| The latest sailing news from Asia and the world. |
25 Jul 2017 |
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  Travelling sailors - imports and exports
 | | Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2017. Guy Nowell / Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek |
Asia's most recent big boat regatta, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek, wound up on Sunday after four days of good workable breeze, more than a capful occasionally, a bit of softly, softy, on the last day, and buckets of sunshine. 41 boats made for a pretty respectable fleet, and more than half of them were multihulls. A mixture of round the cans (windward-leeward) races and trips through the delightful scatter of islands that surround Cape Panwa kept everything lively, and the exceedingly pleasant environs of the Cape Panwa Hotel make this an excellent event for WAGS and families. Throw in some 5-star catering spread over four party nights, and the event really covered all the bases.
 | | Tear yourself away, we have to go racing... Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2014. Guy Nowell / Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek |
All the Asian regattas, almost without exception, like to think of themselves as ‘international' and are keen to promote themselves as such. It sounds very grown-up if you're the organiser, and it's good when you are trying to extract a few extra dollars from the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Of the 41 boats at Phuket Raceweek, only three were flagged as THA for Thailand. There were 18 Aussies, nine Brits, three CHN flags, a JPN and even two MEX. However, closer scrutiny reveals that the majority of the participants actually live in Thailand, regardless of the nationality of their passport, and this is in reality a local regatta.
 | | Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek 2017. Guy Nowell / Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek |
Anyone for next year? Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek is slated for 18-22 July 2018, and organisers are very keen to point out that there are plenty of boats available for charter, both monohull and multihull. https://www.phuketraceweek.com/charters-available.php, and the regatta comes highly recommended by your SW Asia Editor.
 | | Day 3 - The Gertrude Cup 2017 Sportography.tv |
From imports to exports – Jamie Badenach (HKG) is presently leading the charge at the Royal Thames YC's Gertrude Cup in Cowes. This is the Etchells invitational in which crews change boats every day, and the event leader flies a red spinnaker: target! 13 races over five days really sorts out the sheep from the goats. Badenach, representing RHKYC, was sitting on a 9-point lead after two days and eight races. Other Asia imports in the event are RHKYC's Bill Steele sailing under a Royal Perth flag and Laurence Mead on board the entry from the Lagos Yacht Club – really. (In 2015 The Gertrude Cup was won by Mark Thornburrow, Lauren, Karen and Laurence Mead, all from RHKYC. No pressure!.
Standing by on 72.
Guy Nowell, Asia Editor
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