Tom Howard memory

in April, Tom Howard left us after a short illness. Tom, in whose honor today’s racing is named, had a close association with this regatta, helping me create and maintain the best Classic Class in Phuket regatta history.

In Memory of Tom Howard, Raceday 3 Awards
Tom Howard, RIP dear friend.

The foundation of the Phuket Raceweek Classic Class was Tom’s beautiful 100-year-old schooner, Seraph. Tom Howard threw down a challenge to classic owners all over the world to race against his Seraph.

And they came – from as far away as Alaska – to take part in a real classic yacht race, year after year.

Let me tell you a little about Tom Howard: Before he moved to Phuket, an event that delighted the island’s publicans, Tom played a high standard of club rugby in England for many years.

Those who knew him only in Phuket may find this hard to believe, but he was a very fast winger! He also enjoyed huge success in athletics, as a 100-yard sprinter and – believe it or not – a long jumper

Tom Howard Raceday 3 Awards.

These sporting achievements were followed by a love affair with the sea; his first yacht was named in typical Tom style “Bon Coeur” – French for “Good Heart”, but, knowing Tom, it was chosen for another interpretation: BONKER.

Retiring from business and rugby, Tom moved here to indulge his passion for boating, especially classic boats – which leads us back to where I started.

Tom Howards Classic and the rest.

The difference between Tom’s classic class and ‘The Rest’ was that, as you can see from the slideshow, the Phuket Raceweek classics really did race – very competitively – striving to win the Seraph Perpetual Trophy, itself a work of art that now graces the Phuket Yacht Club trophy cabinet.

So it’s fitting that Tom’s name should be on the awards for a full day’s racing (in winds that Seraph would have gobbled up) here at Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek.

With much appreciation for the above kind words from Grenville Fordham, MD of Image Asia.

See the Tom Howard Raceday picture gallery HERE

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There’s also the report and images from Raceday Two Here and sponsored by our hosts Kantary Bay Hotel.