After a short course in Optimist sailing as a young boy, Khun Jaray went on to the Optimist Worlds in Yugoslavia when he was 15 years old. Since then, he's had an exciting and fruitful career as a sailor; having been selected to represent Thailand in the ASEAN Games, he went on to win a gold and two silvers, as well as becoming a Super Mod Championship winner and winner of the King's Cup three times as skipper of Octopussy. He has also coached the Thai national Optimist team for three years, taking them to three World Championships.

One of the recent Sunday races at the Ao Yon club held particular importance to the club, which saw the event as a celebration of the support from the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand (YRAT), which has given Head PYC Coach Jaray Tipsuk 10 Racing Optimist dinghies on loan to use in its junior training programme.

PYC Commodore Katy Gooch, told us after the landmark race: “The boats are fantastic; you really saw the difference today when the children were racing. The boats are identical, so it all came down to the skills the kids have learned. They were racing together as one fleet and it was an exciting experience for them – and us!

Phuket Yacht Club recently kicked off another three-month dinghy racing series, sponsored by Topper Sail Phuket, at the club, with adult dinghy racing for single-handed, two-man crews and multihull dinghies, as well as Optimist racing for juniors. The dinghy racing has become a regular event at the club – part of its efforts to introduce more people to sailing and increase awareness of Phuket’s Sunshine Village.

Eight children were out racing in the new Optimists, including four of the children from Sunshine Village who attended the free beginners’ sailing course at PYC last October. The course was organized by PYC and led by Coach Jaray Tipsuk, who shares the club’s passion for bringing more Thai children into the sport.

First place in the Optimist race was won by 10-year-old Akkapoj Kenkeaw (Tik), who picked up two 1sts and an unlucky 3rd (after crossing the line early and having to restart). Tik has been a regular sailor at the club since he was invited from the Phuket Sunshine Village to join last year's beginners’ sailing course and is delighted with the new boats – which are lighter and faster. “I really love sailing; it's much more fun than watching TV or playing computer games. Soon, more of my friends will come from Phuket Sunshine Village so it’s going to be even more fun,” said Tik.

All at PYC agree that Tik and his friends show great promise and enthusiasm for the sport. According to Katy, the club was hoping to get all the children up to the recent Nationals in Pattaya, but was unable manage it this time around. “We’ve also been invited to Samui for the reciprocal ‘Island Trophy Regatta’, the inaugural of which was held here in Phuket last year, but again, we just don't have the funding or the manpower at present to give the children this opportunity. Hopefully, as the club grows and more people join us for dinghy racing and lessons – and as we find sponsorship for the new Optimist boats – the opportunity for these children to really succeed in competitive sailing will be realised.”

The Optimist boats are available for sponsorship for 10,000 Baht per year and the money will go towards the free sailing courses for disadvantaged youths as well as Optimist maintenance. “We’re also looking for volunteers and crew for the monthly dinghy racing, to join the fun and gain valuable sailing skills,” added Katy.

For more information contact:
Katy Gooch (Commodore Sail)
Email: phuketyachtclub@gmail.com or
Tel: +66 (0)85 215 9185