That is, if they have enough money to make the trip.
The sailors – Ekkkapot “Tik” Kaenkaew, 17; Theerapong “New” Tokratoak, 17; and Kartoon “Toon” Jundet , 12 – have been training for several year at the Phuket Youth Sailing Club through weekend sessions. After performing well in competitions across the region, the group were invited to send there best sailors to the the premier event.
The International Topper Class World Championships take place in Wales, UK on August 9-15 and winners at the event are universally recognised by the ISAF as world champions.
The PYSC is still collecting funds to send their three sailors as it will be the first time Thailand participates in the Topper World's event.
Almost all of PYSC's youth sailors are from the Phuket Sunshine Village Foundation, which was setup after the tsunami hit Phuket in 2004 to provide a home for children who are either orphaned or whose parents are no longer able to provide for them.
“Not only are they acquiring sailing skills but they are truly “'earning life through sailing' and constantly improving their knowledge of English and openness to the outside world,” read a press release from the group.
Anyone interested in helping fund the PYSC efforts to send the three boys to the competition in August can contact Katy Gooch at katy@toppersailphuket.com or call 085 2159185.
Ekkapot ( Tik) Kaenkaew - 17-years-old
Competed in five Optimist Nationals & Represented Phuket at the National Sports Festival & Phuket Youth Games
Phuket King's Cup Regatta (PKCR) Optimist Class Winner 2011
PKCR Topper Class Winner 2012
Theerapong ( New) Tokratoak - 17-years-old
Competed in five Optimist Nationals & Represented Phuket at the National Sports Festival, Phuket Youth Games and represented Thailand at the International Regatta, Qingdao, China - 8th place overall.
Phuket Youth Week - Topper Class Winner 2013
Master Kartoon (Toon) Jundet - 12-years-old
Competed in four Optimist Nationals and represented Thailand at the International Regatta, Qingdao, China
Phuket Youth Week – Topper Class Junior Winner 2013