Simon James - Race Director

Simon has been involved in the Thailand Marine industry since 1995.

Initially arriving to set up the Sunsail RYA Sailing School, based on Phuket. Simon became Sunsail's full time Skipper/Instructor averaging over 250 days a year on the water between 1995 and 1999. Well known in the sailing community, Simon has provided a wealth of information for a number of pilot books including "Sail Thailand" and has represented the Royal Thai Government promoting Marine Tourism around the world.

From 1999 to 2008, Simon took over the role of Asia Pacific Sales and Marketing Manager for Sunsail, the worlds largest yacht charter company . In addition to their Phuket operation, Sunsail established new bases throughout the region including, Langkawi (Malaysia), Na Trang (Vietnam), Koh Samui and Koh Chang (Thailand). During this period, Sunsail won the Asia-Pacific Boating Awards "Best Yacht Charter Company" three times.

On leaving Sunsail, Simon decided to concentrate on developing sailing events in Asia. The Regattas Asia brand was created as a service brand of Phuket and More, to offer a one-stop shop for regatta organisers providing everything from basic race operations to full event management. "It was a natural progression", said Simon James recently in an interview. "Asia has a number of great number run by adhok committees, they have lot's of ideas, but have few resources or no infra structure for moving their events forward.....

Regattas

Coming from a competitive sailing background, Simon joined the on-water support team of the Phuket King's Cup Regatta in 1995, joining the main committee in 1997 and in 2001 took over as Chairman of the Race Committee/Race Director, a post which he still holds after 12 years at the helm. During this time the event has been nominated in the Asia-Pacific Boating Awards as the "Best Regatta in Asia" every year, and is the only event to win on 3 occasions.

Simon is a fully qualified ISAF (International Sailing Federation) International Race Officer. His recent list of events include:

Phuket King's Cup Regatta - Race Director (12 Years)

The Bay Regatta - Principal Race Officer (12 Years)

Koh Samui Regatta - Race Director (5 Years)

Langkawi International Regatta - Principal Race Officer

Top of the Gulf Regatta 2011 - Race Officer

Phuket Race Week - Principal Race Officer (8 Years) - Also winner of Asia-Pacific Boating Awards - Best Regatta 2010

Korea Cup International Regatta - Technical Advisor.

Sail Sydney - International Jury

Sabang International Regatta - Technical Adviser

RORC - IRC Rules Authority for Thailand

In 2011, Simon and his fellow Phuket based committee members, were jointly awarded the '2011 Phuket Person of the Year Award" by the Phuket Gazette for their contribution to the community.

Although traveling extensively throughout Asia, Simon bases himself in Khanom (Surat Thani Province) or Phuket when he is in Thailand

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April, 2012