IRC Challenge Race for Phuket King's Cup

With IRC fleets growing in Asia, the 2010 Phuket King's Cup Regatta introduces the IRC Combined Fleet Race on Saturday 11th December - the final day of the Regatta. With start line off Kata Bay on Phuket Island's West Coast, this race allows cruisers and smaller racing yacht to take on the 'grand prix' racers on a level-playing field.

'This is the first combined fleet race of its kind in Asia,' announced Simon James, Race Director.

The number of IRC rated boats globally is approximately 7,500 in 40 different countries, 7% of which are in Asia and of those, 15% are in Thailand. Growing in global popularity, the IRC rating system is operated by Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), UK. The 2010 RORC IRC National Championship in the UK had 54 entries while in 2009 the Phuket King's Cup Regatta saw 87 IRC rated boats take part.

'Each year the fleet of IRC rated boats grows. To my knowledge, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta attracts one of the largest IRC fleet in the world,' added James. 

Since 2007, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta has seen a 65% increase in IRC rated boats, in part due to the growing number of IRC boats in the region. Japan, for example, has seen an increase of 133% 2007-2009, significant for the Phuket King's Cup Regatta as an independent survey by Infinity Communications & Consultant found that almost 10% of the 2009 Regatta fleet were Japanese.

For the first time in Asia, the 2010 Phuket King's Cup Regatta will include one IRC Combined Fleet Race and one OMR Combined Fleet Race. Both will take place Saturday 11th December - the final day of the Regatta. Each class compete for a separate trophy and the bragging rights of being the 'IRC Winner' or 'OMR Winner'.

The final day's race does not count to the overall Phuket King's Cup Regatta series which will be raced over four days instead of the traditional five days, this year.

'The IRC Combined Fleet Race on the final day of the Regatta is a great idea which will give the cruisers and cruiser/racers a chance to have a go at the flat out racers. IRC is firmly aimed at all types, sizes and styles of boat and so this is an ideal use of the rule,' commented Mike Urwin, Technical Director RORC Racing Office.

'While the spread of TCCs and range of boat types will inevitably mean that conditions on the day will potentially have a significant effect, I look forward with great interest to seeing the results.'

Attending the 2010 Phuket King's Cup Regatta in official capacity are Jenny Howells Technical Manager RORC Rating Office, Emma Smith Ratings Secretary RORC Rating Office and Regatta Official Measurer Malcolm Runnells from Australia. 

'We decided to shake things up a little on the final day this year, and think competitors will enjoy it. It'll be great to see all IRC's compete against each other and all OMR boats against each other. I'm sure we'll see some interesting results,' commented James.