Entries looking good
With a month to go to the first race, entries are looking promising. Just under 30 boats have either formally confirmed or indicated that they’ll be there – more than at the same time last year.

Boats of all sorts are still available for charter for Raceweek – at prices starting from an unbelievable 65,000 for a 6-day charter on a 2007 King’s Cup class winner. If you don’t want a ‘whole boat’, there are join-in options too. Check out: www.phuketraceweek.com/charters.htm

5,000 Euro yacht charter holiday up for grabs
Answer a few simple questions (and get them right!) and a 5,000 Euro yacht charter holiday, including two nights stay at Evason for two couples, is the prize.

The competition is open to anyone, whether competing in Phuket Raceweek 2009 or not. The competition is sponsored by Composite Catamarans & Evason Phuket. For information on how to enter go to:
www.phuketraceweek.com/charter_competition.htm

Jaguar cars shipped in for Phuket Raceweek
Jaguar is shipping from the UK to Phuket its latest 2010 model XK and XFR range of cars to coincide with Six Senses Phuket Raceweek, organizing in conjunction with the regatta the ‘Jaguar Asia-Pacific Test Drive Event’ from July 22-26.

60 Jaguar Asia-Pacific VIP guests from Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Thailand are invited, to try several models of Jaguar while enjoy the stunning views of Phuket and luxury relaxation at Six Senses Resort and Spa. Expert instructors from Jaguar and Grand Prix International will help the VIP guests to experience the unrivalled performance of Jaguar’s cars.

New sponsors on board!
Recent additions to the Raceweek main sponsorship lineup include Grey Goose Vodka, Fraser Suites & Fraser Place, Hertz car rentals and, last but not least, Kingfisher Premium beers.

NewspaperDirect special Raceweek offer
One of Raceweek's media partners, NewspaperDirect, prints locally in Thailand 800 different titles from 40 different countries. Visit www.phuketnewspapers.net for a list of titles, then order online or by phone at 076 343 218. Your newspaper will be delivered to your home or hotel.

Raceweek competitors and guests are offered a unique deal: Simply mention: ‘Six Senses Phuket Raceweek’ when placing your order to receive a 25% discount. The offer is valid until 30 July 2009.

She'll just make it!
The newest catamaran – the Andaman Cabriolet Da Vinci Niña – racing at this year's Phuket Raceweek is the regatta organiser's boat. As if running a regatta's not enough, IMAGE asia MD Grenville Fordham has sidestepped into boat building... with more than a little help from his friends. Finishing touches are being applied at a frantic rate and, despite all the pessimists around, the boat will race!

Rumour has it that there may be an unbelievable 'first buyer' deal on the table for Raceweek. More later... For information on the Andaman Cabriolet go to: www.catamaransailingphuket.com

Great Raceweek rates at Evason
If you haven't already booked accommodation for Raceweek, Evason is offering great rates to regatta participants - with rooms from only 3,800 Baht per night incl buffet breakfast. For more information go to the website’s accommodation page www.phuketraceweek.com/accommodation.htm. Download Evason Fact Sheet for full details of this amazing resort. www.phuketraceweek.com/Evason_Phuket_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Phuket’s ‘new’ yacht club
Ao Chalong Yacht Club has reinvented itself. Literally days after completing smart new premises right on the beach in Chalong Bay, the impressive bar has been drawing more and more members and guests each evening.

Plans to contract a professional restaurateur to operate the food and beverage – leaving the committee free to focus on sailing – are in progress. The end result will be a great, friendly place to eat well and drink well, with magical views across the bay and some long yarns to be told. www.acyc-phuket.com

Unicorn playing Raceweek again
Not only were the girls from Thailand’s top all-girl band a huge success at Raceweek last year – they had a ball too! So, despite shrinking budgets, the girls are back again to entertain participants on Saturday and Sunday nights.

At last!!! Launching at Raceweek
After a fair bit of delay, mostly due to the state of the economy(ies), the third edition of SOUTHEAST ASIA PILOT (formerly Andaman Sea Pilot) will be unveiled during Raceweek. Chairman of the Race Committee, Andy Dowden, is one of the authors, the other is our usual MC Bill O'Leary and the whole thing is stitched together by IMAGE asia MD, Grenville Fordham. Word has it that Bill might not be with us this year, so one 'autograph' may have to do...

Southeast Asia Pilot is 196 pages crammed with essential detailed information for anyone cruising the seas of Southeast Asia. Anchorages, charts, marinas, major refit facilities, regattas – and a lot more:
www.southeastasiapilot.com

Phuket Raceweek fact sheet
When did it start? When did the name change? Who won what? For those who would like to find out something of the history of Phuket Raceweek, there’s an online Fact Sheet complete with quick links to every year’s results.
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Six Senses Phuket Raceweek couldn’t happen without the sponsors. This year the lineup is:
Title Sponsor Six Senses Resorts & Spas. Co-Sponsors Tourism Authority of Thailand, Grey Goose, Jaguar Cars, Rodenstock. Official Suppliers Andaman Cabriolet, Canpac Beverages, Fraser Suites & Fraser Place, Hertz Rent a Car, Kingfisher Premium, Nivea Sun, The Moorings. Media Partners Asia Pacific Boating, Asia Spa, China Boating, Daily Xpress, LP Luxury Properties, myphuketinfo.com, NewspaperDirect, PGTV, Phuket Gazette, Prestige Magazine, SEA Yachting. IslandPartners Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Lee Marine, Sunsail, Topper Sail. Island & Industry Supporters Big ‘A’, Boat Lagoon Marina, Da Vinci, Electrical Marine, Funmag, Latitude 8 Yachting, PCS, Phuket Interwood, Seraph Cruises, Quantum Sails.
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For more information, visit www.phuketraceweek.com or email raceweek@image-asia.com