Sailing fans prepare for Koh Samui Regatta - AsiaRooms.com

AsiaRooms.com highlights one of the highlights of the Asian sailing calendar will be taking place in Koh Samui from May 31st to June 5th.

Now in its ninth year, the Koh Samui Regatta brings boat lovers and yacht owners from around the world together for a week of racing off the coast of the island.

People using hotels in Thailand may like to attend the regatta for the many parties and social events that occur at the same time, or just to admire the array of vessels on display.

Last year, the event attracted over 350 participants and generated approximately 250 million baht (£5 million) for the local economy.

Having started with just 11 boats in 2001, the regatta is now recognised by the International Sailing Federation and brings people from around the world in hotels in Koh Samui.

According to the organisers, the event has three main objectives - to boost tourism on the island, raise awareness of sailing activities in the region and support local youth education projects.

Previous editions of the regatta have featured sailors from Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, the US and various European countries.

The culmination of the week is a gala dinner and awards ceremony, while cocktail parties are held in various locations throughout the event.