The Hua Hin Municipality, with cooperation of Thai long-tailed boat owners, has recently organized a historical long-tailed boat racing at Khao Tao Reservoir in Hua Hin, aiming to pay homage and express faithfulness to the deceased King Bhumibol.
The opening ceremony of the event, held on 13 November 2016 at 2 p.m., was chaired by the district chief of Hua Hin Mr. Rutpratheep Thamarapheephat while the mayor of Hua Hin Mr. Nopporn Wutthikul delivered an opening speech about the background and objectives of the event. Apart from public officers, distinguished guests, long-tailed boat owners, tourists and journalists also participated in the event, organized at the venue where His Majesty the King launched a royal project concerning the first public irrigation of Thailand.
Following the opening ceremony was a big and legendary racing of traditional long-tailed boats led by the procession of the royal barge replicas of Ananta Nagarat and Suphannahong. This procession is under support of the provincial administrator of Phichit Mr. Chatchai Jiamsriphong.
After the procession of the royal barge replicas, there were 4 award-winning traditional long-tailed boats of Nan, Nakhon Pahom, ratchaburi and Chumphon. The final procession belongs to 119 racing teams of traditional long-tailed boat that underwent 402 matches in total. Following the big long-tailed boat processions were 9 matches of long-tailed boat racing. Each match was emotionally intensified by famous Thai narrators for long-tailed boat racing.
All the matches are honorary because the participants are not interested in winning any awards. They only joined the racing because they would like to pay gratitude to the King. The long-tailed boat racing was successfully organized thanks to cooperation of all participants who won various awards from His Majesty the King Bhumibol as well as public and private organizations that provide materials, food and water to the participants and the visitors for free. The event was broadcasted by Thai PBS between 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
