Five days of racing and parties

The exotic Koh Samui regatta starts next week

With 29 boats pre-registered, and all but the last details in place, Koh Samui Regatta 2007 is set to kick off on Monday 27 May. Regatta headquarters are at the Central Samui Beach Resort on Chaweng Beach. Organised by Image Asia Events, Koh Samui Regatta includes five days of racing offshore Koh Samui and five nights of tropical island parties.

Half the fleet, and all the top racing boats, have set sail from Hong Kong and Singapore, ensuring Koh Samui 07 upholds its reputation as a true international regatta, while many more are coming from Pattaya and Phuket.

Top yachts Jelik, Hi Fi, Foxy Lady III, Mandrake, LunchCutter II and Ffree Fire 52 will be competing for the Koh Samui Regatta Trophy and the Asian Yachting Grand Prix Circuit Trohpy. In previous years, the Grand Prix has been sewn up before Koh Samui - the last regatta of the season. This year, however, whoever wins the Koh Samui Racing Class is likely to walk away with both prizes.

The top racers are joined by an exciting fleet which will race across five classes, including the biggest-ever fleet of Firefly 850 catamarans to race in the Gulf of Thailand, competing for the Raimon Land Firefly One Design Trophy. The Firefly is designed and built in Phuket, Thailand and is proving one of the most popular boats in Thailand.

Off the water, this year's organisers are determined to uphold the Koh Samui Regatta's renowned tradition for superb parties, culminating in the Gala Awards Dinner at Central Samui Beach Resort after the last day's racing, where well-known Jazz/Blues singer Bonnie Anderson will be joined by Li'l Willy & The Fabulous Hepcats for a night of glittering awards, great food and dancing.

Koh Samui Regatta is organised under the auspices of the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand (YRAT) and is recognised by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

"Without the support of these two authorities and the enthusiasm of corporate sponsors, island businesses, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and local government on Koh Samui — not to mention the sailors who go to great lengths and expense to bring their yachts to Samui, this event simply couldn't take place," said Image Asia managing director, Grenville Fordham, adding, "In this, our first year running the regatta, we hope to exceed the expectations of all those who are supporting the event."

For more information visit the event website: http://www.samuiregatta.com