9, fax: 232084, or the Pattaya Lions Club at 423410, fax: 410311, or Laem Chabang International Country Club at 372273, or the Thai Communications Office located on South Pattaya Road, tel. 425301.

The entry fee of 2,000 baht per person or 10,000 baht per team includes green and caddy fees and the prize presentation party following the event.

The Luck of the Irish!

Eddie Irvine in the Ferrari came back from what appeared to be a drubbing by Hakkinen in the McLaren to win the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim and now leads the World Championship.

It was another very eventful race in Germany, with strong initial leader Hakkinen dropping to 4th after a refuelling problem at his pit stop and then experiencing a rear tyre letting go at 200 KPH spearing him into the barriers.

Irvine’s recently drafted in team mate, Mika Salo, had been the star of the meeting and was running in 2nd place to Hakkinen when he suddenly inherited the lead, the first time he had ever led a GP, while Coulthard in the second McLaren had been in and out of the pits all afternoon with a variety of problems and was in no position to challenge for the front running position.

Eddie Irvine powers dthe Farrari round Hockenheim in Germany.

Following these retirements, Irvine inherited 2nd and was then elevated to 1st after team orders required Salo to relinquish his top spot.

The Ferrari duo coasted home for a joyous 1-2, followed by rising star Heinz-Harald Frentzen 3rd in the Jordan after a very well planned and faultless race.

The next round of the Championship is in Hungary on the 15th of this month. Current standings are now Irvine 52, Hakkinen 44, Frentzen 33, M. Schumacher 32, Coulthard 30 and R. Schumacher 22.

The Aussies are coming!

Hot on the heels of the Pattaya Road Show promotional tour to Australia comes the visit to Pattaya by John Toussaint, the Marketing Director of Holiday Makers Travel, one of the movers in the National Association of Independent Travel Agents (NAITA) in Australia.

John Toussaint.

John is here to tee up the small details for the forthcoming inaugural Thai International Australia Cup to be held in Pattaya in March next year. This competition will be a prestigious golf tournament, open to Australian amateurs with recognised handicaps. According to John, this makes it possible for everyone to have a chance at the rich prize pool. “It will even be OK for the normal hackers,” he said.

The competition will cover 54 holes for the men over the three days and a 36-hole two-day comp for the women. There is also a separate section for the over 55s, with the “Grey Power” segment of the market being important in tourism these days.

Thai International Airways have indicated their commitment in backing for this tournament for the next three years and John Toussaint expects the golf tour to bring to Pattaya up to 600 players by the third year of operation.

Whilst Holiday Makers Travel is Perth based in Western Australia, the competition will attract entrants from all over the Australian continent. Already one operator from the East Coast of Australia has rescheduled their golfing tour to bring it under the banner of the Thai International Australia Cup.

This type of promotion for Pattaya and its attractions has come from a wide variety of sources including such diverse promotions as the Golf Mart this year and even the Road Show itself. Pattaya City and the TAT are to be encouraged to continue to maintain these entrepreneurial promotions for this region. It will all pay off with increased tourism which will have economic benefits for us all.

Lien & Parkinson scramble to victory

PSC TAGGS... golf from the Hare House

Friday, July 30 - Siam Country Club (Two Man Scramble)
1st: Jerry Lien & Garry Parkinson, 64.2 net
2nd: Vic Cross & Juan Kendall, 66.4 net
3rd: George Jackson & Brian Kelly, 68.2 net

On Friday, July 30, The Alternative Golf Gentlemen’s Society played a Two Man Scramble competition at Siam Country Club. Playing together for the first time and now claiming the title of “Undefeated” was the team of Jerry Lien, playing off 27,and Garry Parkinson, playing off seven. They shot a gross one under par 71. With a handicap allowance of 20% of their total, that 71 translated to a net 64.2.

It is not known who picked whom for the winning team. Garry has been winning every competition in sight. In the last two weeks he has three wins and a second out of the Hare House. So if Jerry picked Garry he, ain’t no dummy. But “Old Man Lien” still has a few tricks up his sleeve as well. “The man can PUTT,” declared Mr. Parkinson.

In second place was the team of Vic Cross, playing off 20, and Juan “Killing Me Softly With His Songs” Kendall. Senor Kendall has a 28 handicap, but you better be careful how many strokes you give him in a friendly match. Together, the duo shot a gross 76, that resulted in a net 66.4 and a couple of Fobe’ golf shirts.

Also picking up a golf shirt each were George “One Ball” Jackson and Brian Kelly. They claimed the third spot on the podium with a net 68.2. They might have done better had George not been under the impression that the Hare House was playing the six drive minimum rule. His final argument to the jury of his peers was to no avail. The gentlemen in the Hare House shouted him down and threatened a new nickname. George “Rave On” Jackson.

More PSC Golf in August

On Sunday 8th August Lewiinski’s have a Stableford competition at Eastern Star leaving at 11:00 am. On Monday 9th August PSC Golf from the Caf้ Kronborg goes to Natural Park Resort for a two-man scramble, while the Splinter Golf Group from the Green Bottle play stroke at Khao Kheow.

On Tuesday the 10th Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker also go to Khao Kheow to play Stableford, while Lewiinski’s go to Laem Chabang playing Stableford as well.

On Wednesday the 11th, the Green Bottle play Stableford at Bangpra, while Hare House play better ball at Phoenix.

On Thursday 12th August, a Public Holiday, PSC Golf Caf้ Kronborg goes to Sriracha to play stroke, and on Friday August 13th the Splinter group stay local at Siam Country Club, playing stroke, while Hare House play a relaxed Stableford at Eastern Star.

Please note, Lewiinski’s now leave at 11:00 a.m.

The full August Schedule can be seen at PSC Golf venues, at Delaney’s, in Pattaya Mail and at our Web Site at www.pattayasports.org.

Close finish in PGS monthly battle

PSC Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker

The final round to decide “Player of the Month” was a stroke play competition at New Century, Banchang.

As always, the course proved to be a testing event for all the players and nobody was able to break par.

Joe Sparey was the day’s winner with a creditable 2 over par and this earned him a close second place in the Player of the Month” with just 2 over par.

It should be mentioned that Joe has been dropped four strokes in his handicap from last week.

The outright winner was long hitting Paul Butler with just 1 over par for the month, the result being the closest finish possible.

Second in the day’s competition was consistent George Meigh with 4 over par, closely followed by Bunker’s “mine host” Roy Mitchell on 5 over.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.