After arriving at Phuket International Airport at sunrise, Her Majesty made her way to Kata Beach, where she boarded the yacht to take part in today’s racing, the final day of the regatta.
HM The Queen waved to well wishers on the beach as she walked out to the RIB to join the yacht, as she did on Thursday when she joined the crew for a practice session. During that visit she was joined by His Majesty King Vachiralongkorn.
On board THA 72, Her Majesty took part in racing in the IRC Zero class, the top flight of the regatta.
Stunning onlookers, Her Majesty for reasons unexplained even climbed the mast of the 52-foot yacht. For those familiar with the practice, although it is relatively safe, it can be unnerving, especially as TP52 race boats have masts some 22.5 metres tall (about 73 feet).
Queen Suthida, even pictured ‘hiking out’, sitting on the side of the boat with her legs hanging over the side to help balance the boat, spent nearly three hours on the water.
With Her Majesty on board, THA 72 won both of today’s races in the IRC Zero class, but with three DNS (Did Not Start) on Races 4, 5 and 6, THA 72 placed third overall in the class by the regatta’s end.
Top honours in the IRC Zero class went to Raymond Roberts’ crew on ‘Team Hollywood’, which has now won the IRC Zero class four consecutive times.
After returning to shore post-race, Queen Suthida joined the THA 72 crew for the traditional group photo of the crew, then joined photos with key members of 35th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta organising committee and other leading local figures.
Her Majesty is to oversee the official handing out of trophies and awards to the regatta’s winners during a ceremony to start from 3pm.