The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, Asia’s biggest and most popular regatta, will this year be held in the southern island province during November 29 – December 6.

The week-long event was inaugurated in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday – 5th December 1987 — of His Majesty the King of Thailand and has been annually held during the first week of December since then.

The annual event had been voted as Yatching Event of the Year twice in 2006 and 2007 at the Christofle Asia Boating Awards. In 2006, the award presentation was held at the Fullerton Singapore while last year’s ceremony was held at the Peninsula Hotel in Bangkok, where Phuket was also announced Asia’s Maritime Capital.

With the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King, the Regatta is organised by the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy and Phuket Province.

Last year, Hong Kong’s Jelik, led by skipper Frank Pong, won Racing class, Phuket’s Raimond Land of Scott Duncanson from Australia won Sportsboat class, Strewth of Geoff Hill from Australia won Premier class, Great Britain’s Panic of Jeff Davidson won IRC1 class, Great Britain’s Madam Butterfly of Peter Dyer won IRC2 class, USA’s Wings of Fredrick Roswold won IRC3 class, Germany’s Princess Anna of Christian Eschenburg won Sunsail class, Japan’s Kine Fidji of Hironori Kobayashi won Bareboat class, Great Britain’s Mamba of Henry Kaye won Firefly class, Great Britain’s Spirit of Isuzu (Charro) Christopher Edwards won Multi 1 class, USA’s Running Cloud of Larry Pollock won Multi 2 class, Australia’s Jubilaeum of Matt Harsley won Classic class and Great Britain’s Tzigane of John Greenwood won Ocean Rover class.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s boats also received the honours were Emma Mathild XX of Morten Jakobsen, which came second in Sportsboat class, Lawana of Pena Trungkabunchar and MA DU ZI of Viroj Nualkhair, the tenth and eleventh respectively in Premier class, Octopussy of Jaray Tipsuk the third in IRC1, Royal Thai Navy 1 of Lt Peera Sagultem and Royal Thai Navy 2 of NC Pontep Sook-Udom the third and seventh repectively in IRC 2 class, Cinders of Ket Mangklaseranee the fifth in IRC 3 class and Cedar Swan of Radab Kanjanavanit the fourth in Multi 1 class.