The Asian Yachting Grand Prix Championship first came together in 2002 with the idea of crowning an Asian Racing Class champion skipper and boat . Initially nine events with substantial racing class entrants were selected, which became known as 5-star Asian Yachting Grand Prix Championship events. This was then reduced to eight in 2005 after the closing of the Asean Regatta. Last season the Top of the Gulf Regatta was added to make it nine events. And this year the circuit has ten events with the addition of the Six Senses Phuket Raceweek. The circuit is made up of events in Malaysia (2), Hong Kong (2), Thailand (4), Singapore (1) and the Philippines (1), which fairly grades the competing skippers ability to successfully run a racing campaign in Asian waters each season.
Peter Ahern and YO! Became the inaugural 2002/03 Asian Champion Skipper and Yacht-of-the-Year. He then followed it up during the 2003/04 season then Sam Chan's Freefire took out the Yacht-of-the-Year with higher points, but as he shared the skippers role with his sailing master did not score enough points to become the Champion Skipper. Neil Pryde completed the double during the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons with Hi-Fidelity and Hi-Fi Team Pryde, respectively. In 2006/07 Frank Pong's Jelik clinched victory as it came down to the last race at the final event at Koh Samui. Ray Roberts DK46 Quantum Racing became the winner of the sixth running over the 2007/08 season after coming close on several occasions. After serious modifications last season Neil Pryde, and Hi Fi, with a record 20 points dominated the 2008/09 year to capture the title with two events to run.
All these events are closely contested by several high profile racing teams which include crew members that have America's Cup and Sydney Hobart Race experience plus competed at the Olympic Games with distinction.
Winning the AYGP title is not taken lightly, as in past years the annual champion has won at least four or five regattas on the circuit and scored podium places at others before they could take the title home. For the 2009/10 AYGP it is anybody's guess who will don the highly-sought after tailored Armani Koh Samui Blue Blazer and receive the Perpetual AsianYachting Cup, which is traditionally filled with chilled champagne and presented at the magnificent prize-giving party on the lawns of the Centara Grand Beach Resort at the Koh Samui Regatta in June 2010.
2009/10 Asian Yachting Grand Prix events:
Phuket Raceweek (22/07/09 - 26/07/09)
China Coast Regatta (16/10/09 - 18/10/09)
Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta (13/11/09 - 21/11/09)
Phuket Kings Cup Regatta (28/11/09 - 05/12/09)
Royal Langkawi International Regatta (08/01/10 - 15/01/10)
Singapore Straits Regatta (25/01/10 - 30/01/10)
President's Cup Regatta (February 2010)
Rolex China Sea Race (01/04/10)
Top of the Gulf Regatta & Coronation Cup (01/05/10 - 05/05/10)
Sawadee.com Regatta 2010 Koh Samui (01/06/10 - 06/06/10)