BANGKOK, 8 April 2019: Organisers of the Top of the Gulf Regatta presented by Ocean Marina are gearing up for the event’s 15th sailing with more than 700 competitors representing 30 countries
Scheduled 30 April to 5 May, the regatta is hosted by Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya.
Pitched as an “important sports tourism event on Thailand’s East Coast”, organisers believe it will contribute more than THB20 million to the local economy and provide international competition for Thai sailors of all abilities and ages.
More than 200 boats are expected to compete in up to 16 classes ranging from Optimists (racing in the Thailand Optimist Open Championship) to dinghies, one-design Platus, keelboats and multihulls, as well as RS:One windsurfs and an IOM Radio Controlled class.
“Top of the Gulf Regatta operates to international standards providing Thai sailors with an opportunity to race in an international event against international competition. We expect Thai national team sailors in the Optimist and dinghy classes, as well as the RS:One windsurfs, and they will likely be competing against national team sailors from neighbouring countries,” said, Top of the Gulf Regatta Organising Committee co-chairman William Gasson.
New to the regatta this year is a Para Sailing class – four days of racing will follow a three-day pre-regatta clinic lead by a training officer from World Sailing. Ocean Marina Yacht Club have supported Disabled Sailing Thailand’s initiative to make sailing more accessible since its beginning, and have provided a home for the development of the S\V14 two-person dinghy – a boat designed specifically for Para Sailors.
Eight S\V14s will be provided free of charge for use by Para Sailors at the regatta. This will be the first fleet of its kind in the world and interest is high with Para Sailors from France, Australia, South Africa, Japan, Indonesia, Estonia, Philippines and Thailand expressing their intent to compete.
Following an expansion last year, Ocean Marina Yacht Club is now the largest marina in Southeast Asia.
The 15th Top of the Gulf Regatta presented by Ocean Marina will take place from 30 April to 5 May at Ocean Marina Yacht Club.
