Asia’s newest regatta got underway yesterday off the Evason Phuket Resort and Six Senses Spa in Phuket. With a full week of international standard racing and five-star social activities on the programme for Phuket Race Week, this inaugural event is a welcome addition to other long-standing and favourite regattas in the area – the Andaman Sea Rally, that sets sail in January, the Phang Nga Bay Regatta held over Chinese New Year, and the King’s Cup Regatta held in December. The regatta opened with a bang with a party on Sunday evening held at the hosting sponsor’s Evason Phuket Resort and Six Senses Spa Into the Beach waterside restaurant and bar.

In the opening race yesterday the 19 entries registered in four classes – Racing, IRC, Club Class and Multihulls – made the light winds. In the Racing Class, Securicor Som Tam Express was first, Panic was second and Skiff Asia Pla Loma took third. In IRC, the winner was Yendys, followed by Octopussy and Ruby Tuesday. The remaining two classes, Club and Multihulls, did not finish.