Sponsors sought for orphans’ bid for sailing glory
Two of the PSV kids on the water at the Phuket Yacht Club in Ao Yon.
The Topper Sail Phuket sailing school and Phuket Sunshine Village (PSV) are looking for a sponsor or sponsors to make a dream come true for a group of orphans from the village.
The seven kids have been training hard at Phuket Yacht Club in Ao Yon with the aim of competing in the Thailand Optimist Nationals at the Top of the Gulf Regatta in Pattaya, from April 30 to May 4.
As Katy Gooch and Paul Firmin of Topper Sail stress, it “would be an incredible experience for these children”.
The seven kids have been sailing most Sundays for just over a year, and have taken part in club racing at Phuket Yacht Club. If they can get the funding, they will also be joined by two other club members, making a total of nine junior entries from Phuket.
“To prepare the children for the Nationals we are arranging for them to join the Advanced Optimist Course run by the Junior Sailing Squadron ( JSST) at Sattahip Naval Base, Chonburi from the 17th – 25th April,” Katy explained.
“This will give them a great opportunity to improve their sailing skills and racing knowledge and the chance to practice with a larger fleet. Arrangements are also being made for them to stay on for further practice before competing in the Nationals.
Staff at Topper Sail Phuket have given their time to teach these children to sail and arrange races for them every month, and Phuket Yacht Club has allowed the children to use its facilities for these races at no cost.
However, the cost of sending the children to the training camp and to the regatta itself is estimated at approximately 100,000 baht, which would cover accommodation, food, course fees, boat charter, entry fees and transport.
“Travel arrangements have not been confirmed,” Katy explained, “so we are looking at various options including the possibility of any sponsored flights from Phuket to Bangkok and/or Bangkok to Phuket.
“I’m happy to give my time to these children from the PSV, but I am not in a position to donate 100,000 baht as well.
“They love to sail and have improved so much since they started learning with us. It would be fantastic for them to have the opportunity to go and compete in the nationals. Sailing helps to instill self-reliance and quick thinking and I have seen first-hand how it has helped these children develop both on and off the water.”
Anyone interested in sponsorship should contact Katy Gooch by email or by calling her at +66 (0) 8 5215 9185
The Phuket Sunshine Village Foundation was founded in 2004 after the Asian Tsunami hit Phuket and provides a safe and secure home for children who are either orphaned or who are no longer able to live with their natural parents.
