{"id":7875,"date":"2026-02-17T09:37:48","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T09:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/global-travel-news\/the-29th-bay-regatta-2026-marks-29-years-of-sailing-and-showcases-thailands-world-class-marine-destinations\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T02:33:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T02:33:00","slug":"the-29th-bay-regatta-2026-marks-29-years-of-sailing-and-showcases-thailands-world-class-marine-destinations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/global-travel-news\/the-29th-bay-regatta-2026-marks-29-years-of-sailing-and-showcases-thailands-world-class-marine-destinations\/","title":{"rendered":"The 29th Bay Regatta 2026 Marks 29 Years of Sailing and Showcases Thailand\u2019s World-Class Marine Destinations"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"The<\/div>\n

\"The<\/a>Phuket, Thailand, February 17, 2026 \/ TRAVELINDEX \/ The Bay Regatta<\/strong> returns for its 29th edition<\/em> from 18\u201322 February 2026<\/strong>, marking nearly three decades as Thailand\u2019s most distinctive passage-route sailing event. Organized by Regatta Asia, the regatta brings together sailors from more than 10 countries to race through the iconic waters of Phuket, Phang Nga Bay, and Krabi.<\/p>\n

Now in its 29th year, The Bay Regatta remains the only regatta in Thailand to feature true passage racing, challenging keelboats and multihulls to sail open-water routes through limestone karsts, island channels, and world-renowned cruising grounds. More than 30 yachts are expected to compete, reinforcing Thailand\u2019s position on the global sailing and marine tourism map.<\/p>\n

An Iconic Route That Keeps Sailors Coming Back<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

The regatta\u2019s defining feature is its iconic race route. From Phuket\u2019s Ao Po coastline, fleets sail via Koh Yao Yai, threading through the dramatic seascapes of Phang Nga Bay before finishing in Ao Nang, Krabi\u2014widely regarded as one of Southeast Asia\u2019s most visually striking sailing passages.<\/p>\n

Ever-changing scenery, protected waters, and navigational challenges combine to create a distinctive racing experience that balances competition with exploration. This unique blend continues to draw international sailors back year after year, positioning The Bay Regatta not only as a premier sporting event, but also as a destination sailing journey through Thailand\u2019s most celebrated marine landscapes.<\/p>\n

Strong International Fleet <\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2026 edition features a strong international fleet. <\/b><\/strong>Premier Racing Class<\/b><\/strong>, led by defending champions Team Hollywood (AUS)<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0racing their TP52. The class will be contested by a competitive multinational field including Shahtoosh (HKG)<\/b><\/strong>, Yasooda (GER)<\/b><\/strong>, and Aftershock (AUS)<\/b><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The IRC Class<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0is headed by Australian sailor Craig Nichols<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0with Alright<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(Sydney 40) from the Manly 16ft Skiff Club, joined by Estonia\u2019s Mati Sepp<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0aboard Gern Kard<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(FarEast 28R) and Denmark\u2019s multiple-time winner Niels Degenkowl<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0racing Phoenix<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(X \u00be Ton).<\/p>\n

The Monohull Cruising Class<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0comprises a mix of privately owned and chartered yachts. Notable entries include Slipstream<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0(First 44.7), sailed by William Ashby<\/b><\/strong>, KimiKimi<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0(Dufour 455 GL), sailed by James Duke<\/b><\/strong>, and the classic Swan II<\/b><\/strong>, built in 1969.<\/p>\n

The Multihull Classes<\/b><\/strong>\u00a0highlight Phuket\u2019s boat-building capability, with nine of the twelve competing multihulls constructed locally, including six Stealth designs from Asia Catamarans<\/b><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A Legacy Beyond Racing<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

Each race day concludes with social gatherings at coastal venues across the three provinces, blending competitive sailing with cultural exchange and local hospitality. These events underscore The Bay Regatta\u2019s long-standing role in supporting tourism-led economic activity while preserving the relaxed spirit that has defined the regatta for nearly three decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bay Regatta has always been about more than competition. We are proud to promote high-value, sustainable marine tourism that contributes to regional economies across Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi through international participation and event-driven travel,\u201d said Orawintanee Wattana<\/b><\/strong>, Organizer of The Bay Regatta and Director of Regatta Asia.<\/p>\n

A special highlight of the 29th Bay Regatta is also the celebration of the opening of Port Takola Marina\u2019s new Capitainerie<\/b><\/strong>, marking the second-phase expansion of one of Krabi\u2019s key marine facilities. The programme will also include an additional social event to commemorate this milestone development, reflecting the growth of marine infrastructure in the region and Krabi\u2019s rising profile as a hub for international sailing and yachting.<\/p>\n

Sponsors & Partners<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bay Regatta 2026 is supported by a network of sponsors and partners spanning marine, hospitality, lifestyle, and local enterprises. Organized by Regatta Asia, the event supporting authorities include Tourism Authority of Thailand, The Yacht Racing Association of Thailand.<\/p>\n

Co sponsors are Tourismthailand[.]org, Vacation Village, Raymarine, Bangkok Airways, Port Takola, Haadthip PCL, Really Good Deli, UK Sailmakers, Singha Corporation, Bluebay Resort and many more. Their involvement plays a vital role in delivering the regatta across multiple provinces while amplifying Thailand\u2019s visibility in the international sailing and tourism community.<\/p>\n

Event Details<\/b><\/strong>
\n\u2022 Event: 29th The Bay Regatta 2026
\n\u2022 Dates: 18\u201322 February 2026
\n\u2022 Route: Phuket \u2013 Phang Nga \u2013 Krabi \u2013 Phuket
\n\u2022 Organizer: Regatta Asia<\/p>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Phuket, Thailand, February 17, 2026 \/ TRAVELINDEX \/ The Bay Regatta returns for its 29th edition from 18\u201322 February 2026, marking nearly three decades as Thailand\u2019s most distinctive passage-route sailing event. Organized by Regatta Asia, the regatta brings together sailors from more than 10 countries to race through the iconic waters of Phuket, Phang Nga …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8119,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[2315,37,14,2316,1966],"class_list":["post-7875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-global-travel-news","tag-global-travelnews","tag-news","tag-travelindex","tag-travelindex-media-group","tag-untourism"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7875"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7875\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelindex.org\/media\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}