PATTAYA, Thailand – Following the successful 10th Anniversary Top of the Gulf Regatta, the dates have been set for next year – 30th April to 4th May 2015 – and organisers are planning for a strong fleet of boats ranging from dinghies to large keelboats and multihulls hosted at Ocean Marina Yacht Club, Jomtien, Pattaya.
Racing for the keelboats and multihulls will take place 1st to 4th May while the Optimists, competing in the Thailand National Optimist Championships, dinghies and beach catamarans will race over three days, 1st to 3rd May. Registration for the keelboat and multihull classes, together with a practice race and opening party will be on Thursday 30th April.
Ownership of the regatta has been vested in Ocean Properties PLC, owners of Ocean Marina, while the organising committee structure remains the same with co-founder and long-serving chairman Bill Gasson appointed co-chairman with Ocean Property's Kirati Assakul, also a regular competitor at the regatta on his multihull Sonic.
Reflecting the ownership change, the regatta sees a change of name: Top of the Gulf Regatta Presented by Ocean Marina.
Ensuring continuity, the regatta format remains unchanged and over the coming years will evolve in response to competitors needs, as it has over the past 10 years.
Home of the regatta since its inception, Ocean Marina have undergone significant expansion in recent years and is now the largest marina in South East Asia. In addition to the expansion in berthing, dry storage and onshore facilities, a new 75 ton travel lift has been added and extensive dredging taken place. The dredging will allow for more of the larger keelboats, such as the TP52s – of which organisers have received new enquiries already – to berth and join the Regatta, and with the favourable berthing rates for yachts proceeding to the Samui Regatta this bodes well for an increased participation in 2015.
Ten years on, the Top of the Gulf Regatta has become firmly established on the sailing map, is one of the 12 five-star regattas selected to be a part of the AsianYachting Grand Prix circuit, and today welcomes sailors of more than 35 nationalities each year to compete.
The largest multi-class event of its kind in Asia, the Top of the Gulf Regatta regularly welcomes over 250 boats and more than 650 sailors to compete across 10 or more classes, and incorporates the Coronation Cup – competed for by one-design Platus – and the Thailand National Optimist Championships.
Organised by Ocean Property, the 2015 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
– TOG Media
