multihull-regatta The Corsairs are back_GF2.indd

MULTIHULL SOLUTIONS REGATTA
MULTIHULL SOLUTIONS REGATTA
Cruising yachts welcome
About Multihull Solutions
Following Multihull Solutions’ success in Australia and
New Zealand, the company expanded its operations
to Southeast Asia in early 2014 with its Thailand office
based in Phuket’s Boat Lagoon. The company is the
exclusive distributor of Fountaine Pajot and Catana
Catamarans in Southeast Asia and also represents
Corsair Marine, Sunreef Yachts, TAG Yachts, NEEL
Trimarans and Privilège Catamarans. Contact
Andrew de Bruin, [email protected]
The Corsairs
are back!
Not too many years ago, Phuket’s multihull
regatta secured its sponsorship due to Phuket’s
booming property market and, at the same
time, incorporated an event-within-an-event,
the Corsair Cup, paying homage to a sizeable
fleet of Vietnam-built Corsair trimarans joining
the local boats.
Phuket’s property boom ended, the sponsorship
was no more and the Corsairs disappeared. But Asia’s
biggest gathering of multihull sailing boats (catamarans
One-design Fireflys - in a class of their own
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Entry fees
and trimarans) continued, thanks to the Ao Chalong
Yacht Club’s (ACYC) dogged determination, and even
established its own niche as the sailor’s regatta – a ‘regatta
without frills’.
4,500 THB boat entry including skipper
2,000 THB per crew member
Cruisers listen up! It need not be so… “We’re particularly
keen to see cruising yachts join in and we plan to tailor the
regatta’s courses to suit the boats that enter,” said Andrew.
He might have gone on to say that this regatta is a cruising
yachtie’s dream… three days sailing around the picturesque
islands scattered off Chalong Bay with a bunch of likeminded people, gathering at the yacht club bar afterwards
to regale each other with tall tales of their exploits over a
few cold beers – what more could you want?
This year, major sponsorship is back thanks to Multihull
Solutions – and so are the Corsairs, represented in Phuket
by Multihull Solutions. At this stage, three Corsairs have
confirmed entry and a fourth is available for charter at
roughly half price (see box feature for details).
This year’s regatta, to be held from 10-13 July out of
ACYC’s superb waterside premises, has been renamed
the Multihull Solutions Regatta, in recognition of its Title
Sponsor, and promises to be one of the best yet – with a
few more frills than in recent years, but remaining true to
its roots as the ‘sailor’s regatta’.
Described by Multihull Solutions’ Asia general manager,
Andrew de Bruin, as “the best value for money sailing
event in the region”, the organisers are keen to attract
cruising multihulls – whether visiting Phuket or based
here – to take part. But cruising yachts are traditionally
reluctant to join in regattas, perhaps fearing that their skills
are not up to the task – or that racing is simply too much
like hard work.
Yachts for charter
Corsair 28 (Shanghai Baby/ Skylight) – fast racing
trimaran offered for half price! US$2000 (approx. THB
65,000) for BOTH Multihull Solutions Regatta AND Cape
Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek. Incredible bargain!
Contact [email protected] for details.
Firefly (Mamba) – Price on request.
Contact [email protected]
But what about all that tacking and gybing up and down
the race track? Well, Andrew did say “…we plan to tailor the
regatta’s courses to suit the boats…” so cruisers who dust
of their yachts and drag them out of the marina, or charter
an available cruising yacht at great low season rates, can
expect to forget the hard work and go for some relaxed, fun
racing around the islands. Then join in the party!
For more information, visit
www.facebook.com/MultihullSolutionsRegattaPhuket
To enter online, go to
www.acyc.asia/regattas/multihull-regatta
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