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10:14 PM Sun 30 Nov 2008 GMT
Though chaos reigned at Bangkok's main airline terminals, this was merely a wind-shift for some 2,000 sailors coming in from 25 countries of the Asia-Pacific and further afield. They come, en masse, to salute the King of Thailand on his 81st birthday, via the 22nd Phuket King's Cup which will be sailed from Tuesday 02 - Saturday 06 December.
Such a huge endeavour as this requires a 12-month management and organizational scheme, to ensure that all the miniscule details are in place come December. So the closure of Bangkok's main airport was minor - an irritation, certainly - but not overwhelming.
These astute ladies and gentlemen climbed aboard anything with wheels and bolted for Phuket. leaving these fragile mortals tostake out their territories. Even the press corps and media joined the frat, many taking over-night, 14-hr bus rides, to be in Phuket. One worthy 'Fourth Estater', was heard complaining in the press office that he was bus-lagged!!
The Phuket King's Cup Regatta Committee, also answered the call and, for the first time in the two-decades of staging this event, decided on just five days of racing, counting today as practice race day and incorporating the traditional Thursday lay-day as regular racing.
The 22nd regatta opened at the host venue, the Kata Beach Resort, and tribute was paid to the ongoing principal sponsor, Raimon Land which has agreed to under-write the Regatta through 2012.
Given the dire world economic situation, it is amazing - and a great tribute to HM the King Bhumibol Adulyadej - that so many companies in the public and private sector, support this great yachting extravaganza which puts Phuket and Thailand in a most positive light rather good exposure, one could surmise, considering the current unrest.. Thailand Elite, Mont Clair, Mom Tri's Boathouse, Phuket Magazine and Sunsail, join numerous media sponsors in promoting this event.
Probably the luckiest of the supporters is Thai Beverage (Chang Beer) whereby the front fa?ade of the Kata beach resort is a tableau of rampaging elephants (in concrete, of course).
The Weather Guru promises us some good winds the delay of one day, will enable the few skippers and crews marooned in Bangkok, to motor to Phuket, and bring up the entries to a record 100 plus.
by Peter Cummins
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