Back King's Cup 2005 on the sideline 06-01-2006 King’s Cup on the sideline Unfortunately we could not get enough crew on Boléro for sailing the King’s Cup 2005 so we were obliged to watch the races from the sideline. A fleet of 85 boats from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, England, Italia, Thailand and even one team from the Netherlands ,who chartered a catamaran. If they have been successful, we do not know because we did not see them at the last party! All boats were anchored in the bay before Kata Beach Resort, one of the main sponsors of the 19de King’s Cup. Saturday, 3 December, it was the last opportunity to describe for the regatta, not for Boléro! Sunday, 4 December, skippers briefing and one trainee-race for the boats of which the crew were not yet acquaintance to each other. Openings ceremony and a party were in the Kata Beach Resort. A special deputy of the King memorised the many thousands of people, who lost their lives during the tsunami, just a couple of weeks after the last King’s Cup. Silence having regard to the lost ones and their families, some rockets were fired in respect of the left behind spirits, still whishing them ‘farewell’. The organizing committee feels it as her duty to help the local people recover from the last year’s catastrophe. They are very happy that so many boats came again and even with more participants. The speeches were received with loudly applauses after which the splendid buffet was cut into and the plates were served out copiously together with the red- or white wines or the beers. The band played the stars almost from the sky and the copious food was easy of digestion during the dancing. Around 23.00, everybody knocked off because tomorrow the real race starts! Monday was very light weather, postpone, postpone and at last it started a bit of blowing and it was enough for sailing. That day, the King of Thailand’s celebrates his birthday and that was dwelled on it quite extensively. Everywhere in Thailand, photo’s of him were displayed, surrounded by gold-coloured festoons and many flowers. All of us got a candle pressed into our hands, lights off – candles on – and we tried to join the singing of the Thais which ended in giggling. A very special atmosphere. The food and wines were again: excellent! Tuesday, Ed went on board Lady M, a classic 23 m yacht. Almost impossible to move but if she has the drive than she really goes. That day she became first and anyhow Ed taught how to hoist and fly the spinnaker! The price-giving took place in the new Royal Phuket Marina, a brand new marina on the eastside of Phuket where you can also buy a nice apartment from 200.000 euro, a penthouse a little bit more! Our friends from Ciris were given a warm reception by getting a bottle of water and a rolled-up guest-towels and they felt with their noses into a nice party. And it became a very nice party! Yes, after again a splendid buffet and a brilliant light- and dances how, it became a real party! The fountains raised the ‘child feeling ‘ of a lot of us and the first ones hesitatingly to avoid the beams, ladies were lift up and kept above the beam. Fun every where! A very ‘naughty’ feeling! In our bus the party continued. A Scott was singing out of his heart, a ‘strip-tease’ song and of course the first layers of clothing went off spontaneously. Before the last layer went off, the bus arrived at the terminus. What a night! The party was considerable less exuberantly than the evening before! The food was again excellent and held in another Kata Resort. . Thursday lay-day and many, as well us, went to the Phuketboatshow. For us European very small-scale but for the locals a big feast. Bought a pair of red Crocs! The model is almost a copy of the Dutch clocks and the Birkenstock ones. Very airy, everywhere wholes, very light- weighted and they walk …super! Sometimes it is funny because you see people looking at your feet than to themselves and chuckled because they are wearing the navy or the beiges brother or sisters! Friday as well Saturday were real racing days, a great breeze! And in ‘no time’ , the boats were back at the anchorage to get ready for the closing-party That was again: fantastic! The food and the wines were superb. Two bands, one from Ireland and the other one from Zambia. What a swinging party! At 23.00 a brilliant fireworks were let off and with the slogan: See you in 2006, died the fireworks down! Chapeau for the organisation and the sponsors. Delicious and splendid buffets, nice wines, beers and softdrinks, for free almost for free, five days – 80 euro per person and in top locations. What we liked about the King’s Cup? It’s small-scale, 85 boats and about 1000 people. A great atmosphere! How did you experience to be at the sideline? Once and never again! It tickles to much to sail ourselves and sometimes with an envy feeling, to watch the boats going out for racing! And do you like to have a break during the European winter or just a break, inscribe with a team of 10 to 12 people or individual for the King’s Cup 2006! Boléro is available!