2009/2010 AsianYachting Grand Prix Championship
December 2009 - Newsletter

We like to keep our readers up to speed, by producing monthly AYGP Newsletters and AYGP Updates before and after each of the ten selected regatta/races that score points towards becoming the AY Skipper and Yacht of the Season.

2009-10 AYGP Championships - Neil Pryde & Hi Fi close in after King's Cup.
After clearly winning the King's Cup, Neil Pryde jumps up the AYGP Championship points table to be only one point behind Ray Roberts in the Skipper of the Year and his custom Welbourne 52 Hi Fi takes a two point lead over Roberts TP52 Evolution Racing in the Yacht of the Year. Frank Pong's 75ft R/P Jelik II pushed hard at the front of the fleet and bounced around the podium places all week, to finish up 2nd overall and enter this seasons pointscore with 2 points. By not racing Hi Fi in the last race, Pryde left the door open for Roberts and Evolution Racing to score two wins on the day and after a slow start to the regatta managed to slip into 3rd overall and score one valuable point, which may make all the difference at the end of the season. As we are only 1/3 of the way through the season there is still plenty racing to come and points for the taking. Judging by the way things have panned out after four AYGP events, the eventual winner is already on the board, but which one will it be? Follow your favourite boats progress throughout the season at: http://asianyachting.com/news/AYGP09-10.htm

Thailand voted favourite sailing venue in Asia
Phuket (5 December) Thailand was voted the favourite sailing venue in Asia and the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta best regatta in Asia, according to a recent survey. The survey found also that the Regatta generated approximately 40 million baht for the Island economy during the 2009 event.The Sailing survey was conducted by the Top of The Gulf Regatta (www.topofthegulfregatta.com) in co-operation with the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta (www.kingscup.com) with the aim to find out sailing trends and provide useful information in helping to attract more sailors to Thailand. Phuket King’s Cup this year attracted 111 boats, approximately 1,000 registered sailors of 33 different nationalities from all corners of the globe. The survey found that over 30% of the sailors who participated in the 23^rd Phuket King’s Cup Regatta have been sailing in Thailand for more than 10 years, while 20% are new – sailing in Thailand for 1-3 years. Goto Complete Survey Here

Next up... Royal Langkawi Int Regatta
The RLIR 2010 is scheduled from 8th to 15th January 2010, at the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club in Kuah, Langkawi. The event attracts the Racing class, IRC class, Sportsboats, Multihulls and Club Cruisers. Weather conditions in Langkawi are expected to be ideal for racing with lots of winds anticipated in January so the secretariat have announced that the round-the-islands race that was popularly introduced last year, is on again this year. Apart from the usual windward/leeward courses, new and challenging courses are also being designed for RLIR 2010. As if the warm, clear waters surrounding the legendary and duty-free islands of Langkawi is not enough for sailors to enjoy the organising team are going to great lengths to promise daily, fun-filled prize giving parties. More info and NOR at: http://www.langkawiregatta.com or call the Regatta Secretariat at +6-04-9664078 or fax +6-04-9665078 or Email: office@langkawiregatta.com

Singapore Straits Regatta
Organisers advise participants that in the interests of safety and setting decent length race courses the entire event will be held in Batam, Indonesia from Nongsa Point Marina Resort. All yachts departing Singapore must submit complete outbound immigration and port clearance documentation to the Regatta Secretariat at Changi Sailing Club by 1900 hours on 18th Jan 2010. Foreign yachts are required to complete documentation for ‘Green Book’ application and Sailing Permit to sail in Indonesian (Riau) waters by latest 11th January 2010. Also individual US$10 Visa Fees for up to 7 days stay are payable on arrival in Batam. Four days of racing is scheduled from Wed 27th to Sat 30th Jan and three nights of entertainment at Nongsa Point will cap of a unique visit to which some sailors describe as the 'Center of the Universe'. More info, NOR and crewing positions can be found at http://www.straitsregatta.com Email: secretariat@straitsregatta.com or Changi Sailing Club at: enquiry@csc.org.sg Tel +65 6545 2876 Fax +65 6542 4235

And now for something completely different
Round 2 of the Extreme Sailing Series Asia starts on Friday 11th and runs till Tues 15th Dec, in the shadow of the Singapore Flyer in Marina Bay. The six Extreme 40s are being reassembled by their teams, ready for pre-event training today. The 24 professional sailors hail from 9 different nations and include Tan Wearn Haw from Singapore. Will his local knowledge give the CHINA TEAM an advantage? If you are in Singapore go down to Marina Bay to watch the action close to shore or follow the racing with daily video clips and photos at: http://www.extremesailingseriesasia.com/

Advertising on the AY Website
This AYGP Newsletter is proudly sponsored by four of our long standing advertisers. If your company would like to advertise in the monthly AYGP Newsletter and AYGP Updates after each event, special monthly and annual rates are now being negotiated by E-mailing info@asianyachting.com Take a look at the rest of the advertising opportunities and sponsorship packages that we have available on all our online publications at: http://asianyachting.com/Mall/Advertising.htm