The 17th Annual Long Boat Racing Championship will take place at Khao Tao Reservoir from 9-10 November, the Hua Hin mayor’s office confirmed.
Organised by Thai PBS, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), and Hua Hin Municipality, the event is set to feature competitive races across multiple categories, along with live entertainment and community activities.
Hua Hin Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul stated that preparations are underway, with Deputy Mayor Bussaba Choksuchart and other municipal officials overseeing arrangements at the Khao Tao Royal Development Project. The octagonal pavilion in the Khao Tao community will serve as the central hub to ensure smooth operations throughout the event.
Race categories and schedule
The competition will span two days, starting with qualifying races on 9 November and concluding with finals on 10 November. The categories include:
Saturday, 9 November
- 55-rower teams
- 40-rower teams
- 30-rower teams
- 7-rower community teams
- “Blindfolded Rowing” community teams
Sunday, 10 November
- Final rounds for all categories
- Concerts and Local Market Stalls
Beyond the excitement on the water, attendees will find live concerts, activity booths, and market stalls offering products from local communities within Hua Hin Municipality.
While the full schedule was available at the time of press, expect the opening ceremony and races to get underway from 9am and continue throughout Saturday and Sunday. As always, the schedule is subject to change.
This year’s event holds particular significance as it marks the 16th anniversary of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s private visit to the Khao Tao Reservoir on 28 December 2008. The former monarch attended the races with his dog, Khun Thong Daeng, further endearing the competition to many in the region.
Broadcast nationwide
The championship is one of 10 events being broadcast live by Thai PBS between September and November. The broadcasts highlight the beauty of Thailand’s tourism destinations and cultural traditions, with coverage offering multiple viewing angles, including aerial perspectives and finish-line shots.
The event will also be available for online streaming via Thai PBS’s official website at www.thaipbs.or.th/LongBoat2024, with commentary and multi-camera feeds enhancing the spectator experience.
Spectators can engage with the event by sending messages through Thai PBS’s official LINE account, @ThaiPBS. Each week, five winners will receive a sport set comprising a bag and a sports vest.
