Sailing yacht Storm 2 - Cruising Div 1 day 1 Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week' - Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week

Fitted out for comfortable cruising with the expectations all competing yachts will carry a full complement of private cabins, fully fitted out galley, heads and onboard refrigeration. They will even be allowed to use power winches and air-conditioning, which will be a relief for those crew with the job of packing the enormous spinnakers.

This does not mean the Premier Class will be any less competitive. Take the 15 metre Baby Tonga for example. Australian skipper Peter Sorensen, having been baptised into the Kings Cup racing excitement last year is back again, this time chartering a faster racing boat and bringing more crew with him.

Sorensen said he learned a lot from last year’s regatta after racing the charter boat Sail Plane in the IRC Class 1. ‘We sort of have a better idea of where to go now and we had some breakages on the other boat which hopefully it won’t happen on this boat.

Baby Tonga Hideaways-Club. Phuket King’s Cup 2009. Guy Nowell ©

This year he will bring with him members of his Sydney 38, Philosopher’s Cup, winners of the Australian IRC Championship in 2008 plus other keen sailors from his home club of Middle Harbour Yacht Club.

He has reservations though with racing Baby Tonga if the traditional light airs return this year. ‘I think it will probably be a problem in light airs as it’s a big heavy boat. I know it goes okay in heavy wind, but not sure about her in the light winds.’

In the middle size of this class is the 66 footer sailing yacht Storm 2. Owner Don Algie returns to Phuket after a 10 year hiatus having once previously raced as crew on board Dr Nicolson’s old Intrigue of Stormoway.

Algie clearly enjoys racing his Alan Warwick designed sloop in regattas. He has successfully campaigned S/Y Storm 2 on the northern Australian winter regatta circuit for several years. Entering the Kings Cup is really about continuing his enjoyment of regattas, but this time in Asia where he is currently expanding his Hogs Breath Cafe business.

‘Why the King’s Cup? It’s like why does someone want to do the Sydney Hobart? You bash your brains out in Sydney Hobart, but with Kings Cup it is a totally different regatta. The division that we race in is for boats all up around the size of yacht Storm 2 and bigger. I am racing against boats from about 57 feet right up to around 150 feet. Racing during the day and then at night you can come in an enjoy yourself. It’s the type of thing I like doing now.’ Algie said.

Algie is bringing with him his crew from Australia and some new sails including a carbon mainsail and a 300sqm black asymmetrical. ‘That is obviously going to help us a lot in light airs. We never had the advantage of a fixed spinnaker before.’ With 22 ton to push around the courses, the Storm 2 yacht crew will be kept busy.

Little and large - Intrigue (80’) and Pornstar (6.5m) were racing in the same division. Top of the Gulf Regatta 2009, Ocean Marina Yacht Club, Pattaya, Thailand Guy Nowell ©

Racing against Storm 2 will be Peter Churchouse’s 25-ton Moon Blue 2, Dr Nicolson’s 80-foot Intrigue which weighs in around 38 tonnes, Bob Yapp’s 17 metre Yo Mo and Aaron Abramowitz’s 50 metre ketch Persues.

‘There are a few X yachts in there and they are very, very fast yachts. I think the smaller boats will take off in the light airs. If it starts to blow, we will be in there,’ Algie said.

Sorensen does not seem to have the same concerns as Algie when it comes to the very big boats. ‘Storm 2; will kill them. Dr Nicholon’s Intrigue? We will kill them too,’ Sorensen quipped..

by Tracey Johnstone

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is Asia’s biggest and most popular regatta. Inaugurated in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday of His Majesty the King of Thailand, the event has been held every year since during the first week of December.

With Royal Patronage, 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 the Province of Phuket.

Dates for 2010
04/12/10 – Registration and Measurement.
05/12/10 – Registration, Practice Race, Skippers Briefing. Opening Ceremony, Candle-light ceremony at Kata Beach Resort & Spa.
06/12/10 – Race Day One.
07/12/10 – Race Day Two.
08/12/10 – Race Day Three.
09/12/10 – Reserve Day.
10/12/10 – Race Day Four.
11/12/10 – Race Day Five. Royal Awards Ceremony.