PATTAYA, Thailand – The Notice of Race (NOR) for the 11th Top of the Gulf Regatta Presented by Ocean Marina, set to take place 30th April to 4th May 2015 at Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Jomtien, Pattaya, Thailand, is now online at www.topofthegulfregatta.com/info/notice. Asia's largest multi-class regatta includes class racing for Optimists, dinghies and beach catamarans up to large keelboats and multihulls.
The award-winning regatta incorporates Asia's largest one-design competition, the Platu Coronation Cup and the Thailand National Optimist Championships, and is hosted by South East Asia's largest marina, Ocean Marina Yacht Club.
“The diversity of boats and variety of classes is a point of difference for the Top of the Gulf Regatta. There is no other regatta like it,” said Mr. William Gasson, Co-Chairman, Top of the Gulf Regatta Organising Committee. “We will again be welcoming a diverse fleet spread over 12 classes and expect to have over 200 boats and approximately 600 people taking part.”
The keelboat and multihull class splits are as follows:
- Class One: IRC 1 – Keelboats with an IRC 1.200 and above
- Class Two: IRC 2 – Keelboats with an IRC 1.060 to 1.199
- Class Three: IRC 3 – Keelboats with an IRC 0.960 to 1.059
- Class Four: Cruising – Keelboats cruising in nature, racing on PHS handicaps at the committee’s discretion
- Class Five: Platu – Platu class keelboats (Platu Coronation Cup)
- Class Six: Ocean Multihulls – Ocean going catamarans and trimarans
Following registration and a practice race on Thursday 30th April, Classes 1-6 fleet will race over four consecutive days – Friday 1st to Monday 4th May inclusive – a schedule of windward-leeward, inshore, coastal and inter-island courses, decided on-the-day by the international race management team lead by Race Officer Denis Thompson.
“Top of the Gulf Regatta is unique in Thailand in that it's operated from a marina providing safe and secure berthing for competitors each evening, as well as having the full complement of onshore services and facilities from Ocean Marina Yacht Club,” said Mr. Scott Finsten, Harbour Master, Ocean Marina Yacht Club. “The marina can accommodate yachts with a draft of 3.5 meters within the Marina and we will be providing a ferry service from the marina to boats moored nearby outside for those with a draft in excess of 3.5 metres.”
Other classes in the Regatta are as follows:
- Class Seven: F18's
- Class Eight: Open Beach Multihulls
- Class Nine: Single handed monohull dinghies
- Class Ten: Double handed monohull dinghies
- Class Twelve: Optimist – Thailand Optimist National Championships
Classes 8-10 and Class 12 will have separate inshore course areas, dedicated race management and race over three consecutive days from Friday 1st May to Sunday 3rd May inclusive.
The full NOR can be viewed at www.topofthegulfregatta.com/info/notice, and entries can be made online at www.topofthegulfregatta.com/entry/form. Further enquiries please email info@topofthegulfregatta.com.
“As we enter the regatta's next decade, the Organising Committee and regatta owners Ocean Property are looking forward to continuing the formula of success that has seen the regatta grow to be the largest multi-class regatta of its kind in Asia, and which in 2014 saw the regatta voted 'Asian Regatta of the Year' at the 2014 Asian Marine & Boating Awards,” added Mrs. Supatra Angkawinijwong, Deputy Managing Director of Ocean Property.
Organised by the Top of the Gulf Regatta Organising Committee under the auspices of the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Platu Yacht Association, Ocean Marina Yacht Club and Royal Varuna Yacht Club, the Top of the Gulf Regatta Presented by Ocean Marina will take place 30th April to 4th May, hosted by Ocean Marina Yacht Club, Jomtien, Pattaya, Thailand.
For more information, visit www.topofthegulfregatta.com