Pattaya Mayor Itthipol Kunplome presided over the 10th Pattaya Water Sports Festival, held at Jomtien Beach from December 18-19. The event is staged annually to help stimulate the city’s tourism sector and also promote interest in waterborne activities.
Local jet-ski, banana boat, parasailing and speed boat operators were able to lock horns with professional racers and test their machines to the maximum as they took part in 9 main categories of racing spread out over the 2 days of competition. The competitors were further split into 10 sub-groups; 8 boats in each group for sports boats and 14 in each for jet skis. The first three in each group received prize money of 5,000, 3,000 and 2,000 baht respectively while the winners also were awarded 300,000 baht of accident insurance from Thai Life Insurance Co Ltd.
Winners and runners-up pose with their trophies at the conclusion of the 10th annual Pattaya Water Sports Festival at Jomtien Beach on December 19.
Winners in the various races were as follows: Suthipong Kuanprakorbkij (Jet Pla-O Standard); Krissada Tiammanee (Sport Standard 2 cylinder); Rachan Aramwong (Jet Pla O Open); Sarawut Kongyu (Sport Open 4 cylinders); Natthawut Raksa (Local 4-stroke 160 BHP); Rachan Aramwong (Local Jet 701cc); Toi Makmee (Sport Endurance); Pongsawet Ngamsommit (Jet Endurance); and Saksit Sapwichian (Banana Boat).
Jet-ski racers line up on the beach before the start of another heat.
Poramet Ngamphichet, former member of the House of Representatives, was on hand at the closing ceremony on December 19 to present trophies and cash awards to all the winners.
High-powered boats compete in the Sport Open 4 cylinders category.
