Please select your home edition
Edition
SOUTHERN-SPARS-OFFICIAL-SUPPLIER-52-SS 728-X-90 TOP

Vega Rudder Race 2024, Thailand

by Sail World Asia 23 Apr 16:29 NZST 19 April 2024
Vayu. Vega Rudder Race 2024 © Team Vayu

Last December HM Queen Suthida of Thailand participated in the Phuket King's Cup on board Kevin and Tom Whitcraft's TP52, Vayu. Clearly this was a happy experience, as last weekend Her Majesty was back on board for the Vega Rudder race, a 57nm straight line dash from Hua Hin (actually, the Regent Cha-Am Resort in Phetchaburi) across the Gulf of Thailand to Toey Ngam Beach, Sattahip.

The Vega Rudder race commemorates the occasion when the late King Bhumiphol Adulyadej, an enthusiastic sailor, completed the same crossing in an OK dinghy in 1966, and this year attracted eight boats and competitors from Thailand, Great Britain, Australia, the Netherlands, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

The race started at Cha Am beach in Phetchaburi province, with a finish line at Toey Ngam Beach, Sattahip district of Chonburi province, with a timing gate 30nm out in the middle of the Gulf of Thailand. Team Vayu crossed the finish line after a little over 4 hours, with Her Majesty at the helm all the way, to claim Line Hours and a win on handicap. Kevin Whitcraft has made the crossing before - in a Fireball and in a 470, and reports that "a TP52 is definitely the way to go."

At an Awards Ceremony, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn presented the Queen with the Vega Rudder Trophy, and all competitors received commemorative medals.

Related Articles

ILCA Thailand Nationals at Royal Varuna YC
The record turnout was achevied despite Thailand's top ILCA 7 sailors being in Australia This event was well attended by an impressive international turnout. In total 77 sailors attended, a majority Thai Nationals and others spread out between the three fleets. Posted on 7 Feb
International OK Dinghy christening in Thailand
Boat bailer blocked by Ice??? After having been the only International OK dinghy in Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Pattaya, Thailand for many years, the sailor of THA444 decided it was time for a change. Posted on 4 Feb
French Cup at Royal Varuna Yacht Club
Sailors, spouses and family members enjoy the buoyant social side in the club Royal Varuna Yacht Club is a driving force for racing in Thailand and Asia. The members results in the last 2 years include no less than 3 world championships and qualification in two classes to the 2024 Olympics. Posted on 17 Jan
2023 Asian Sailing Championships Overall
Chinese and Thais score tickets to Paris 2024 Top Chinese and Thai sailors were greeted with cheers on their return to shore after the medal races at the 2023 Asian Sailing Championships being held at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Pattaya, Thailand. Posted on 19 Dec 2023
2023 Asian Sailing Championships Day 5
Medal races to determine extra Paris 2024 tickets China is poised to sweep the 2023 Asian Sailing Championships awards table of five gold medals, and Hong Kong the final gold, all of which come with Asian-only tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games pending World Sailing certification. Posted on 18 Dec 2023
Phuket King's Cup 2024 Challenge
An invitation for past keelboat/multihull winners to race in dinghies Former winners Scott Duncanson (class winner 2000, 2006, 2007 and 2012) and Morten Jakobsen (class winner 2005 and 2019) have a fresh challenge for Kings Cup in December 2024. Posted on 18 Dec 2023
2023 Asian Sailing Championships Day 4
Light to non-existent wind tests patience of some, delivers for others There are those who joke that sailing is a sport where one sits around waiting for the wind all day. Day Four of the 2023 Asian Sailing Championships was such a day. Posted on 17 Dec 2023
2023 Asian Sailing Championships Day 3
Olympic dreams still within reach at Asian Qualifiers With only four races to sail before the medal race, a palpable sense of opportunities yet to be grabbed hung in the air as results rolled in at the end of racing on Day Three of the 2023 Asian Sailing Championships. Posted on 17 Dec 2023
Thailand ILCA Nationals likely to break records
Interest in the classes at a record high With the interest in the classes at a record high, it is likely the that Thailand Nationals will attract more competitors than event before. Posted on 13 Dec 2023
A Right Royal occasion in Thailand
HM King Vajiralongkorn visits; HM Queen Suthida sails and wins The effect of a Royal visit to – and Royal participation in – a sporting event in Thailand is hard to overestimate. Posted on 12 Dec 2023
Motomuck SaltyMuck Static 728 x 90 px BOTTOMCollinsonCo 728x90 BOTTOMSOUTHERN-SPARS-AGLAIA-SPARS_728X90 Bottom