With sunny skies, warm seas, and winds of 12-14 knots going into the event, there was a buoyant mood in the boat park before the regatta’s first races.
“Pre-event training was in fantastic conditions, absolutely awesome,” said Max Hunt, a regular on the ILCA Masters circuit and a master sailing control systems designer with Southeast Sailboats.
The event sees 117 sailors from 24 countries vying for podium places in five fleets based on age, the average age being 55. Representing Thailand are four sailors, two men and two women. Among the eldest are two hale 85-year-olds who have only minor issues about having to compete against their juniors, a total of 20 in the 75 years+ Legends fleet. Among the youngest are Beijing 2008 Olympian Adil Khalid from the UAE who was the first Arab to sail around the world and Tokyo 2020 Olympian and Paris 2024 hopeful Viktorija Andrulyte from Lithuania.
The Yacht Racing Association of Thailand’s Vice President Admiral Thanee Phudpat opened the 2023 ILCA 6 Masters World Championships on the evening of February 9 at the host venue.
The Royal Varuna Yacht Club’s mission this week is to ensure the event is a most memorable one, with Thai touches to make it magical ranging from Thai food tastings and traditional Thai puppetry among special surprises for the international guests.
Principal sponsor Idemitsu is a long-term partner to the club, its contribution part of its impressive CSR program. The Singha Corporation joins as co-sponsor, continuing a long-standing relationship that stretches back to the 1970s. Supporting sponsors include Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Coca-Cola, Element Six Evolution, The Pizza Company, Bonchon, and UF.
Organizing partners the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and the ILCA. Strategic partners include Pattaya City, the Sports Authority of Thailand, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
No comments:
Post a Comment