It all started in April, 1967, when a number of Thai nationals and westerners residing in Bangkok, answered a modest notice in the Bangkok Post, soliciting "Boating friends to form a boating club" - aiming to capitalize on the beautiful waterways off Pattaya, a delightful fishing village some 140 km south-east of the Thai boisterous capital, Bangkok.
A luncheon which followed the announcement, however sounded like the makings of one of those tedious nationality jokes: two Swiss nationals, some Australians, an Italian or two, and of course, some Thais, amongst others, answered this invitation. What followed was in fact far from a joke; it was the opening gambit in the foundation of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, destined to become one of Southeast Asia's - and some think, one of the World’s - foremost dinghy clubs.
As the fledgling club developed, then-Thai Monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, himself a champion regional dinghy sailor, bestowed Royal Patronage on the club on April 26, 1965. The name Varuna was close to His Majesty's heart: Varuna was one of the important gods in the Hindu pantheon - "the god who knows the pathway of the wind" - rather an appropriate title for the club.
“the god who knows the pathway of the wind”
It was Dr. Rachot Kanjana-Vanit, an avid club supporter and champion dinghy sailor, himself, who traced out the geographical configuration of North 12° 55’ and East 100° 51’ on the club foreshore, stating "here will be established the Royal Varuna club-house". It has been there these past six decades, forever facing the beautiful western sunsets and thriving in the gentle warmth of the south-westerly Monsoons dancing through the open club-house all year round.
Now, the some 500 club members, coming from the Four winds and the seven seas sail a vast array of mono and multi hulls and Optimist dinghies. Keel-boats are readily-accessible at the neighbouring Ocean Marina, some 15 km to the south.
Over the years, publicity and the informal sector have promoted Royal Varuna as a prized location for numerous world yacht-racing events. For example, some of these include Optimist Worlds, Fireball Worlds (three times), Topcat Worlds, International OK Dinghy Worlds and, most recently the Dart Worlds.
So, at Varuna, we look forward to the coming years. The many huge problems plaguing the world- at- large in this twenty-first century, do not infringe our marine paradise, as we can set sail each day in a pollution-free environment when the limitless cares if the world-at-large, basically pass on by.
COME AND JOIN US.
Condensed from the full history by Peter Cummins on varuna.org.
