Thailand’s top long-boat racers will compete for cash and prizes at the 13th Pattaya Traditional Long Boat Tournament this weekend at Mabprachan Reservoir.
Pattaya and Nongprue officials announced plans for the races at a Nov. 14 press conference. They’ll feature long-tail boats with deep roots in Thai culture. Chonburi Province, Pong and Nongprue sub-districts and the Thailand Rowing and Canoeing Association will support the race.
Nongprue Municipal Mayor Mai Chaiyanit, who is also president of the Pattaya Long Boat Racing Center, announces the details for this weekend’s Pattaya Long Boat Races.
Trophies will be awarded in six categories. Large boats (55 paddlers) will compete for the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Cup and 100,000 baht; long-tail boats (30 paddlers) will vie for the HRH Princess Soamsawalee Cup and 50,000 baht, whilst large boats types A and B, small boats type B and international boats (12 paddlers) will also compete for an overall total of nearly 400,000 baht in prizes.
Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit said the race, which has been held at the venue since 2000, also will feature other events, such as long-drum contests and Thai-chess matches. He also stressed the family aspect of the event, requesting “citizens to cooperate by not consuming alcoholic beverages…” Organizers will also try to keep it as a no-smoking event.
Boats from Thailand, Indonesia, Laos and Myanmar will compete in the event, which on Saturday Nov. 23 runs from 9am till 4.30pm, and on Sunday Nov. 24 from 9am till 4pm.
