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| Six Senses Phuket Raceweek 2008 |
Email: raceweek@image-asia.com
Website: www.phuketraceweek.com
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The NRG Cup, free-flow of drinks, superb parties, international TV coverage… and more in store for Six Senses Phuket Raceweek 2008
Online registration is open for Six Senses Phuket Raceweek 2008 – expected
to be the best Raceweek yet – with a reduced entry fee
for early registrations. Phuket’s ‘Green Season’ regatta,
now in its 5th year, sees a mixed fleet of yachts race in the
southwest monsoon breezes off Phuket’s south coast every
July, this year from 23-27 July.
While retaining the same one-regatta-one-venue format, combining
four days of competitive racing with five nights of grand waterside
parties – a format that has met with unanimous approval
from competitors – this year’s event brings a host
of new dimensions.
Evason Phuket’s ‘Into the Beach’ venue, Asia’s
favourite waterside regatta party spot, is undergoing an extensive
upgrade, providing more party space for the ever-growing number
of competitors, while Six Senses Title Sponsorship means a massive
leap forward in catering, with copious 5-star full buffet spreads
at every party.
On the racing scene, early indications are of a strong sport
boat class, the eye-catching Firefly racing catamarans in greater
numbers than ever, a solid club/cruising class and the mainstay
of this region’s yacht racing, one or two highly competitive
IRC classes. And, of course, the old ladies of the regatta, the
striking classic boats competing for the Seraph Perpetual Trophy.
While the Firefly skippers are wondering if Thailand’s
newly-arrived Corsair trimarans will dare to mount a challenge
in Firefly home waters, the faster monohull boys would welcome
some competition from Malaysian yachtsmen who, according to Mata
Hari skipper, Vincent Chan, “… are at a isadvantage
because of the lack of competitive practice…” With
the usually consistent strong breezes off Phuket in July, the ‘practice’ doesn’t
get much more competitive... but beating the local boys is another
matter altogether. Then, the dark horse on the water this year – making
its racing debut after breaking up in a 40-knot squall during
the 2006 Koh Samui Regatta – is the super-fast F28 catamaran,
rebuilt at Latitude 8’s Phuket boatyard. According to the
F28’s owners, “Our primary objective at Raceweek
is to take line honours in every race.”
Demonstrating that event sponsorship brings tangible benefits
directly to participants, the first-time support from Rodenstock,
Mont Clair Wines and Johnny Walker will fund a late afternoon
Rodenstock Happy Hour and a free-flow open bar throughout all
the official regatta parties. Returning to join the newcomers
on the sponsorship front are avid supporters of Thailand’s
regatta scene, Raimon Land, who are firm in their conviction
that up-market property development and yachting are part of
the same premium ‘lifestyle’ scene.
Media partners throughout Asia and Australia will take Raceweek
news to a wide readership in the boating, business, entertainment,
travel, lifestyle, national and local Phuket press, while – a
first for Raceweek – a special Raceweek programme, commissioned
by the organisers, will be televised worldwide on sporting and
lifestyle channels such as CNN Mainsail, Eurosport, Star Sports,
the European Sailing Channel and more – a total potential
audience of 140 million households.
In an exciting move that’s a first for Thailand’s
regatta scene, Six Senses Phuket Raceweek 2008 will incorporate
the inaugural ‘NRG Cup’, an event-within-an-event,
where participants in the Oil & Gas Industry can compete
for this brand new trophy against their colleagues and business
associates from around the region, whilst still racing in the
main event against all-comers. “Our industry is competitive,
fearless and spirited, and this first edition of the NRG Cup
should be no different,” said Benjamin Dupal, CEO of NRG
Engineering, who conceived the idea for the NRG Cup. The NRG
Cup is expected to attract at least 10 boats and crews that have
never before competed in Phuket’s ‘Green Season’ regatta.
Attracted by excellent sailing in mostly reliable breezes of
15 knots upwards and a hard-to-beat social scene, entries are
expected to top previous years, although organisers Image Asia
are not yet predicting numbers. “Experience has shown us
that it is simply not possible to know in advance how many boats
will take part,” said Image Asia MD, Grenville Fordham. “The
racing community is notorious for leaving their registration
until the last minute, so – while we’ll start to
build a picture as Raceweek gets closer – we can’t
be absolutely sure who’s coming until registration day,” he
added, noting that that the early-bird registration incentive
was aimed at tackling this problem.
With formal backing from the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand,
the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Tourism Authority of
Thailand, Six Senses Phuket Raceweek 2008 is solidly supported
by Thai authorities, demonstrating their advancing commitment
to yacht racing. The regatta is run under the auspices of the
Ao Chalong Yacht Club.
For further information visit www.phuketraceweek.com |
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