Report by Scott Murray, Sea Yachting.

Regattas Asia have done what few people in this region have done: stage two major regattas throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Co-operating with local health authorities the 24th Bay Regatta, and second Bay Regatta since the novel coronavirus outbreak, set sail this morning from Ao Po Grand Marina.

And indeed it was a breath of fresh sea air to see ten sailboats head out from their moorings to head through some of the world’s most stunning karst topography on their four-day nautical journey.

Held later this year after from March 31st to the 4th of April, the Bay Regatta is a series of passage races – an event format that catches the attention of the region’s best sailors as they competed in two classes, Racing Multihulls and Monohulls with a cruising multi (Mojo) thrown in for good measure.

This four-day circumnavigation of Phang Nga Bay focuses on fun. Attracting the serious, the not-so-serious and the not-at-all-serious “racing” sailors, the regatta appeals to those who enjoy the stunning sailing grounds of the area and a different destination each evening.

Each evening, the regatta anchors at a different venue and the sailors go ashore. Those staying ashore –the majority of the fleet – book accommodation and either eat in the local restaurants or enjoy the official event functions which engage with the local community. Most of the expenditure of the regatta goes directly into the local economies of the areas the regatta visits — this has been the case since the regatta was launched and it will remain so for the future — an excellent example of how sports tourism works to the benefit of communities and local economies.

Starting in Ao Po on Phuket's east coast, after registration and an opening party yesterday evening at Ao Po Grand Marina, the yachts did something different this year. The government prohibited the yachts from racing north as they usually do, so they went south instead.

The 25 mile course set off from Koh Naka Yai, passing Koh Sup to starboard and rounding Koh Yao Yai to port, before passing through the gate (between the committee boat and the Hin Mu Sang Mu Nua).

PRO and race organizer Simon James had two starts for the competitors today: first off were all the multihulls (6 boats) followed by all the multihulls (4 boats). The weather did not cooperate today as a squall set in almost as soon as the sailors crossed the start line (Thank God for warm rain!!).

Dan Fidock’s Fugazi took line honors in the Multihull Racing class followed by John Newham’s Twin Sharks, John Coffin’s Fez, and Glywn Rowlands’ Twister. The rough weather took its toll on Alan Carwardine’s Coconuts who did not finish the race. The results stayed the same for the Multihull Performance Class though Rick Fielding’s Mojo did finish ahead of Coconuts because if its DNF, and Mojo must be commended for sticking it out in the rough weather and finishing the race.

Results for the four boat-Monohull IRC & Performance Class were identical with Andrew McDermott Jessandra finishing on top followed by Niels Degenkolw’s Phoenix with Torben Kristienson’s Kinnon in third, followed by Paul Merry’s Night Train..

The Bay Regatta was originally described thus: “The regatta allows participants to experience the best of southern Thai hospitality and the unrivaled sailing grounds in the area. Boats sail amongst 200-metre high karsts and past hidden bays on their way to nights under-the-stars in idyllic anchorages.”

That description still rings true today.