QBE joins regatta to honour King’s Birthday

by Peter Cummins

The QBE marine insurance group has taken over principal sponsorship of the forthcoming Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, to be sailed as a special tribute to His Majesty on the occasion of His auspicious sixth cycle, seventy-second birthday in December.

Bill Gasson drives “Big Buzzard” down wind. QBE’s ongoing sponsorship greatly helped.

As preparations intensify for the Thirteenth Regatta - to be held from the fifth to the eleventh of December - Nigel J. Hardy, president of the 1999 Regatta Organizing Committee, has just announced QBE’s offer which is a great contribution to ensuring the success of this, the last big international regatta of the Millennium.

At a pre-regatta press conference held at the Kata Beach Resort, Phuket, earlier this week, Mr Hardy commended QBE in the highest terms for the continuing support extended to the regatta by the QBE Group.

Having been a consistent supporter of the annual event, QBE, the largest Australian-owned Insurance and Reinsurance company in the Asian-Pacific region, now takes over the prestigious slot as the regatta principal sponsor. This includes the rights to the now-classic regatta blue-riband event which this year will be known as the QBE Andaman Sea Race.

“It is a most appropriate liaison,” said QBE Managing Director Ron Sparks. “Our company started from a sailing ship background, established by the world-renowned Burns Philp Shipping Company in 1886, to service its own ships and cargoes plying the Asia-Pacific shipping lanes,” Mr Sparks added.

QBE has also sponsored individual yachts, including those of four-time regatta racing class champion Bill Gasson sailing his famous series of “Buzzards”.

QBE Managing Director Ron Sparks sees a close affiliation between Marine Insurance and the regatta.

The regatta, which up until 1997 had always been based at Nai Harn Bay, last year moved north to Kata Beach, with the many benefits this new ambience created. “We are delighted,” said the Kata Beach Group at the press briefing, “to be the ‘home’ of the regatta - FOR EVER!”

Ricoh, which has also been an ongoing supporter, greatly assisting the complexities of managing such a big international event, again will furnish the regatta secretariat with top-class Ricoh reprographic and up-market information technology equipment.

Other supporters include Boonrawd Brewery, Thai Airways, Pepsi, Neil Pryde, The Boathouse, Artasia Press, Holiday Inn, Phuket Sunwest Homes, Sunsail Boat Charters, which will provide upwards of thirty entries and, of course, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the organizing yacht clubs, the Royal Thai Navy and the Marine Police.

The original Phuket King’s Cup Regatta was inaugurated in December 1987, as a celebration of His Majesty the King’s fifth-cycle, 60th birthday and has been re-dedicated each year to the Regatta’s Royal Patron who graciously bestowed the most handsome King’s Cup permanent trophy.

Mr Hardy pointed out that this year the regatta will open in Krabi Province. He reasoned that a start off Ao Nang Beach, with the towering karst formations and awesome headlands of Krabi as a back-drop, will make a fitting special tribute to His Majesty on the occasion of his seventy-second birthday on 5 December.

Regatta President Nigel J. Hardy, flanked by HE Chanchai Soontharamut (L), Governor of Phuket, and Pinit Usah, Deputy Governor of Krabi at the Phuket press conference.

“It is not the first time, either, that we have started from Krabi Province,” Mr Hardy reminded the assembled newshounds. “Both the 1992 and 1993 regattas, in fact, started at Koh Phi Phi,” noted Nigel, smiling broadly at the Krabi Deputy Governor, “which I assume is still part of Krabi Province - even after Leonardo’s visit to film ‘The Beach” earlier this year.”

David Ratcliffe, Phuket-based Regatta Vice-Chairman of Administration, has done an incredible amount of legwork, commuting between the provincial officials at Krabi, Phi Phi and Phuket, the Royal Thai Navy, the Marine Police, the Tourism Associations and countless other people who must be consulted on the minutiae of organizing such a huge undertaking.

Dr Sira Chowanawirat and H.E. Chanchai Soontharamut, Governors of Krabi and Phuket respectively, are keenly supporting this year’s event and, particularly in view of an Ao Nang start, the Krabi Governor’s office will provide all facilities and the necessary logistic support that the undertaking requires.

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 exhilarating QBE Andaman Sea Race. Then the rest of the event will be in-shore racing up and down Phuket’s coast.

With the “Golden Triangle” of Krabi, Trat and Surat Thani poised to become the new tourist destinations, and daily flights servicing them, the Krabi start to this year’s regatta is good news for all concerned.

Already more than 50 entries have been received and Andy Dowden, Vice President in charge of the racing programme, anticipates up to 100 craft from local and regional entries. Additionally, Mr Dowden pointed out, “there is a strong possibility that a number of entries will be forthcoming from the two “round-the-world” rally fleets which will have land-falls in Phuket, appropriately enough, just in time for the 1999 regatta.”

One of these, the “Millennium Odyssey” represents the third time that international yacht rally organizer Jimmy Cornell will bring a round-the-world fleet through Phuket, berthing at the Yacht Haven Phuket, conveniently near the Krabi starting line.

It is thus “all go” for the Millennium’s last big regatta and any who have sailed it before or simply come along as committee or supporters would whole-heartedly agree.

The Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy

Much interest is being generated this year for the coveted Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy. For the past three years, the racing class yacht having the best aggregate score in the region’s three major regattas has been awarded the “Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy”.

Current “Lipo” champion, Swiss Olympic helmsman Andreas Bienz, finishing first in the 1998 Fifth Singapore Straits Regatta, Second in the Ninth Raja Muda International Regatta and equal-fourth in the Twelfth Phuket King’s Cup, ‘walked off’, so to speak, with the Lipton Trophy, presented at last year’s King’s Cup Awards night.

As he held the beautiful solid silver trophy, a very un-Swiss like pun escaped his lips: “That’s my ‘cup of tea’ alright,” Andreas gushed. But, ‘walked off’ would hardly be the right term. Presenting the trophy, brought up from the Lipton Cup’s home base at the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club, was Joe Raess, a fellow-Swiss and marina manager domiciled in Singapore.

After about as long as it takes to drink one cup of tea, Joe retrieved the trophy from Andreas’ eager hands: well, THEY ARE BOTH SWISS - AND the Lipton Cup IS SOLID SILVER, after all!

Thomas Lipton was born in Glasgow in 1850 of Irish parents. At the ripe old age of 15, he set off for the New World where he worked in the tobacco fields of Virginia and then entered the grocery trade, opening his first store in 1871.

He eventually made a fortune in the United States as a tea merchant by importing tea from India and Ceylon, revolutionizing the tea business by selling the leaves in small packages.

In 1902 he was knighted by Queen Victoria in recognition of his remarkable achievements and, like his great friend of the time the Prince of Wales, Sir Tommy then turned his attention to his first love - yachts.

He mounted five challenges for the America’s Cup in his marvellous “J” boats, the Shamrocks, I - V. Tommy vainly tried to wrest the coveted trophy away from the New York Yacht Club, spending a fortune along the way.

Although he lost every challenge, Tommy had made such a great impression on the American public which so adored his gallantry, his style and his sportsmanship, that they cast a trophy in silver and awarded it to the tea merchant.

Sir Thomas bequeathed the magnificent trophy to the then Royal Singapore Yacht Club - now the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club which, conveniently carries the same acronym - in 1927, four years before his death in 1931 at the age of 81.

Given his great love of yachting, Sir Thomas would no doubt have been proud to know that the region’s best keel-boat sailor each year holds his magnificent trophy: that alone would be enough to cause a ‘stir’ in the region’s tea-cups!

See you in Phuket for the last great regatta of the old Millennium.

Photos: Peter Cummins

21st Siam Windsurfing World Cup

Jomtien, 1-5 December 1999

The Windsurfing Association of Thailand announced that preparations are being set for the 21st Siam Windsurfing World Cup to be held off Jomtien Beach from 1-5 December 1999.

The ongoing preparations are almost complete and the event will honor His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 72nd birthday on 5 December. Ships from the Royal Thai Navy will be anchored in the bay and brightly decorated.

Athletes representing Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore, Netherlands, Russia, China, India, Japan and South Korea will be competing for the Siam Wind Surfing World Cup. The two winners will receive invitations to the pre-Olympics, with support from Thai Airways.

This competition will include a new event called the wind surf run, which has been created by the World Wind Surfing Association. A fun-filled exciting event, popular with viewers, is being presented for the first time ever in Asia during the Siam Cup competitions.

The next wind surf event will be in Athens followed by the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Yodsanan 3K Battery to defend WBA title in Pattaya

World Boxing Association Junior Lightweight Champion Yodsanan 3K Battery will defend his belt against top-ranked contender Ladwasim from Kazakstan at Pattaya City Hall on Sunday 28 November.

The under card bout between Yokthai Sid Aw from Thailand and Khrishamsar from Indonesia is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

Promoters Songchai Ratanasuban and Yodthong, of the world famous Yodthong-Phayakarun Boxing Camp, are guaranteeing an impressive event for everyone in Pattaya.

The Yodthong-Phayakarun Boxing Camp, right here in Pattaya, has produced many champion boxers, including Samat Phayakarun, Kong Thorani Phayakarun, Lak Hai S. Phanaphet and Yodsanan 3K Battery.

Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat and a group of Pattaya supporters, in conjunction with the I.S.S. Construction Company Ltd., are supporting the event.

Proceeds from the boxing match will be going towards a number of charitable organizations that support children without parents, underprivileged children and handicapped persons in Pattaya.

The Flying Finn Hannu Kemilla takes a nosedive

PSC Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker

Sattahip - Tuesday 2nd November (Stableford)

This bright young golfer has worked hard to bring his handicap down to 13 within the short time he’s been in Pattaya where his golfing career took off. Seems after this competition Hannu may have to go back to the drawing after achieving just 11 Stableford points. Playing off this handicap proved too much of a handicap to handle on this rain soaked course. But behind his ‘Dracula’ type grin hides his determination to bounce back into the limelight by restricting his prowling hours of darkness.

With a turnout of 20 competitors, two flights were formed of 10 each. Handicaps 20 and under and over 20 formed. Conditions obviously not to the liking of players, only two respectable scores emerged. Anders Karlson won the A flight with 34 points and is by now returned to his Scandinavian home.

Winner of the B flight, also on 34 points, was the veteran and evergreen, Colin Morgan who last won the Bunker ‘Player of the Month’ way back in February 1998. Seems he’s got over the loss of his treasured Toyota Soluna Car and is now bouncing back to form. Beware, “Steady Eddy’s” raring to go again.

Following 3 points behind, 2nd place went to Keith Fortt with 31 Stableford points and third place went to Gary Hamill, also on 31 points.

B flight winner Colin Morgan (left) and A flight winner Anders Karison.

Anders Pederson, also on 31 points, took second place in the A flight. John Simonds came third with 29 points. These scores reflected good returns for the wet and watery conditions played.

Visitor John Evans, a native of Plymouth, U.K. playing off 9, also recorded 29 points and had the distinction of a nearest the pin win after coming only inches from attaining a ‘Hole in One’, which would have been his first ever. ‘Tough’.

Other nearest the pins winners were Paul (The Hair) Butler and Gary Hamill.

Another visitor, Brandon Buckingham, originates from Oxford and is now living in Cardiff. As he is a friend of Colin Morgan, we’ll not mention Brandon’s score, but his profession is that of hairdresser. Brandon couldn’t get going at all and would have served the Society better had he applied himself to Paul’s locks. One cruel jibe heard was that, “he’d seen better hair on a coconut”. It was unfair but the laughter seemed to indicate something else.

Later on at the Bunker with the influence of Singha Brewery’s nectar, remarks were made by Wilf Latham expounding his own inability to play the course. Wilf remarked that he had hit 28 Stableford points and he picked up on 8 holes. Thinking this was the effects of his intake of the nectar, his card was checked by Tiger Mitchell and it was 5 holes Wilf picked up and failed to score.

With stalwarts as Norman Brooks, last month’s winner of the Bunker Bonus and Player of the Month, George Meigh, now settled out of town in domestic bliss, and Tiger Mitchell, host of the Bunker and 3 Vs. B, all failing to achieve decent scores proved and confirmed the difficult conditions of the course on the day. The Bunker Bonus and Player of the Month is wide open with several outsiders staking claims for several honours.

PSC Golf keeps busy in November

On Sunday 14th November, Lewiinski’s go to Khao Kheow for a Stableford competition leaving at 11.00 a.m. On Monday 15th November, PSC Golf from the Caf้ Kronborg also go to Khao Kheow leaving at 8.15 a.m., and the Splinter Golf Group from the Green Bottle leaving at 09.45 a.m. go to Phoenix, both groups playing Stableford. Hare House also make a trip this day to Sriracha to play Stableford.

On Tuesday the 16th, Pattaya Golf Society from the Bunker play Stableford at Pattaya Country Club, while Lewiinski’s go to Treasure Hill also to play Stableford.

On Wednesday 17th November, the Green Bottle group go to Eastern Star for a Two Man Better Ball, while Hare House play Bogey at Phoenix.

On Thursday the 18th the Kronborg play their Monthly Medal Mug at Green Valley while Lewiinski’s play stroke at Natural Park Resort leaving at 10.15 a.m.

On Friday the 19th the Diana Gold Charity Tournament takes place at Phoenix Golf & Country Club. This shotgun start Charity event features a one baht gold prize on every hole, as well as trophies for the Diana Gold champion and place winners in four divisions. Prize giving around the Diana Inn pool with a barbecue buffet and many lucky draw prizes including air tickets. Field limited to 144 players. Entry forms with full details at the Diana Inn and Green Bottle, all PSC Golf Venues, Delaney’s and TQ. Last call for this one!

A week later, Papasan Ray Rogers Thanksgiving ‘Turkey Day’ Tournament is at Pattaya Country Club on Thursday November 25th, followed by the traditional Thanksgiving Supper hosted by Ray at his house. Sign-up early at the Caf้ Kronborg for this one. Field strictly limited to 120 players

The November schedule is up and can be seen at all PSC Golf Venues, at Delaney’s, in Pattaya Mail and on the PSC Web Site at www.pattayasports.org.

Kerr wins back to back

PSC TAGGS... golf from the Harre House

Wednesday, November 3 - Bangpra International Golf Club (Medal)

1st: Murray Kerr, 71 net
2nd: Mike Spear, 75 net
3rd: John Kendall, 76 net

On Wednesday, November 3, the Hare House Gang played a stroke competition at Bangpra. If they thought the rain soaked course would offer slower greens, they were badly mistaken. That notion was disabused on the first hole where putting downhill was like putting off the top of your roof and stopping the ball before it got to the gutter. Sadly, whoever cut the greens managed to scalp the turf right off the ground. The crowns were all right, but the edges were a maze of sunken mower tracks and big patches of bare mud.

Murray Kerr, whose respite from employment has certainly helped his golf game, made it around the front nine in two over par. Playing off twelve, “Muffy” shot a 44 going out on a course that was in pretty good shape. The back nine, however, was one giant quagmire. Winter rules were in effect with balls being lifted and cleaned in the fairways and plugged balls could be picked up through the green. With conditions on the back nine much tougher, Muffy proceeded to shoot a 39 for an 83 off the sticks and a net one under par and a well deserved win.

Mike Spear, playing off 32, also did better on the back nine, shooting 57 / 50 for a net three over par 75. Mike edged out John Kendall who shot a gross 96 for a net 76.

Friday, November 5 - Rayong Green Valley Country Club (Stableford)

1st: Murray Kerr, 37points
2nd: Mike Spear, 36 points
3rd: Anders Karlsson, 35 points

The leader board after the TAGGS Stableford competition at Green Valley had a familiar look. There was Muffy Kerr on top, followed by Mike Spear, and John Kendall, oops, Anders Karlsson in third place. John is back in Costa Rica sweet-talking the lovely Iriabel.

Muffy won his second singles contest in three days with a round that was identical to the one he shot on Wednesday at Bangpra. Forty four on the front nine and a 39 on the back for a net one under par and 37 Stableford points. He became the fourth golfer this year to win consecutive singles events out of the Hare House, joining fellow Canadians Rick Bevington and Mike Dabanovich and Finland’s Hannu Kemila.

Welshman Mike Spear took second place with 36 Stableford points. Mike started off hot on the tenth tee and finished his first nine with 20 points. He was chipping well and putting adequately on the funky “corn row” greens, but his driver was letting him down and he finished the second nine with 16 points.

Sweden’s Anders Karlsson took the last spot on the podium with 35 points.

Notice of Regatta - Hyland Trophy 1999

The Hyland Trophy 1999 regatta will be held off the Royal Varuna Yacht Club on the 13th and 14th of November, organized by the Royal Varuna Yacht Club.

Members of the RVYC and their invited guests are eligible to participate in the event, and all classes of sailing vessels are recognized by the RVYC, including Optimists.

Registration: Sign-out form for each day of racing. Sign-in form for each day of racing.

Starting Times: 13 October - Briefing 13:00, Multihulls 14:00, Monohulls 14:07. 14 October - Briefing 9:00, Multihulls, 10:00, Monohulls 11:00.

Race officer: Richard Van den heuvel.

Course: 13 Saturday - Monohull and multihull: Olympic. Two races back-to-back. 14 Sunday - Multihull: Start at Varuna flagpole - Koh Rin - Finish at Varuna flagpole. Monohull: Olympic. Two races back-to-back.

Time Limit: 6 hours for long distance race, 3 hours round the buoys.

Handicap: PYC

Scoring: Low points scoring system

Prizes: 1st multihull - Hyland Trophy. Mono & Multihull - 1st to 5th (more than 7 boats), 1st, 2nd (4 to 6 participants)

Rules: Racing Rules of Sailing (1997-2000), Current Class Rules of Participating Yachts, RVYC Sailing Instructions and Notice of Race, Race Category B.

Sign up now for Diana Gold Charity Golf Tournament

If you are a golfer and you have not signed up for the Diana Gold Charity Golf Tournament, then do yourself a favor. Start thinking up excuses to give your wife or girlfriend should the field become full and there is no way for you to play. The Bamboo Telegraph is already buzzing with the news that this shindig, played on Friday, 19th of November at Phoenix Country Club, is featuring a one baht gold prize on every one of the eighteen holes. She might tolerate your playing golf five days a week. She might even tolerate some of your shenanigans on the 19th hole. But brother, she is not going to forgive you for missing out on so many chances to win some gold. Be proactive and start thinking up those excuses today.

The entries close on Monday, 15th of November, 5:00 p.m. While you are reading this, there are scores of other Pattaya golfers thinking, “uh oh, I better get going or I am going to be in deep doo doo.” The last two major golf tournaments in Pattaya filled up days before the competition started. And this tournament has a couple of more reasons that it will prove too popular.

First, the poolside buffet at the Diana Inn is sumptuous and the setting is gorgeous. The entertainment value is high, too. There will be a live band and an extended Happy Hour. On top of that, you never know who will jump into the pool with all their clothes.

Secondly, there will be a Lucky Draw with lots of nice prizes. How nice? How about some return flights to Singapore? You receive three Lucky Draw tickets with your entry fee. All proceeds from the Tournament and Lucky Draw will go the Chonburi Observation and Protection Centre, which provides for over 900 children that have passed through the Chonburi Juvenile and Family Court.

This will be a Singles Stroke Play tournament with a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. at Phoenix. Sign up as a Fourball and the Entry Form with the Entry Fee B.1500 per golfer should be given to John Cole or Kuhn Winai at the Golf Centre, Diana Inn Lobby; or to Mike Franklin or Steve Ross, Pattaya Sports Club.

Don’t forget. Excuses, excuses, excuses.

One Baht Gold Hole Sponsors: Pattaya Sports Club, The Classroom, Delaney’s, Peri-Thai (two holes), Tan Food Supply, Pattaya Best Food, The Balcony, Tharnthong Gold Shop, Volvo & Chrysler, Orchid Trading, Tahitian Queen, The Jesters, Supamit Store, Thai Sausage, King Seafood, Jareon Bakery, Biam Golf Clubs.

PH3 Run 816

25 October 1999 - Hares: Spaghetti Head and Salvatore

A small but fanatic group of Hashers gathered under the rain at the Hare House for the Monday run. Once aboard the Hash bus it was a medium drive to the Buddha Mountain under worsening weather.

Arrived at the A-site, the Hash truck was already resting in the middle of a nice pond. The GM called the circle with three new shoes being blessed. This included veteran Hasher Seagull S. who was caught red handed offering a pair of new shoes to his last girlfriend. The hares, Spaghetti Head and Salvatore, were called into the circle to give instructions for the run. Everybody was in a hurry to start running as the weather turned from bad to worse.

The run itself was a very scenic run through beautiful countryside without any dogs, cattle and even people as they have all departed to Noah’s Ark! The FRB’s were lead by who, I have no clues as I was doing some mud wrestling with Seagull S. and Sir Airhead at the back of the pack. On In back to the beer truck for some cold beer and soaked fruit.

The circle was called shortly after and a crowd of giant condoms stuffed with Hashers showed up. I was happily nominated as a virgin scribe with no chance to note down anything at all. Then we proceeded with the traditional raffle but nobody really cared as raffle tickets had melted long ago.

Courageously Sir Airhead and 5 girls were hiding under a small umbrella as the weather developed in a full-blown tropical storm. The GM gave up reading any lists and asked the returnees to come in by themselves. It was then time for some religion and our beloved R.A. Who Ate All The Pies was iced to celebrate his new freedom as he got divorced before even getting married. He was iced again later on with C. Face who practiced sewage free fall during the Moon run!

Then the circle suddenly shrank dramatically as all Moon runners were called in for a down-down. Finally sinner Hammer was iced for looking at the panties of underage girls during the Malaysian Grand Prix and was then rewarded by is favorite and personal hymn.

Religion was over but Rugby took on as an excuse for more ice and down-downs. A group of New Zealanders and later myself as French were surrounded and iced by a hatred British crowd. Who Ate All The Pies made a mockery of my beloved Marseillaise as he needed revenge after Wales was trashed again.

The GM finally iced the R.A who was not able to protect the circle from this deluge. As an excuse, Sir Airhead explained that his stamina faded away after is girlfriend received physiotherapy treatment from a taxi driver. Welcome to the club, Airhead.

Finally it was time for the Hares to sing a song. After the Hash Hymn the pack went to the TQ2 and then to Patrick’s place to celebrate Tadpole’s birthday.

God bless the Pattaya Hash, our beloved wives and the motor taxis we sponsor!

On On Chicken S.

Look up the Pattaya Hash House Harriers on the Internet at <http://members.tripod.com/~The_Nerd/hashsheet.html> or email Susie at [email protected] or call 364 185. PH3 meets every Monday 15:30 hours at the Hare House in Soi Post Office; bus leaves at 16:30.

Copyright 1999 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
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Updated by Boonsiri Suansuk