Australian Team Hollywood from Australia wins the 23rd Samui International Regatta; organizers ready to continue for the 24th year.
Surat Thani – 31 May 2026 GMT+7 – At the 23rd Samui International Regatta of 2026, Captain Ray Roberts from Australia, the defending champion, led Team Hollywood to victory once again. Teams Alive and Aftershock took second and third places respectively. The award ceremony was honored by Admiral Chatichai Thongsart, Vice President of the Sailing Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, who presented the awards at The Fair House Beach Resort & Hotel, Chaweng Beach.
During the event, Regatta Asia announced plans to continue organizing the 24th edition from 22–29 May 2027. Nora Group and The Fair House, leading hotel businesses on Koh Samui, pledged support to invite sailors and followers worldwide to experience the premium sports tourism lifestyle and the warm hospitality of Koh Samui.
This year, Team Hollywood, led by Ray Roberts who has competed in over 15 Samui Regattas, secured victory in the final race, solidifying their leadership in the competition. According to the drop race scoring system, the team officially won seven races. Meanwhile, Alive, two-time Sydney to Hobart Race champions, had to settle for the runner-up position based on corrected time, despite finishing first across the line (line honours).
The excitement on the final day, featuring a Windward-Leeward race, centered on deciding third place between the Iolanthe 3 (35-foot boat with 7 crew) captained by Terry Foster from Ocean Marina Yacht Club, and Aftershock (55-foot boat with 18 crew). Starting the day one point behind Aftershock, Iolanthe 3 led slightly by just over a minute after the first leg. However, a wind shift in the final leg allowed Aftershock to overtake and win by just over five minutes on corrected time.
At the end of the competition, both boats had equal total points, including identical records for second, third, fourth places, and did not finish (DNF) counts. Therefore, the final race results were used as a tiebreaker, awarding third place to Aftershock.
The closing party and award ceremony took place at The Fair House Beach Resort & Hotel, which hosted an excellent buffet dinner welcoming all participants.
At the closing ceremony, the dates for Samui Regatta 2027 were announced as 22–29 May 2027. Nora Group and The Fair House confirmed their continued support, with plans to enhance promotional activities to increase athlete and team participation.
Ray Roberts, captain of Team Hollywood and this year’s champion who has competed in over 15 Samui Regattas, said, “I am impressed by the beauty of Koh Samui and the exciting competition.” Similarly, Terry Foster, an Australian captain of Iolanthe 3 from Ocean Marina Yacht Club Pattaya, competing for the fourth consecutive year, shared, “I love the atmosphere and beauty of Koh Samui. On rest days, our crew flying in from Australia had the chance to visit various island attractions, which left a great impression and brings us back every year.”
The 23rd Samui Regatta was held from 24–30 May 2026, featuring IRC Open keelboat races. The event maintained its reputation as one of the most prestigious regional sailing competitions, centered at Nora Beach Resort and Spa, providing a beautiful and fitting atmosphere for both competitors and spectators.
Beyond the races, the Samui Regatta significantly benefits Koh Samui’s economy. The arrival of athletes, officials, organizers, and families positively impacts local businesses including airlines, ferry services, taxis, souvenir shops, clothing stores, bars, restaurants, and hotels on the island.
The competition was organized by the Samui Regatta Committee in collaboration with the Sailing Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Samui Tourism Promotion Association, Surat Thani Province, and Regatta Asia.
This year’s sponsors and partners included the Samui Tourism Promotion Association, Nora Beach Resort and Spa, The Fair House Beach Resort & Hotel, Chaweng Regent Beach Resort, Haad Thip Public Company Limited, Frank Pong’s Jelik, UK Sailmakers, Samui Verticaller Hotel, Chaweng Garden Beach Resort, Bangkok Airways, Bangkok Hospital Samui, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Media partners included Thailand Marine Guide and SEA Yachting Magazine.
About the Samui International Regatta:
The Samui International Regatta is the longest-running sailing competition on Koh Samui. Founded in 2001, it has grown significantly, enhancing the reputation of Koh Samui and Thailand as a premier global sailing destination. Its goals include promoting tourism on Koh Samui, supporting water sports in Thailand, and advancing sailing in the region. The event is part of the Asian Yacht Circuit racing series in Asia.
For more information about participating or registering for the Samui Regatta, please visit the official race website atwww.samuiregatta.comand follow event updates on Facebook at:www.facebook.com/SamuiRegatta
