Samui Regatta

The Samui Regatta is the final race of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix (AYGP) which is a series of twelve races happening across six countries. One of the most eagerly anticipated races in the Asian yachting calendar, the Samui Regatta, taking place this year between the 23rd of May and the 30th of May, has almost become as well-known for its accompanying nightlife and partying as for the actual race itself.

First held in 2002, this year sees the 18th running of the race, which seems likely to decide who will be this season’s champions. It’s held at the Centara Grand Beach Resort at Chaweng Beach which is on the east coast of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand. Organised by Regattas Asia, it’s billed as five days of racing and seven days of partying with over one hundred restaurants, bars and sailor-friendly resorts situated along the beachfront.

As for the race itself, it’s a mixture of both passage and buoy racing with over thirty teams already confirmed as taking part. It has a very high-quality field with a number of skippers and yachts still in the running for this year’s prestigious AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year Award. Rather like the Green Jacket presented at Augusta for winning Golf’s Masters, the winner of the Skipper of the Year award gets to wear the much-prized navy blue blazer at the season’s end presentation party which takes place on the beachfront.

With its mix of top-quality, competitive racing from all-carbon racers to cruisers, charters, multihulls and everything else in between, along with its renowned nightlife, the iconic Samui Regatta is rightly seen as one of the most exciting and much-anticipated events in the sailing calendar, anywhere in the world.