The Phuket King's Cup Regatta is now in its Quarter Centenary year, after first sailing in 1987 to celebrate His Majesty the King of Thailand's 60th birthday. Under Royal Patronage, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta is organised by the Phuket King's Cup Regatta Organising Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club.

Recognised throughout the eastern hemisphere as the premier sailing event of its kind, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta will again present a spectacular display of Asia’s finest sailing talent who will compete on this most coveted international stage. 2011’s event will run from 3 December to 10 December, beginning with two days of registration, briefing and practice, before five days of exceptional racing concluding in the Royal Awards Ceremony on the final Saturday.

The Phuket King’s Cup is a competition steeped in history and magic. The Regatta was established to celebrate a most auspicious occasion. In 1986, a number of Thailand’s yachting fraternity met to discuss what they could do as a special tribute to His Majesty the King’s forthcoming Fifth Cycle, or 60th birthday, for the following year on 5 December, 1987.

After careful discussion, it was decided to hold a Royal Regatta. Phuket was to become the glittering location for this sailing spectacle, the first such event held in the beautiful waters of the Andaman Sea.

Like any prominent yacht racing event, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta has developed its own folk-lore. Scott McCook, for example, sailed his beach-launched catamaran up from Singapore, won all five races in one year, then sailed the small cat back to Singapore Harbour.

More recently the Regatta has become a big boat event, attracting keelboats and ocean-going catamaran teams from around the world. As a principal fixture on the Asian Yachting Circuit, the Regatta annually features upwards of 100 boats and 2,000 participants, ranging from the high tech yachts in Racing Class, to live-aboard ocean cruisers, multihulls and classics.

Kevin Whitcraft, President of the King’s Cup Regatta Organising Committee explained the reasons behind why there are so many keen competitors each year; “If you were to ask any of the competitors that take part each year why they compete in the Phuket King's Cup Regatta, you will get as many answers as there are competitors. For some it is the ideal of taking part; for others, it is the besting of their friends and colleagues. A handful are in it for the glory and it is always nice to take a trophy home.”

Sponsors of the 2011 Phuket King's Cup Regatta include Kata Group Resorts Thailand, PTT Group, Siam Winery, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, Boathouse and Sunsail. Media Partners include 91.5FM, Helm Superyacht Asia Pacific, The Nation, Phuket Best Group, Phuket Gazette, Phuket Magazine, Sail-World.com, SEA Yachting and YachtStyle Asia.

W: kingscup.com