Renowned for its great sailing grounds, the waters around Phuket are now equally well-known for their top sail-racing events. Throughout the year, match and fleet racing days are organized by the Ao Chalong Yacht Club and Yacht Haven Marina, and such is the popularity of racing around the island that local boat-builders are now constructing craft specifically designed to make the most of local wind and water conditions.

This past year also saw the launch of another big yacht event — the Andaman Sea Rally — and the Phuket Race Week is soon to join the pantheon of star yachting challenges. But the jewels in the crown of the Phuket racing year are the King's Cup (KC) and the Phang Nga Bay (PNB) regattas. These two events are the signal calls to local and international yachtsmen and women to polish their spinnakers, tighten their tack manoeuvers and make their way to the sparkling blue waters off Phuket.

For 16 years, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta has wowed and wooed yachties from around the world. Crusty sea salts from the US West Coast marinas and racing tyros from the Antipodes to the sharp sail racers of Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore and many more gather to enjoy this premier event of the Asian Yachting Circuit.

Held to honour the birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, and thus falling during the first week of December, the 2002 KC was notable for the significant increase in the number of Thai sailors and yachts in attendance.

For much of his life, Thai sail racing star Khun Radab Kanjana-Vanit has been an ardent promoter of sail racing in his homeland. His success aboard Cedar Swan in the multihull class at the 2001 KC did not go un-noted in the Thai press, and was justly rewarded in 2002 by that jump in the numbers of Thais taking part in the regatta. Most impressive among these was the beautiful Farr-40 Pasaya owned by entrepreneur Khun Chalae Wutthanunt and proudly waving the Thai flag in the racing class. But most successful was the crew of Royal Thai Navy 2, who took first place in the IRC 2 class series.

Another notable appearance at the 16th KC was Linklater's Mandrake, an adapted Farr 50, and winner of the prestigious 65th Hoya Round the Island Race off the Isle of Wight, which was specially shipped to Phuket to compete in the KC's racing class. Also worthy of mention was the first KC outing for Ceberus and Chimera, the locally built multihulls from Mark Horwood's Latitude 8.

Without doubt, however, the most significant and most welcome appearance was that of the wind. In recent years, the KC has been in dange of earning itself a reputation as a windless wonder. In 2001, this curse manifested itself most ironically, with great gusting winds immediately before and after the KC, and barely a whiffle during the week of racing. The 16th KC looked like it would be equally cursed, with the tacticians brought to the fore in the first days of racing as crews worked hard to keep their yachts moving towards the finish line between the slight draughts and occasionally adverse currents. But the fates decided to smile on the KC during the final days of racing, offering up winds that turned sailboats intospeed boats. Happy sailors offered up prayers at the last party of the regatta that the 17th KC would be equally blessed.

In fact, the light winds that have cursed the KC in the past seem to make little difference to the many sailors who return each year. For the racers, it merely adds to the challenge. Ultimately, in any case, most participants consider the Cup to be as much social outing as serious racing event. The parties that wrap up each evening have become legendary, and organizers claim that the 17th KC will see even grander revelries. Still, when you get the thirsty crews of 80-odd yachts in one place after a hard day's racing, fun is bound to be on the cards.

Fun is more than just a part of the Phang Nga Bay Regatta. It's the whole point of the event. Jointly organized by Artasia Press and the Ao Chalong Yacht Club, the PNB is a movable feast of good cheer, ranging around the remarkable natural megaliths of the Bay for several days during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

The 2003 PNB began off Railay Beach in Krabi, with 30 yachts anchored in the sheltered cove while 100 yachties danced on the sand as they partied away the night before racing began.

There may be no more beautiful sight in sailing than to see a slew of spinnakers flash across the start line before a backdrop of craggy limestone cliff-faces. The magic of Phang Nga Bay is such that the hard work of racing takes second place to the enjoyment of passing around and between the rocks. That's not to say that racing doesn't happen, but the standing rule among the judges is that any disputes will be heard in the bar over a beer. A dispute is a rare thing at the PNB, mind you, although that doesn't stop the sailors from bellying up to the bar after each day's sailing.

Several days and nights at sea with a full complement of racing crew can take its toll on the rations aboard the 30-odd yachts involved. Such necessities as beer, cigarettes, vodka and wine (oh yeah — and food, of course) become scarce as the regatta moves along, but the sailors are willing to put up with these privations because they know that each evening will be replete with a fiesta of feasting and quaffing. Unique party locations such as the secluded Natural Island Resort and the huge Nakalay Junk have added to the enchantment of this regatta, with fun to be had by all, including the sponsors. In fact, the representatives of QBE Insurance enjoyed themselves so much during the 2003 Phang Nga Bay Regatta, the company has signed up for a further three years as principal sponsor. Now, that's a sure sign of a successful regatta.