by Rungtip Hongjakpet Izmen

ACYC Race Series 2008

Racing in the Chalong Bay

Date: March to November 2008
Venue: Around Chalong Bay
Contact: Tony Knight at +66 (0) 81 7470074
or visit www.acycphuket.com

The Ao Chalong Yacht Club’s annual Image Asia Keelboat and Multihull Race Series kicks off this year on March 16.

Other dates in the series are March 30, April 27, May 11, May 25, June 15, June 29, July 12-13, August 10, August 24, September 7, September 21, October 12, November 2, November 16 and November 28.

Anyone looking to pull a few ropes – even those who have never done it before – can call the club’s Commodore, Tony Knight (above), who can usually find a space for them on one of the boats.

Kalim Surfing Contest

Date: July 18-20, 2008
Venue: Kalim Beach
Contact: Chanin Aiyarak at joob@phuketboardriders.com

The 4th annual Kalim Surfing Contest will be held at Kalim Beach from July 18 to 20. Over the past four years the contest has grown in size every year and continues to draw more and more participants from around Thailand as well as internationally.
Foreign contestants come from countries including the United States, Australia, the UK, South Africa, the European Union, and Asian neighbors including Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, and the Kalim event appears on the calendars of surfing-related websites around the world.

There are three classes in the competition:

Open Division: Maximum of 60 competitors in 15 first-round heats. Competitors must use a shortboard no longer than 7 feet in length.

Grom (Youth) Division: Maximum of 16 competitors in four first-round heats. Competitors must be 14 years of age or younger and may use any kind of surfboard.

Longboard Division: Maximum of 24 competitors in six first-round heats. Competitors must use longboards of more than 7 feet in length.

Six Senses Phuket Raceweek registration opens

In the race

Date: July 23 – 27, 2008
Venue: Phang Nga bay
Contact: www.phuketraceweek.com

Online registration is now open for Six Senses Phuket Raceweek 2008, with a reduced entry fee offered for those who early register early. Phuket’s ‘Green Season’ regatta, now in its fifth year, sees a mixed fleet of yachts race in the southwest monsoon breezes off Phuket’s south coast every summer, this year from July 23 to 27.

The originators and organisers of the event, Image Asia, have announced that this year’s regatta will incorporate an event-within-an-event, the inaugural NRG Cup, open exclusively to members of the oil and gas industry from around the region. Entrants in this competition will also still race in the main event against all-comers.

“Our industry is competitive, fearless and spirited, and this first edition of the NRG Cup should be no different,” said Benjamin Dupal, chief executive of NRG Engineering, who conceived the idea of the new cup.

Attracted by excellent sailing in mostly reliable breezes of 15 knots upwards, along with a full-on social scene, entries are expected to top previous years, although organisers Image Asia are not yet predicting numbers.

For the first time, races will be broadcast on international television, including CNN Mainsail, Eurosport, Star Sports, the European Sailing Channel and more – a total potential audience of 140 million households worldwide.

For more information on Phuket Raceweek, or to register, visit www.phuketraceweek.com. For more on the NRG Cup, send email to info@nrgcup2008.com

Kamala Go Surfing Contest

Surfing contest in Kamala Beach

Date: August 2008
Venue: Kamala Beach
Contact: Chanin Aiyarak by email to joob@phuketboardriders.com

K. Chanin is also the organiser of the sixth Kamala Go Surfing Contest, scheduled to take place in August.

The precise date for the event, which takes place in the surf at the northern end of Kamala Beach, has yet to be announced.

Phuket Surfing Contest

Surfing contest in Kata Beach

Date: August, 2008
Venue: Kata Beach
Contact: Wallop Nadon, Tel: 086-9521393,
email : wallopsurfshopkatabeach@hotmail.com

The Phuket Surfing Contest, at Kata Beach, is organized by the Kata-Karon Surfing Club. Now in its seventh year, it is the longest-running surfing event in Phuket, and carries cash prizes totaling more than 100,000 baht. It usually takes place in mid-September, although last year it began in late August, ending in September. As with the Kalim competition, the date for this year’s event has yet to be announced. For more information, contact the event organizer Wallop Nadon (details above).

Phuket Vegetarian Festival

Colorful Ma Song

Date: Sept 29th until Oct 7th
Venue: All Chinese Shrines in Phuket
Contact: TAT Office +66 76 212 213

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a week-long annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, usually around the end of September. During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet and abstain from sexual activity and perform spiritual cleansing and merit-making.

Rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines and temples in and around Phuket Town and aesthetic displays such as walking barefooted over hot coals, self-mutilation and ascending sharpened ladders are accomplished by mediums/devotees known as 'Ma Songs'.

Phuket Thailand Open 2008

Date: November 4-9, 2008
Venue: Karon Beach, Phuket
Contact: www.fivb.org

Phuket is now a regular venue – this is the third year – for a round in the Swatch FIVB Women’s Beach Volley World Tour, currently the biggest beach volley tournament in Asia. The event features all the world’s top women players vying for a purse of $100,000. Played in a purpose-built stadium on the beach, it’s great fun to watch and, better yet, spectating is free. For more information, visit the website above.

Phuket International Sportfishing Tournament 2008

Date: November 19-22, 2008
Venue: Chalong Bay
Contact: uweschittek@yahoo.com

Phuket Sportfishing Tournament

Following the success of the Phuket International Sportfishing Tournament 2007, which attracted 20 teams from 18 countries, the 2008 event is scheduled for November 19-22.

This is a three-day team sportfishing event with top honors going to the team that tallies the most points per kilogram during the tournament. Prizes will also be awarded to the teams that catch the heaviest fish in each eligible species, while a release trophy will go to the team that catches and releases the most billfish.

In an effort to showcase individual team skills, the contest rules this year have been designed to allow teams to fish the event as they would while fun fishing.

Registration takes place on November 19 from 18:00 at the Capt Hook restaurant in Chalong. The weigh-in station will be at the Tamarind Bar, Chalong, which will also be the venue for the awards party. For more information, contact organizer Uwe Schittek at uweschittek@yahoo.com

Phuket Soccer 7s

Dates: 22 & 23 November 2008
Venue: Karon Stadium
Contact: www.Thai7s.com

The annual Phuket Soccer 7s tournament is a fast and furious – and highly popular – event. This year, the fourth, will see 40 teams from 10 countries battling through 14-minute games, then reliving the glory of the day in nearby watering holes. Boasting zero prize money and none of that offside nonsense, this is guaranteed to be a fun day for players and spectators.

Phuket King’s Cup Regatta

Phuket King's Cup regatta

Date: November 29 - December 6, 2008
Venue: Phuket
Contact: Regatta Office Tel/Fax: +66 (0) 7627 3380
Email: info@kingscup.com

The most exciting event in the island’s marine sporting calendar, the King’s Cup Regatta attracts around 100 yachts from all over the world to compete in races in the waters off Phuket and among the neighbouring islands. The after-race parties (there are tickets for sale) have a reputation for being among the biggest and best on Phuket. This year is the 21st time the regatta has been staged.

Laguna Phuket Triathlon

Date: December 7, 2008
Venue: Laguna Phuket
Contact: www.lagunaphukettriathlon.com

The annual Laguna Phuket Triathlon is an exciting event that attracts top athletes from all over the world. The race starts with a 1.8km swim, followed by a 55km bicycle course, and ends with a 12km run. There are also shorter events. For more details of the event or to register, visit the website above.