Samui Regatta Brings Sense of Optimism to Island

With many local businesses shuttered due to the lack of tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic, the small army of participants, coaches and family from the 19th Samui Regatta were literally a breath of fresh air to a local economy starved for business.  

 

On the final day, the wind started out slowly, but Simon James, PRO and organizer of the Samui Regatta, was able to get in three races for both the 23-boat Optimist Class and the 3-boat Laser Class. That gave the Optis four races in total for the Regatta and five for the Lasers, who were able to discard their weakest performance.     

 

The competitors sailed a trapezoid course with the Optis doing the inner loop and the Lasers the outer loop. Again, smiles and laughter were the order of the day because no matter what Mother Nature threw at the young sailors they were determined to have fun, and they did. Most sailors finished every single race despite a strong current off of Chaweng Beach and fickle wind conditions.           

 

All participants in the regatta were young Thais sailing either Optis or Lasers. Usually, big boats are the focus of the Samui Regatta, but continuing restricted re-entry regulations in many regional countries keep them at home and the Thai youth reveled in the spotlight.   

Sarawin Kaminthong was first overall in the 16-boat Optimist Boy’s Class today followed by Tammachat Sriopason on with Ratpong Nitisahakul finishing third. 

 

Meanwhile, the 7-boat Optimist Girl’s Class saw Tanyatip Limmaneerak take the honours while Suchanya Kaminthong was second and Sinanrat Lertpoonsawat placed third.

Tammachat Sriopason took the 12-boat Optimists Under -10 Class followed by Imtiyaz Sittisan and Navatawan Jaemjit in second and third place, respectively.

 

And in the 6-boat Optimists Under-12 Class Ratpong Nitisahaku sailed to victory followed by Suchanya Kaminthong and Tanyatip Limmaneerak in that order.

 

The ILCA Open Handicap Class saw Kawin Dablek take every single race followed by Siwanun Lertpoonsawat and Chanwud Phramlek, who were second and third, respectively.

 

The closing ceremonies, final party and awards ceremony were held on the beach in front of the host venue of the regatta this year, Banana Fan Sea. 

 

Full results can be found on the regatta’s results page.

 

A big thank you to all the Regatta’s Sponsors, Media and Supporters.