20/08/2022
The NO HOLDS BARRED 12th ANNUAL SIAM WORLD CUP/ASIAN PRE-OLYMPICS
BIZARRE! Southeast Asia has to be one of the most unique and exotic areas of the world. The Thai culture is filled with wonders that are completely foreign to any Westerner and has a lure that many find too irresistible. One such person is ‘Bert Morsbach’, the owner of Cobra Sailboards. After experiencing Thailand’s charms while holiday in 1974, Bert become hooked and brought friends - and boardsailing – to Jomtien Beach in Southern Thailand in 1975. Since then, the Siam World Cup has evolved into one of the largest international boardsailing events in the world, and Bert has worked hard to maintain the fun, party image of the regatta.
Siam Cup (Nov.24 – Dec.5 1988) represented the best Division II sailors from each country. The only exception was with the U.S., as Scott Steele and Milk Gebhardt were both unable to attend. In their places, Chris Radkowski, Andrew Parkinson, Davo Berntsen, and Tom Pace maintained the American presence.
The format for the Siam Cup is unique in the sport. It is the only event where all three IYRU divisions-Div. I funboard, Div. II, and Div. III (tandem)- are raced. This year (1988), sailors from 19 countries took part in both the Asian Div. II Pre-Olympics and the funboard racing. The Div. II racing took place on the Lechner Olympic board in the only one-design regatta to pit the world’s best against each other before the Olympic Games themselves.
By TOM CAT
WINDSURF MAGAZINE, APRIL 1988
