By Peter Cummins, Ocean Marina
The Second Top of the Gulf Regatta, sailed out off the Ocean Marina
from 3 - 7 May, had a little of everything for the 10 classes which
participated.
A number of heavy rain storms swept through at various times of the day
and night over the four days but, fortunately, there was enough wind to
allow the full racing programme to be implemented and certainly on the
final day of the regatta, it blew at around 25-knots.
Top
(Bill)ing for the Top of the Gulf’s supremos Bill O’Leary, left and Bill
Gasson, right as Ocean Marina’s Fuengfa (Mam) busily writes their
speeches!
There were around 200 craft all told on the water- a record for
Thailand’s booming marine leisure industry. Keelboats, Cruising
Keelboats, Sports Boats, Ocean Multihulls, Beach Catamarans, Monohulls,
and Formula Windsurfers comprised the bulk of the fleets. There were
special events for the Optimists which competed for the Thailand
National Championship and the Platu keelboats which competed for the
annual Coronation Cup - appropriately incorporating Coronation Day,
celebrating His Majesty the King’s 60th anniversary of his reign in
Thailand.
In addition, there was a small contingent of the Super Mott (Mod) the
tiny craft designed by the King himself, based on the design of the
International Moth.
Revelling in the stronger winds which came on the last day, of the
four-day Top of the Gulf Regatta, little Thai lady sailor, Benjamas
Poonpat, the 14-year-old reigning Thai Optimist champion from 2005,
showed that she can still out-sail “the guys”, as she ran away with the
Optimist National Championship, on eight points, albeit by only two
points from second-placed Navee Thamsoontorn. In a fleet of 74 boats,
the biggest group of the Second Top of the Gulf Regatta, Royal Varuna
youngsters, Naphat Tye, Patrick Littlejohn and Don Whitcraft all
finished well up in the top quarter of the fleet.
In Class Seven, the Laser Division, Thanakarn Korkerp, on 15 points and
sailing a Laser 4.7, narrowly beat Royal Varuna Laser man, Nich Henley,
racing a full rig, and thus being obliged to concede handicap to
Thanakan.
Bill
Gasson receives a scale model of “The Cutty Sark” from Nusara Assakul.
In Class Six Beach Catamarans, Damrongsak Vongtim, one of the Kingdom’s
best sailors, up from the Optimist ranks himself, sailed his Hobie Cat
16, for a perfect score of five straight wins, for five points, with
Royal Varuna sailor, Bob Garner (Taipan 4.9), nine points, second and
Alberto Cassio, sailing solo on the Nacra 16 Sq., in fourth place, on 18
points.
In the Class One Keelboats (IRC), David Lindahl, “La Samudra”, on 10
points, held on, in spite of a disqualified penalty to keep out the
Marina’s own Pascal Leray “Hi Jinks” (16 points), Gary Baguley/Pouk
Makinson, “Magic Roundabout” (18), David Bell’s “Pink PussyCat, (20) and
David Pollard’s “Foreign Exchange ll”, (20).
In the Class Two Keelboats (Thaicap), Jim Ellis’ “Remington”, (6), was a
clear winner, over Dick Sanders’ “Thai Raver”, (8). Class Four (Platu)
“Pom Rak Khun”, skippered by Martin Kaye (12) just scraped in ahead of
maverick Platu helmsman, Scott Duncanson “Lee Marine” (13).
The dancers take center
stage at one of the fabulous Ocean Marina parties.
Home town boy (man), Radab Kanjanavanit, brought his
“Cedar Swan” (13 points), to the head of the Ocean Multihull Class,
keeping out Olaf Reese “Voodoo Child” (15), regatta veteran Henry Kaye
“The Sting” (18), Roger Kindon, “Moto Inzi” (19) and Ocean Marina big
Cat, “Sonic” (23) raced by Kirati Assakul..
Ek Boonsawad won the Windsurfing event from Japan’s Yuji Sugihara and
Chindanai Tanbuakee was the SuperMod winner.
Benjamas
Poonpat (center) - a young Thai lady with a tremendous aptitude for
sailing.
During one of the great parties, the Ocean Portofino Cocktail, held at
the Ocean Marina’s waterside harbour lawn, Nusara Assakul,
(Banyatpiyaphod), President of the Ocean Property Company Limited - and
a great supporter of the Gulf Regatta presented a beautiful replica of
the Barquantine, the famous “Cutty Sark”, to the regatta founder and
tireless advocate of the marine industry in Thailand, William J. Gasson.
Khun Nusara acknowledged Bill’s dedication, direction and management
which had seen the regatta double in size in one brief year. “Besides,”
added Khun Nusara, almost as an after-thought, “we need him again next
year and for successive events in the future.”
Bill, in turn, thanked the long list of sponsors and supporting staff
and organizations, “without them, there would be no regatta”, Bill
pointed out. The principal sponsors were the Ocean Marina Yacht Club and
Raimon Land, with many other supporters: Coca Cola, Gulf Charters,
Heineken, Hyro, Neil Pryde, Pattaya Mail, Pattaya Blatt and Pattaya Mail
on TV, QBE Asia Pacific, Thai Airways and SEA Yachting.
Supporting clubs and associations were the Royal Thai Navy at Sattahip,
the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the
Windsurfing and the Yacht Racing Associations of Thailand.
A notable journo keeps his
eye on the proceedings.
Ocean Marina, host yacht
club - and a keen competitor in the ocean multihull class.
Fourth-placed Keelboat,
“Foreign Exchange ll” revels in the breeze.
“Moto Inzi”, a
Phuket-built power machine, makes a fine maritime painting
74 Optimists made the
biggest fleet at the Top of the Gulf Regatta.
Fierce racing amongst the
Platus for the Coronation Cup.
Spinnakers out - the fleet
made a marvellous sight.
Down wind they go.
“Comin’ right at ya” - A
keelboat heads for home.
Narisa Nitikarn
A spectacular exhibition to promote Thailand’s marine leisure
industry, with a special focus on the Gulf of Thailand, was held at the
Ocean Marina Yacht Club from April 29 to May 3.
The 1st Pattaya Boat Show and Premier Living was organized by Impact
Exhibition Management Co Ltd in cooperation with the club.
Pattaya has emerged in recent years as a center of boatbuilding in
addition to marine leisure activities, and with Phuket also having its
own annual boat show this was felt to be an appropriate time for Pattaya
to be promoted.
On display at the Pattaya Boat Show was a wide range of boats, while the
Premier Living element of the exhibition featured 70 booths in an area
of 5,000 square meters.
Part of the show was an on-water display of the two-man Optimist sailing
boat, while the biggest boat at the event was the 54-foot Fast Rider 3.
A popular exhibit was the ATV semi-recreational vehicle that visitors
were able to test-drive. Boat designers and builders were on hand from
Thailand and overseas to discuss the vessels on display, and a
promotional tour around the Gulf was provided for the media.
Impact managing director Paul Kanjanapas and Ocean Marina Yacht Club
president Nusara Banyatpiyaphod performed the opening ceremony of what
is planned to become a regular event.
The exhibition featured 70
booths in an area of 5,000 square meters.
All things boating were on
display at the exhibition.
Smaller, more affordable
sailboats on display.
The Ray Marine booth
displays nautical equipment.
The Catamarans named
Siamese Twins from Ocean Marina.
Hot and cold water
dispensers on display.
The Teleflex booth was
very helpful.
A good way to get
exercise.
Diving gear was also on
display at the exhibition.
Runabouts for those fun
days out fishing.
The Fast Rider 3 was the
largest boat in this show.
Oh yeah, that would be a
fun way to get around out in the bay.
