Ocean Marina Yacht Club, South East Asia’s largest marina, is all set to host the 10th anniversary Top of the Gulf Regatta from 1st to 5th May 2014. Located in Na Jomtien, Ocean Marina Yacht Club is the hub of sailing in the region and home of the award-winning Top of the Gulf Regatta since its inception in 2005.
The marina has long promoted sailing in the Gulf of Thailand and surrounds, hosting regular club regattas, youth sailing programmes, national and regional championships.
“Ocean Marina Yacht Club is the perfect venue for a multi-class regatta such as Top of the Gulf,” said William Gasson, Chairman of the regatta organising committee.
Captain Bundit Kongyai, Chief of Yacht Racing Association of Thailand (standing back row 4th left), Supatra Angkavinijwong, Deputy Managing Director of Ocean Property Co., Ltd. (back row centre), and William Gasson, Chairman of Top of the Gulf Regatta 2014 (back row 3rd right) are ready to welcome sailors to the 10th anniversary Top of the Gulf Regatta.
“The marina has played an important role in the development of sailing in the region and has been instrumental in making the Top of the Gulf Regatta the largest sailing event of its kind in Asia today,” he added.
In recognition of the Regatta’s success and cementing its position on the international sailing calendar, Top of the Gulf Regatta was recently voted ‘Asian Regatta of the Year’ at the 2014 Asian Marine & Boating Awards.
“We’re honoured to have won this award. There’s no doubt that having such a great venue and unwavering support from Ocean Marina has played a huge part in the Regatta’s success,” added Mr. Gasson.
Staking its claim as the largest marina in South East Asia, Ocean Marina has undergone an ambitious recent expansion, plan increasing the number of berths from 200 in mid-2011 to 330 today, with ongoing development to increase the dry storage area as well as adding another 48 berths by July 2014.
According to Supatra Angkavinijwong, Deputy Managing Director of Ocean Property Co., Ltd., Ocean Marina Yacht Club has grown over the years in tandem with the industry’s growth.
“We have seen a trend in recent years of more Thais buying yachts. This, together with the growth in the number of visiting yachts from overseas, has seen the Gulf of Thailand become a key yachting hub in South East Asia, and our current expansion is in response to this demand and in anticipation of further growth,” said Supatra.
As sailing in the region grows and the 2014 Top of the Gulf Regatta opens its doors, Ocean Marina Yacht Club will be full to the seams this weekend, having welcomed an influx of international boats coming to race in the Regatta from Japan, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and elsewhere in Thailand.
The Top of the Gulf Regatta expects to welcome a near record fleet of 250 boats and over 600 sailors. The twelve classes include this year the RS:One Asian Windsurfing Championships, being held in Thailand for the first time, and over 30 national team sailors from Asian countries will be competing for the Asian crown.
For more information, visit www.topofthegulfregatta.com.
