The event takes place on the waters off of Phuket's Kata Beach beginning at 9am and continue onto December 3. After a one day break, races will resume on Friday (December 5) beginning at 9:30am and continue to the next day.
The lead-up event for the King's Cup, 5th Phuket Dinghy Series finals, kicked things off on Saturday (November 30) as Teerapong Torkatoke put on an excellent performance to emerge winners of the Laser Class, NAttapong Yongram was overall winner in the boy's Optimist Class with Narinmas Nitsuwan winner of the girl's Optimist Class.
The 12 back-to-back races ran in front of the Sailing Club, 3rd Naval Command Center, Cape Panwa earlier in November, culminating in the final at Kata Beach to coincide with the launch of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta last Saturday (November 30).
"The dinghies are a key component of the King’s Cup, and one of the things that makes this such a massive event for sailing in Thailand. It is a huge encouragement for Thai sailing youth, and magnificent to see such strong progress year on year. Many of the dinghy sailors are now upper intermediate level, with consistent progress with each coming Regatta," read a statement from Kevin Whitcraft, President of the Phuket King's Cup Regatta Organising Committee.
The Royal Awards Ceremony for the entire event will take place on Sunday (December 7) at Kanda Hall in the 2nd floor of Kata Beach Resort and Spa starting at 5:30pm with a closing party to follow.
Last year saw the largest fleet of keelboats in the event's history while several races came down to the wire in the addition to the launch of the competition's windsurfing event.
The classes for this year's event include: IRC Zero (International 'Gran Prix' boats), IRC 1, IRC 2, IRC 3, Sport Boats, Modern Classic, Premier, Open Charter, Bareboat Charter, Classic, Cruising, Firefly 850 Sports, Multihulls Racing, and Multihulls Cruising.
Overall results of 5th Phuket Dinghy Series:
Laser
1. Teerapong Torkratoke
2. Kittitouch Kaopradub
3. Winai Sukasaem
Optimist Boy
1. Nattapong Yongram
3. Sarawut Kurak
Optimist Girl
1. Narinmas Nitsuwan
2. Natnicha Maneecharoen
3. Keeratika Klongboon