PHUKET, Thailand – A lot can happen in 14 years. 493 boats and more than 2,500 sailors have taken part in Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek since its inception in 2004 and as the organisers look to the event's 15th year the signs are good.
“This year's early entries are very encouraging. We see both familiar faces and new faces as well as increasing numbers of charters and sailors from overseas which is a sign that Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek's reputation has spread far and wide,” notes Mr. Byron Jones, Managing Director of organisers Media Business Services Co. Ltd.
Entry Update
Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek has built a reputation for competitive racing across all classes and the
growth in number and calibre of the 40-footers looks set to continue with entries already being received, the latest being the Farr 40 Prime Factor who will be competing for their first time at Phuket Raceweek.
IRC Racing II class is hotting up with Phoenix already registered and back to defend their title. While tough to beat, it's not impossible as the Sailescapes Farrgo Ladies team proved last year beating Phoenix in Race 2 of the series. The Australian-Phuket all ladies team are another early register and are looking to better their second place overall last year but will first have to overcome another ladies team from Australia who have chartered a near identical Farr 1104, Krabi Boat Lagoon Pinocchio, and will be making their first appearance at the regatta.
Multihulls are also signing up in numbers. Five one design Corsair Pulse 600s are chartered to international crews and a new Stealth from Asia Catamarans' yard is believed to be joining the catamarans and trimarans in Multihull Racing. Also competing for the first time is the built-for-speed all-carbon Fugazi, while the Firefly 850 Sports One Design class looks set to exceed last year in size.
Introduced last year for the first time was the Multihull Cruising class and with entries already received this class is one we aim to grow in the coming editions of Phuket Raceweek.
New for 2018
Phuket is no stranger to the Platus – a 25-foot Farr-designed monohull that was originally commissioned by a group of Thai businessmen for racing in Thai waters. The island has been home to Platus since their early years and they'll be returning after a one year hiatus as a dedicated one-design Platu class – The ABSOLUTE Platu One Design class. Open to all one-design Platus that are willing to race with identical sails provided by the class representative click HERE for more details, Phuket Racewek will be the penultimate regatta in the four-event Platu Championship of Thailand which will see an overall series winner crowned at the Platu Cup held in October in Pattaya.
Sponsors Update
Attracting and retaining sponsors is key to the success of any event and we are proud at Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek to consider most of our sponsor as friends and partners, having worked together for many years. One such partner is Official Supplier Mount Gay Rum who in addition to their Rum Shack and popular rum cocktails at the event, are again sponsoring the opening party.
Visit the website for the latest news on our sponsors and if you're interested to know more about event sponsorship opportunities, click HERE.
Great Accommodation Offers
We have organised some special regatta rates at Cape Panwa Hotel (our Title Sponsor and hub of the regatta action) and next door at Kantary Bay Phuket (our Host Venue Sponsor).
