| Do you ever feel like you know just enough | | | | expert status when it comes to Phuket. |
| about Phuket to be dangerous? Let's see if we | | | | The following day dawned with glorious weather |
| can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info | | | | conditions. The sun shone; a fantastic fresh wind |
| from Phuket experts.sailboats and motor yachts | | | | blew to fill the sails; the sky was a brilliant deep |
| arrived from all over the world for the sixth | | | | blue - all set against the lovely coastline of Phuket. |
| annual Phuket Invitational Superyacht Rendezvous. | | | | Veteran King's Cup race master Andy Dowden, |
| The event gathered even more cachet this year | | | | reminding everyone "it's a rally not a regatta," set |
| at its new venue, the exclusive Resort on | | | | the triangular course leading the yachts close to |
| Phuket's Andaman coast. | | | | land. Long legs and downwinds provided |
| The champagne flowed at the opening cocktail | | | | spectators with a magical sight, as sails were |
| party on board the classic motor yacht Maid | | | | unfurled in majestic splendor. |
| Marian II, which was celebrating her 75th birthday. | | | | The classic ketch Sylvia, always memorable, was |
| Following cocktails, owners and crew were | | | | an inspiring sight as southwest winds filled her |
| whizzed ashore for another party. Hein Velema of | | | | 600-square meters of sail setting her on course |
| the principle sponsor Feadship then announced | | | | for Sri Lanka. "Everyone got their passport?" |
| "The Feadship Challenge" over finely flavored | | | | joked Capt. Bryce after Sylvia missed the starting |
| canapés. The objective was simple: Teams | | | | line. The 5O-year-old lady was challenged with |
| had to design and build a model Superyacht in 15 | | | | rigging and renegade sails that took a lot of |
| minutes! | | | | combined muscle to rein in. As every year, she |
| Feadship knows a thing or two about boats but | | | | followed a slightly different course. Capt. Bryce |
| wasn't giving away any secrets, leaving teams | | | | acknowledged that perhaps a few regatta rules |
| scrambling. Hein looked on with amused curiosity | | | | had been broken, but everything was fine. |
| as the teams tackled the challenge, paying | | | | Yanneke Too - operating with push-button |
| homage to ancient shipbuilding traditions with balsa | | | | efficiency led the field. After an exciting start, |
| wood, plastic, superglue, sailcloth and a few basic | | | | which had Yanneke Too and Intrigue neck and |
| tools. Suitably inspired by generous quantities of | | | | neck, Yanneke the only boat that hoisted her |
| Moet and fellow guests, the teams came up with | | | | fabulous spinnaker, made headway. Unfortunately |
| some super - and not so super - yachts while | | | | the spinnaker just dipped in the water and |
| pondering the age-old question, "Does size | | | | Intrigue sailed sovereign in the winner's position. |
| matter?" | | | | This year's Invitational captured a moment in |
| The boats took to the water in the specially built | | | | history. Following last year's tsunami, Phuket and |
| racing trough. Wind power proved tricky as team | | | | the Andaman coast have made an incredible |
| members attempted to blow maximum gale | | | | recovery and many visitors felt a new era was |
| force to propel their boats. To separate the men | | | | beginning for the region. The sponsors, including |
| from the boys, a beer had to be downed at the | | | | organizing sponsor SEAL Superyachts, see Asia |
| halfway point. The team from Sylvia encountered | | | | and especially Phuket emerging as the ultimate |
| steering problems, while superior wind power | | | | yachting destination in the not-too-distant future. |
| assisted Maid Marian through several heats until | | | | At the final gala dinner their predictions seemed to |
| Yanneke Too - built for speed, emerged the | | | | be on track. The private beach was beautifully |
| fastest. "The Best Design" award went to the | | | | decked out. The lavish buffet included fresh |
| Silvertip team for sleek clean lines. "The Ugliest | | | | Andaman seafood and an array of sensuous |
| Design" (fast but ugly) went to Cordelia for an | | | | chocolate delights. Lashings of champagne added |
| extreme flat bottom. | | | | to the general bonhomie as dozens of traditional |
| Truthfully, the only difference between you and | | | | hot air lanterns were launched in the night sky, |
| Phuket experts is time. If you'll invest a little more | | | | forming a canopy of tiny lights above the yachts. |
| time in reading, you'll be that much nearer to | | | | |