Thailand Optimist National Championship at Pattaya

Winner of the 2011 Thailand Optimist Nationals, Chaninat Poolsirikot (THA 188) © Chanut Nawnarong / Nungruthai Julakul

13 year old Chaninat Poolsirikot schools 130-strong Optimist entries, winning by four points

After nine races over three days, the 130 international junior sailors finished the Thailand Optimist Nationals in style, with tropical blue skies and steady wind and Thailand winning the top three places in all divisions. The Thailand Optimist Nationals is incorporated in the Top of the Gulf Regatta and organised in co-operation with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand.

The Under 12s division, Jarupong Meeyusamsan showed his class to take first from Sutida Poonpat in second and top Samui sailor Natthakarn Punyawan in third.

In the girls division, Chaninat Poolsirikot scored consistently well to take a resounding victory over Kanapan Pachatikapanya in second and Kamonchanok Khlahan in third.

The Thailand National Optimist champions has a long and storied history with many of today's top Thai sailors having competed, and won, the perpetual trophy. In 1976 the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand started Junior Sailing, a programme to encourage and train young Thai sailors and send them to compete in international sailing events. In the same year, YRAT started what was then called the Optimist Thailand Championship Cup, known today as the Thailand Optimist Nationals. Now in its 35th year, the Thailand Optimist Nationals is as competitive as ever, with many leading Thai juniors, international teams and world champions competing for the title.

This year, 2010 Thailand Optimist Nationals champion and 2010 World Champion, Noppakao Poonpat, could not enter, no longer being eligible to race Optimists having reach the class age limit. This meant 2011 would see a new national champion and a new star take the headlines.

In 2010, Thailand won the Team World Optimist Championships and two members of that winning team took part in the Thailand Optimist Nationals over the last three days. Expectations were high for the two World Champions. After nine competitive races, Sarawut Phetsiri took second overall and Jirawat Jadklay fourth. Neither could match the five firsts and overall consistency of the series winner, 13 year old Thai girl Chaninat Poolsirikot, who won by four points and is the 2011 Thailand Optimist Nationals champion.

Sarawut Phetsiri took second and Pongsapat Pumyam third.

Prizes were presented at the Gala Dinner hosted by Ocean Marina Yacht Club with the new Thailand Optimist National champion being cheered by all the participants, big and small.

Racing continues for keelboats and ocean multihull fleets tomorrow, and the inaugural Thailand Open Opti Team Racing Championship also, with 8 – 10 teams expected.

The 2011 Top of the Gulf Regatta is supported by the Principal Sponsor Ocean Marina as host venue. Co-Sponsors include Land Rover and Range Rover, Thai Airways, Gulf Charters and Mont Clair Wines as Co-sponsors. A large contribution was also made by an anonymous sailor this year. Other sponsors include Ocean Property Co. Ltd., Singha Corporation Group, Thai Numthip Co., Ltd. (Coca Cola), Lucaris, Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, Golden Foods Siam Ltd., Bank of Ayudhya Plc., Seat Boat Co., Ltd., Corsair Marine Thailand Co., Ltd., QBE Insurance (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Mõvenpick ice cream, Nivea, CAT Telecom, Media Representation International and Sail Quest. Media partners include Pattaya Mail, SEA Yachting magazine, Ensign Media and Mix 88.5 FM. The event is supported by the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand (YRAT), Royal Varuna Yacht Club and Pattaya City.

More information and full results on the event website.