Laguna Phuket Sponsors 2007 Champion Tua Lek Racing Yacht at The Phuket Raceweek 2008

Media Release
21-Jul-2008

Laguna Phuket is proud to announce its sponsorship of Sail in Asia's yacht, “Tua Lek”, for the Six Senses Phuket Raceweek 2008 and the 2008 King’s Cup Regatta.

The yacht is a Platu (118) racing yacht. The Platu class is considered by many to be
Thailand’s most successful racing sports class. “Tua Lek” last raced at the Royal Langkawi International Regatta where she won and out performed the Malaysian Navy “A-team”, who were the previous year’s winners, and a top Australian championship crew. “Tua Lek” has an impressive record, collecting podium prizes for five of the six races at the 2007 Langkawi International Raceweek and coming second in last year’s
Phuket Raceweek in IRC2 class.

“Tua Lek” will be sporting the Laguna colours on its racing sails and will be racing with four of its crew chosen from Laguna hotels’ watersports staff at the Phuket Raceweek Regatta. The staff received sailing training from Mike Downard, International Yacht Training instructor and CEO of Sail in Asia, at the Laguna Beach Resort during 12-15 May 2008. Displaying exemplary skills, these staff members have been selected to participate in the event with an experienced racer, Thailand’s SEA Gold medal winner, Sakda Vongtim, to hone skills and develop their potential, in addition to aiming to win the races. The four Laguna crew members will be Sathon Bumrungruk from Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, Chalerm Panchalard from Banyan Tree Phuket and Pichet Suksripeng and Chatchawan Poksakul from Laguna Beach Resort.

“Tua Lek” will most likely be racing in the Sports Boat Class against Scott Duncanson (Somtam Express), Bangkok’s Kipsan Beck (Pornstar) and Koh Samui’s Mick Grover (Moonshadow), and other teams. Races take place 24-27 July 2008.

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