Phuket King’s Cup Regatta

Experience the Royal Regatta: Phuket King's Cup

Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is Asia’s premier sailing regatta, a week-long series of yacht races held off Phuket island that brings together professional crews, passionate amateurs, and sailing enthusiasts from around the world in early December. Based mainly around Kata Beach and Kata Bay, it combines competitive racing with glamorous beachfront parties, creating one of the most exciting weeks of the Phuket high season.

Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Overview

Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is a one-week annual yacht racing event held in Phuket, Thailand, traditionally during the first week of December. It was inaugurated in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), who was himself an accomplished sailor and a strong supporter of water sports.

The regatta has grown into Asia’s most prestigious sailing event, attracting a large fleet of keelboats, multihulls, and traditional craft each year. Organizers describe it as Asia’s largest and most popular regatta, with dozens of yachts and international crews converging on Phuket for a full week of racing and social functions.

When the Regatta is Typically Held

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is traditionally held in early December, timed around the King’s birthday period. Multiple sources explain that the event is normally scheduled for the first week in December to coincide with the former King’s birthday, and that this pattern has continued as a tradition.

Recent event notices and calendars illustrate this timing:

• One official event listing notes the 2025 edition as running from 30 November to 6 December 2025, with dates marked as tentative.
• The official regatta notice of race for the 37th edition gives dates of 29 November to 6 December 2025, confirming the late November to early December race window.
• The regatta website announces the 35th edition as being held 2–9 December for that year.

For travelers planning a Phuket island trip, this means the safest time to target is the first week of December, checking the year’s exact dates on the official event site once they are confirmed.

Where it Happens on Phuket Island

The regatta’s racing and social life are centered around the southwest coast of Phuket, especially Kata Beach and Kata Bay. An event information page lists “Kata Bay Beach, Phuket, Thailand” as the location for the 2025 regatta, reinforcing Kata as the main on-shore base.

A luxury resort overview notes that Kata Rocks, perched on a small cape between Kata and Kata Noi beaches, overlooks the Andaman Sea and yachts moored near Koh Pu, providing prime views of the King’s Cup activity offshore. Another lifestyle guide explains that the regatta is typically held from November to December at Kata Beach and involves more than 100 yachts and some 2,000 sailors each year.

For spectators, this location matters:

• Kata Beach and Kata Noi offer excellent vantage points for watching yachts racing off the coast.
• Nearby hills and ocean-view terraces at resorts around Kata provide elevated views of the racecourse and moored boats.

History and Prestige of the King’s Cup

The event was conceived in 1986 by members of Thailand’s yachting community as a tribute to the King’s upcoming 60th birthday in 1987. Wikipedia notes that a group of sailors met in 1986 to plan a regatta in the Andaman Sea, and the first Phuket King’s Cup Regatta was held in 1987 to mark this royal milestone.

Since then, the King’s Cup has grown steadily in scale and reputation. The Philippine Sailing Association describes it as Asia’s premier yacht racing event, highlighting that it now hosts a substantial contingent of keelboats, multihulls, and traditional craft across multiple racing classes. A yacht charter and race support company notes that the regatta typically attracts around 100 boats with some 2,000 crew, and ranks as the number one event in the Asian Yachting Circuit.

The regatta operates under royal patronage. Official descriptions state that it is held under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King and is organized by the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, working with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy, and Phuket Province.

Racing Formats, Classes, and On-Water Experience

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta combines coastal “round the island” courses with windward–leeward racing to create a varied week of competitive sailing. One race organizer explains that competitors can expect 7–10 races over the week, with the best results counting toward final standings. The official 2025 Notice of Race details a full program running from registration and practice sessions through daily race starts, with warning signals typically at 09:30 from Monday to Friday and 09:00 on Saturday, followed by an awards ceremony.

The regatta features multiple classes, making it attractive for different kinds of yachts and crews:

• IRC Racing divisions (0, 1, 2) for performance keelboats.
• Premier class for larger yachts (over 50 feet).
• Open Charter and Bareboat Charter classes.
• Multihull divisions for catamarans and other multi-hulled craft.

For island-based travelers watching from shore, the visual impact is striking: fleets of spinnakers against the backdrop of Phuket’s lush headlands and offshore islands. Even if you are not racing, just being on Kata Beach or a nearby viewpoint during race days lets you feel the rhythm of starts, mark roundings, and finishes across the bay.

Social Side: Parties, Awards, and Marina Life

Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is as famous for its social calendar as it is for its race program. Sailing specialists explain that the week is “a well-managed week of racing” combined with lively beach parties on most nights, helping to build its reputation as a world‑renowned regatta both on and off the water.

The official Notice of Race references daily prize‑giving sessions and a final awards ceremony hosted at a Kata beachfront resort, showing how evenings are structured around social gatherings for crews, owners, sponsors, and guests. Local luxury properties like Kata Rocks highlight their role as natural hangouts and viewing spots for yacht owners and spectators, reinforcing that this is a social highlight of Phuket’s high season.

For island travelers, this means:

• You can enjoy sundowner drinks at Kata-area bars and terraces while watching the yachts.
• Many evenings during regatta week feature themed parties, live music, and social events linked to sponsors and participating teams.

Travel Tips for Enjoying the Regatta on Phuket Island

Because the King’s Cup overlaps with Phuket’s high season, a little planning goes a long way.

Practical Tips:

• Stay in the Kata area if the regatta is your main focus, since race operations and many social events are based around Kata Bay.
• Book early for early December, as hotels around Kata and nearby beaches can fill quickly during regatta week and the general high season.
• Plan your viewing spots, from Kata Beach itself to hilltop viewpoints or ocean‑view terraces where you can watch the racing fleets offshore.
• Consider a spectator or charter experience if you want to get closer to the action; yacht charter companies and race specialists promote King’s Cup participation and spectator packages, though exact offerings and prices vary by provider.

Pricing and How to Take Part

For spectators on the island, there is no ticketed entry fee to watch from the beach or public areas. The racing takes place offshore and is best viewed from Kata Beach, nearby hills, or, for a premium experience, from private boats or resort terraces.

For those who want to sail in the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, the costs depend on whether you:

• Enter your own yacht.
• Charter a race‑ready boat through a sailing company.
• Join as crew through organized charter or training outfits.

Race-focused operators emphasize that pricing is bespoke. One international charter brand notes that for full pricing and booking for the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, prospective participants must contact their sales team directly or inquire via the regatta or charter websites. The official Notice of Race stresses that all entries and enquiries go through the regatta secretariat, with bank transfer details provided for entry fees, confirming that participant pricing is handled directly and can vary by class and boat.

For most island visitors, the main expenses will be:

• Accommodation around Kata or nearby beaches.
• Local transport and island activities on non‑race times.
• Food, drinks, and any paid social events linked to sponsors or specific venues.

Why the King’s Cup Belongs on an Island Traveler’s Calendar

Phuket King’s Cup Regatta showcases a different side of Phuket island, one that blends international sailing culture with the Andaman Sea’s dramatic scenery and Phuket’s resort lifestyle. Instead of only seeing the island from sunbeds and viewpoints, visitors during regatta week see Phuket as a meeting point for global crews, local marine industries, and long‑time yachting communities.

For an islands‑focused audience, the event also pairs beautifully with broader Andaman itineraries. You can:

• Spend days watching or sailing and evenings at Kata’s beach venues.
• Add side trips to nearby islands before or after race week, using Phuket as a hub in the Andaman Sea.

Verified Information at a Glance

• Event name: Phuket King’s Cup Regatta (Phuket King’s Cup).
• Event category: International yacht racing regatta (sailing event with multiple racing classes and social program).
• Typical dates: Traditionally held in the first week of December, often running from late November into early December (for example, 29 November–6 December 2025).
• Main location on the island: Kata Beach / Kata Bay, Phuket, with racing in the Andaman Sea off Phuket’s southwest coast.
• Founded: 1987, inaugurated to celebrate the 60th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
• Patronage and organizers: Held under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King; organized by the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy, and Phuket Province.
• Scale (typical): Described as Asia’s premier and most popular regatta, often featuring around 100 yachts and about 2,000 sailors in some years.
• Racing format: One‑week event with a mix of round‑the‑island courses and windward–leeward races, delivering roughly 7–10 races with the best results counting toward overall trophies.
• Classes (examples): IRC racing divisions, Premier class (over 50 ft), Open Charter, Bareboat Charter, Multihull classes.
• Spectator pricing: Watching from public beaches and viewpoints is free; participation costs for crews and charters are set by race organizers and charter companies and are typically provided on enquiry.

If Phuket island is on your radar and you want a high‑season trip that adds world‑class sailing to your beach time, plan for the first week of December, base yourself around Kata Beach, and spend your days watching the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta fleets cut across the Andaman Sea before joining the regatta‑week parties that light up Phuket’s coastline each night.