While the world watched some inaccurate TV reporting of the protests in Bangkok on 13 April (the Thai New Year holiday), Phuket went about cheerfully celebrating New Year in the traditional way – dousing all and sundry with cool, fresh water. As usual, political strife elsewhere in Thailand hardly touched this holiday island, where fun and revelry are the name of the game.

On that note, the Phuket Raceweek organisers have posted the Notice of Race on the regatta website and online registration is open – with fantastic savings of up to 25% for entries received by 19 June. “We hope everyone takes advantage of the ‘early bird’ entry fees. The participants get a great deal and we get the information we need to plan the best event possible – so we all win,” said Grenville Fordham, MD of Raceweek organisers and rights owners, IMAGE asia. Six Senses Phuket Raceweek will be held from 22-26 July at the Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa, with racing off the southern tip of Phuket.

Although – with almost two months still to go – it’s too early to predict numbers with any degree of accuracy, the ‘buzz’ around Phuket’s yachting community is that 2009 is going to be a bumper year, despite the global gloom. An indication of what’s in store is the number of Phuket-built Fireflys expected to race in their one-design class.

Raceweek 2008 saw five Firefly 850s battle it out in 25 knots of wind and a heavy swell. This year, eight or nine are expected to be in the line up, those sold outside Phuket having made their way back ‘home’. It remains to be seen how many Corsair trimarans, which have started arriving in Phuket in increasing numbers, will make it to Raceweek; much depends on whether Pattaya-based Corsair owners decide to bring these light, trailerable multis south in July to test their competitiveness in the both the SEA Property 3-day multihull event scheduled for 3-5 July and Raceweek on 22 July.

Fireflys apart, the multihull fleet looks like being the most interesting yet, with the anticipated participation of Henry Kaye's and Arnie Duckworth's new 'flying machines'.

In another multihull development, a new catamaran design built in Phuket will use Raceweek as its sales launch. The Andaman Cabriolet, by Composite Catamarans (www.catamaransailingphuket.com), is being promoted as the ideal multihull ‘cruiser-racer’ for the Andaman Sea. The Composite guys are looking for a convincing performance during Raceweek with their first boat (Niña), which is scheduled for launch just a couple of week before the racing starts.

Composite Catamarans have also come on board as a sponsor of Six Senses Phuket Raceweek 2009, staging a competition with first prize of a charter holiday on Niña worth around 2,000 Euros. Details of how to enter the competition – open to all-comers whether participating in Raceweek this year or not – are posted on the regatta website.

The 2009 sponsorship lineup, while less packed than anticipated due to the recession, nevertheless boasts some impressive names: Six Senses Resorts & Spas return for the second year as Title Sponsor, joined by Co-Sponsors Jaguar Cars, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Rodenstock. Composite Catamarans join Canpac Beverages (supplying the wine), Nivea and Moorings as Official Suppliers, the latter launching their Phuket fleet of new power and sailing catamarans at Raceweek.

A full range of local, national and international Media Partners – and a TV show with worldwide distribution – ensure the Raceweek message will be heard and seen on the small screen, in print and on the web.

For more information:
visit www.phuketraceweek.com or email raceweek@image-asia.com
Six Senses Phuket Raceweek enjoys marketing support by Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co., Ltd.