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Singapore and Samui take honours at the “Tropical Island Regatta”
The 2007 Koh Samui Regatta
 By
Peter Cummins,
Pattaya Mail
Singaporean entry Bill Bremner, helming his Sydney 40 sloop “Foxy Lady
III”, second in last year’s Koh Samui Regatta, beat last year’s winner
Hong Kong’s Frank Pong, helming his maxi Rachel Pugh 75 “Jelik”, to take
out the IRC Racing Class honours in this year’s event.
In the IRC 1 Class, Jeff Davison had a tremendous struggle to bring his
Mumm 30 “Panic” to the top of the leader-board, from Chris Meads’ Hong
Kong J109 “Halcyon Daze”. Although the two men finished equal on 11
penalty points, Jeff won on a count-back.
Making a Singaporean clean sweep of the big boats, Helmet Schutte’s Elan
340 “Aquavit IV”, just edged out Hong Kong Greg Coops’X372 “Abraxus” for
the top place in the IRC 2 Class.
A very good win - and one which reinforces Samui’s bid for yachting fame
- was in the Raimon Land Firefly 850 Sports Catamaran category, where
local Samui sailor David Hill (“Voodoo Child”) beat arch-rival Phuket’s
Henry Kaye (“Mamba”). The Firefly, designed by Mark Pescott and built by
Mark Horwood in Phuket, is becoming very popular; so much so that Raimon
Land has agreed to sponsor the class in a number of regattas around the
Kingdom.
These two rivals also finished first and second, respectively, in the
Multihulls, the fifth category of racing at Samui.
 Frank
Pong’s “Jelik” blasts off the start line in Samui.
Another honour went to Frank Pong who, through a series of good regatta
placings, won the Asian Yachting Grand Prix Championship - and will have
the honour of wearing the coveted blue jacket, sponsored by Asian
Yachting.
It was a week of splendid - and very close racing- although there could
have been more wind on each day (an overall average of about eight
knots), marvellous sea-front parties supplied by the generous sponsors
and, all-in-all a warm camaraderie which sometimes faded somewhat in the
jury room.
There were numerous collisions, protests, a grounding or two and fierce
competition which melted away under the beautiful skies of Koh Samui,
undoubtedly reinforced by a certain amount of beverages which flowed
freely. Most of the participants became acquainted with Britain’s
‘finest’ John Smith ales, provided by Raimon Land.
The 6th Koh Samui Regatta marked the fourth major yacht-racing event to
be held in the Kingdom since the start of 2007, and it will be followed
by many more right up until the end of the year, culminating in the 21st
Phuket King’s Cup regatta, to honour the Monarch’s 80th birthday.
Image Asia Events, under the able direction of Grenville Fordham based
in Phuket, has been the driving force behind this event, justly known as
the “Tropical Island Regatta”.
As usual, the whole island of Samui, both the private and the public
sectors, supported the event, with perennial co-sponsor the Central
Samui Beach Resort, which was again, the regatta nerve centre, Land
Rover Thailand and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), joined by
the major yacht racing beneficiary in the Kingdom, Raimon Land and, this
year, Rodenstock, the German manufacturer of up-market eye-wear who
‘came aboard’ for the first time.
Thus, on the lay-day, many of the sailors were able to try their skills
at the ‘helm’ of a sophisticated Land Rover and, every day, courtesy of
Rodenstock, many prescriptions were provided to the sailors.
Many island business and tourist entities offered support in cash and
kind, including Dhevatara Properties, Samui Villas and Homes, the
newly-opened Kanda Buri Resort, owned by the Kata Group, long the host
for successive Phuket King’s Cup Regattas, and Tropical Living in
Thailand magazine.
Race management was again first-class with Australia’s Tony Denham as
the Principal Race Officer, ably supported by Sunsail’s Simon James,
with Howard Elliot head of the International Jury and Andy Dowden in
charge of the race committee.
There was a plethora of national and international publicity, showing
the astounding beauty of Koh Samui and a team of media and news-hounds
recorded everything: Media Partners Action Asia, Asian-Pacific Boating,
China Boating, CNN Traveller - Asia Pacific, SEA Yachting, Fah Thai,
SailWorld.com, Seaspray, 98.5 Breeze FM and, of course, the national
press, the Bangkok Post, the Nation, the Pattaya Mail and the Pattaya
Blatt.
Frank Pong (right) dons
the winner’s jacket donated by Asian Yachting’s Capt. Marty (left).
Jacques Mury, GM of
Central Samui Beach Resort, a perennial sponsor of the event.
The Beautiful Kanda Buri
Resort, a Kata Group hotel sponsoring the Regatta.
Firefly “Moto Inzi” born
and bred in Phuket.
Overall Regatta champion:
Singapore’s “Foxy Lady III” approaches the windward mark.
Fireflys clash: “Moto
Inzi” (left) and “Pink Lady”.
“Asia Spirit” under full
power.
Close racing in the IRC 1
Class: (L-R) “Asia Spirit”, “Halcyon Daze” and “Breakaway”.
Hong Kong’s “FfreeFire”
pursues “Mandrake”.
All hang out on “Asia
Spirit.”
The the hottest catamarans
on the market - designed and built in Phuket: (L-R) “The Frog”, “Pink
Lady” and “Mamba”.
2007 Koh Samui Regatta Final Results
IRC Racing:
1st Bill Bremner, (Foxy Lady lll, Singapore, 11); 2nd Frank Pong
(Jelik, Hong Kong, 14); 3rd Neil Pryde (Hi Fi, Hong Kong, 16); 4th Nick
Burns (Mandrake, Hong Kong, 17); 5th Russ Parker/Sam Chan (Ffreefire,
Hong Kong, 24); 6th Hans Rahmann (Yasooda, Germany, 32)
IRC One:
1st Jeff Davison (Panic, Singapore, 11); 2nd Chris Meads (Halcyon
Daze, Hong Kong, 11); 3rd Ben Copley (Asia Spirit, Aust, 22); 4th David
Lindahl (La Samudra, Phuket, 23); 5th Jonathan Mahony (Happy Endings,
Sing, 26); 6th Pascal Leray (Breakaway, France, 29); 7th Keith Dunn
(Sing, Lunchcutter ll, 34); 8th David Bell (Thai, Magic Roundabout, 37).
IRC Two:
1st Helmut Schutte (Aquavit lV, Sing, 8); 2nd Greg Coops (Abraxus,
Hong Kong, 9); 3rd Dick Sanders (Thai, Thai Raver, 17); 4th Michael
Grover (Thai, Moon Shadow, 23); 5th Phil Harper (Thai, Sweline One, 33)
Raimon Land Firefly 850 Sports Catamaran:
1st David Hill (Samui, Voodoo Child, 9); 2nd Henry Kaye (Thai,
Mamba, 11); 3rd Roger Kindon (Thai, Moto Inzi, 15); 4th Chris Jongerius
(Thai, The Frog, 20); 5th Andrew Marshall (Thai, Pink Lady, 26); 6th
Pierre Forsans (Thai, Pagatoon, 32)
Multihull
1st David Hill (Samui, Voodoo Child, 12); 2nd Henry Kaye (Thai,
Mamba, 13); 3rd Radab Kanjanavanit (Thai, Cedar Swan, 14); 4th Roger
Kingdon (Thai, Moto Inzi, 18); 5th Chris Jongerius (Thai, The Frog, 23);
6th Andrew Marshall (Thai, Pink Lady 34); 7th Pierre Forsans (Thai,
Pagatoon 38)
Pattaya celebrates Visakha
Bucha Day with flowers and candles
Parents led their children
in performing Dharma on Visakha Bucha Day.
Local citizens make
offerings of food, flowers, candles and joss sticks for the prosperity
and wellbeing of their families on Visakha Bucha Day.
Releasing birds for good
karma.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Visakha Bucha Day was celebrated in traditional style in Pattaya on May
31, with citizens taking their children to the temples and making
offerings of food, flowers, candles and joss sticks for the prosperity
and wellbeing of their families.
Chaimongkol, Sawangfa Prutaram, Photisamphan, and all the other main
temples were busy and colorful throughout the entire day, for Buddhists
go to make merit early in the morning at the temple, taking food to
offer to the monks.
Then in the evening they return, taking flowers, candles and joss sticks
and walking three times around the temple with lit candles in hand. This
completed, they assemble to listen to the teaching of Dharma, and to
receive blessings and sprinkle water on the monks.
Visakha Bucha Day corresponds to the waxing moon on the 15th day of the
sixth lunar month. For Buddhists, it celebrates birth, enlightenment,
and passing on.
The United Nations has declared Visakha Bucha Day as an international
Buddhist festival, a proposal that originated with Sri Lanka and was
agreed upon in 1999.
Local citizens united in
offering alms to the monks on this important day.
In the evening, many
people performed the Wien Tien ceremony, walking with lit candles,
flowers and joss sticks in hand three times around the temple.
Monks at local temples
chanted prayers for the people.
As the monks chanted,
people could feel the warmth emanating from within their fellow man.
Many people participated
in religious ceremonies throughout Pattaya on Visakha Bucha Day.
Thousands of people showed
up at temples throughout the city to make merit.
“Auf Wieder Sehen” Walter
Sue K
Vikrom Kromadit, the founder and chairman of the Amata Corporations
recently held a farewell party for his favorite colleague and supporter,
Walter Kretschmar, the MD of the Thai-German
Institute/Innovation-Technology-Services (TGI/ITS). The event, attended
by over 30 distinguished guests, was held at his luxurious Thai house in
Bangkok.
 Vikrom
and Walter chat about success, both past and future.
In his speech, Vikrom praised Walter for his numerous achievements since
his arrival in Thailand 7 years ago under the GTZ development project,
and for the past two years with the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce.
Under Walter’s leadership on the German side at the Thai-German
Institute (TGI), Amata Nakorn achieved excellent recognition from the
industrial community, especially among the German industrial sector.
This was mainly due to Walter’s energetic approach to industrial
marketing.
Walter Kretschmar joined the TGI in 1999 as the German director working
with his Thai director partner, Narong Ratana.
The main goal was to help Thai industry achieve equal status with the
global industrial world.
 The
two Narongs have a heart to heart talk.
Walter’s success stories are numerous, as TGI became well-known in
Thailand and abroad through Walter’s hard work.
After the GTZ project ended in 2004, Walter initiated another project
called TGI/ITS or Thai-German Institute/Innovation-Technology-Services,
in cooperation with the Thai director, Narong Varongkriangkrai.
Under this scheme, the focus was on promoting, technical matchmaking and
services for Thai small and medium enterprises with companies abroad.
 Walter
and Vikrom toast to the success of TGI/ITS.
His last but not least “baby£ was building the Community and Akademy
Center in Khao Lak, Phanga for the survivors of the 2004 tsunami. The
center is set up for the villagers to have access to several training
programs taught by volunteers. These include English and German language
training, computer, maintenance, cooking, and schooling for children.
Though Walter’s term ended on May 31, 2007, the projects will still
continue under the management of his successor, Michael Usher.
Walter thanked all who had helped him throughout his professional years
in Thailand, including Vikrom Kromadit for his generosity in donating
the land on which TGI was built, and wishes Michael Usher all the
success in further progress of TGI/ITS, which he said will the best
reward for him.
We all also wish Walter Kretschmar good luck and success in whatever
future tasks he may undertake.
Dr. Weber, Gen. Chavalit,
and Claudia outside Vikrom Kromadit’s beautiful home.
One orchid among the
roses: (from left) Jutatip, Revadee, Gen. Chavalit, Sue and Claudia.
The entire group wish
Walter Kretschmar (8th from right) good luck and success in whatever
future tasks he may undertake.
Jomtien Boathouse hosts
international doctors conference
Dr. William and Indri
Witanti van Ewijk poised and elegant.
Dr. William ‘magically’
changes Dr. Olivier and Dr. Iain’s two 500 baht notes into 1,000 baht
for a Rotary charity.
Dr. William enjoys a light
moment with Dr. Philippe Seur (left).
The dance floor vibrated
with the sounds of thumping feet and rhythmic wheelchairs.
Usual diners at the Jomtien Boathouse would have been
excused if they thought that there was a medical conference last week,
with doctors from Holland, Switzerland, France and Australia all
converging on the popular dining venue. In actual fact, they were there
to celebrate the 62nd birthday of Dr. William van Ewijk, organized by
his lovely Indonesian wife Indri Witanti van Ewijk.
With a large number of guests and a wonderful buffet, the birthday party
was obviously going to swing, and when Dr Olivier’s wife Lamyai got
behind the microphone with up-tempo numbers from many artists, including
Tina Turner, everyone was up on the dance floor.
To get the guests in the mood for a party, some entertainment was
supplied by Alcazar, with the ‘ladies’ in full strut, feather boas and
sequins!
At some stages of the evening, Dr. William could be seen in deep
conference with Dr. Philippe Seur, but the birthday doctor, resplendent
in 1960’s flower-power trousers (which had been let out somewhat by the
beturbaned Binni) was not to be restrained. So when his ex-Tommy Cooper
fez was produced out of a paper bag, like a rabbit from a hat, Dr
William was ready for center stage!
Towards the end of the evening, Dr. William, who is a keen member of
Rotary, invited his friends Dr. Olivier and Dr. Iain on stage with him,
where he ‘magically’ changed their two 500 baht notes into 1,000 baht
for a Rotary charity.
The Jomtien Boathouse may never see such a theatrical performance ever
again, but then there is only one Dr. William. From all at the
Pattaya Mail and Pattaya Mail TV, Happy Birthday!
Indri awaits plate in
hand, as Dr. William cuts the birthday cake.
An array of friends from
all over came to wish Dr. William many happy returns.
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