The 22nd edition of the prestigious event took place from May 25 to May 31 and featured keelboats racing in the IRC Open and Cruising classes.
The wind, as it had done all week, played hard to catch during the final day of competition but Race Director Simon James was able to snare some gusts and hold a final windward-leeward to round out the event. Indeed, Simon somewhat resembled Captain Ahab throughout the regatta, except instead of looking for a killer whale, he was searching for wind, glorious wind - and Simon, aka “The Wind Whisperer”, found it, every single day!
The regatta’s class winners had actually been decided going into the final day as Roberts and his Team Hollywood Samurai crew crossed the finish line first in the last race with an elapsed time of 58:48.
AfterTremor (aka Tenacious), skippered by Olympian Steve McConaghy, placed second, and Iolanthe 3, an Archambault A35, led by Australian skipper Terry Foster, was third. Gloria (Philip Harris, David Hepburn and Simon Plunkett) was fourth, with SV Senator, skipped by Chris Uptegrove, placing fifth.
Upon accepting the winner’s trophy on stage at the Fair House Beach Resort and Hotel, Team Hollywood Samurai’s skipper Ray Roberts noted he had sailed in the very first Koh Samui Regatta, was delighted to be back and promised to return next year. This regatta was not about the quantity of boats but the quality of the sailors, many who have sailed and won the finest regattas in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Cruising class was won by Gloria (an Oceanis 45), whose crew hails from the Royal Perth Yacht Club (they too all promised to return next year). SV Senator (a Jeanneau 45), with noted Danish yachtsman Nils Degenklow on board, was second.
Steve McConaghy, Olympic sailor and triple World Champion in the 11 Metre One Design class, brought a wealth of experience to the regatta. His team, AfterTremor, sailed with skill and consistency to secure second place in a highly competitive IRC Open Class.
“It was a challenging week,” Steve said. “In the 18 Samui regattas I’ve competed in I have never seen so much current. It’s tough going on a slow boat up wind in light air, against 2-3k. Still my favourite regatta and hope to be back again next year.”
The Samui Regatta is a prestigious event in the sailing calendar, this year centered at Nora Beach Resort and Spa, which offered an ideal backdrop for both participants and spectators.
This regatta saw eight races held over five days, from May 26 to 31, with May 29 set as a lay day and an opportunity for the sailors to explore and experience the hospitality of Koh Samui. The competition resumed on May 30 and continued through May 31. Each day’s competition concluded with a ceremony to honour and award the winners, culminating in a gala dinner at the Fair House Beach Resort and Hotel on the final day. The Nora Beach Resort and Spa Hotel was the gracious host of the opening ceremony and the daily award ceremonies.
Simon James and his partner Kae Wattana are committed to keeping Thailand’s regattas going, with Samui regatta being the island’s longest-running major sports event. Indeed, Koh Samui has a great sailing history as back in the day it was the jewel in the crown of Captain Marty Rijurkis’ Asian Yachting Grand Prix. It was here that Captain Marty presented his customary Amari jacket and bottle of bubbly to the annual winner of his highly competitive series. And the skippers that used to bring their crews here (Frank Pong, Neil Pryde, Ray Roberts, Sam Chan) were among the most celebrated in the region. Well, Ray Roberts, at the spry age of 82, is back and Frank Pong, though not racing has continued to support the regatta.
At the closing dinner, dates for 2026 were announced as May 23-30. The opening celebration will be hosted by the Fair House Beach Resort and Hotel on Sunday, May 24.
The Samui Regatta Organising Committee organises the Samui Regatta in collaboration with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand under the Royal Patronage, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, the Surat Thani Province, and Regattas Asia.
The 22nd Samui Regatta was proud to be supported by an array of sponsors whose collaboration and support are essential to the event’s success. Co-sponsors include: Nora Beach Resort and Spa; the Fair House Beach Resort and Hotel; Bangkok Airways; Bangkok Hospital Samui; Chaweng Gardens Beach Resort; Chaweng Regent Beach Resort; Haad Thip PCL; Singha; Samui VertiColor; Team Jelik (Frank Pong); and Workforce International. Media Partners include SEA Yachting and the Thailand Marine Guide.
About the Samui Regatta:
The Samui Regatta is the island’s longest running sports event and solidifies Thailand’s position as a premier sailing destination and an essential stop in the Asian yachting circuit. Since its inception in 2001 with a modest fleet of beach catamarans, the Samui Regatta experienced remarkable growth up until 2019, rapidly expanding each year and is now in a rebuilding process post COVID. The event’s objectives remain focused on increasing tourism to Koh Samui, elevating the profile of sailing in Asia, and promoting water sports activities.
For more information on participating in the Samui Regatta or to registration, please visit the regatta’s website at https://www.samuiregatta.com and update activities on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamuiRegatta.