| For more than 12 years Phuket has had the best known regatta in Southeast Asia, the Kings Cup Regatta. This regatta runs for a week at the beginning of December Just over three years ago the Mergui Archipelago was opened to the enterprising yachtsman. The archipelago is located in southern Myanmar (Burma), only 300 km, (less than 150 nautical miles), north of Phuket. The archipelago's 800 islands are accessible from Thailand at Ranong by crossing the Pakchan River to Kaw Thaung, at the Isthmus of Kra. The Archipelago is for now only accessible with special and expensive permits issued by the Myanmar Ministry of Tourism. Our proposal is to organize a yachting / cruise race from Phuket to Ranong followed by a 5 days cruise in the Mergui Archipelago. The idea is to connect the two sailing grounds of Phuket and Mergui Archipelago and to put Ranong on the map as the gateway to the islands and as a tourist destination in its own right. | 
