The Asian Yachting Grand Prix Championship first came together with the inaugural season in 2002 when the idea of crowning an Asian Racing Class champion skipper and boat was discussed by yachting journalists whilst covering the regattas back in 2001. 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. The Top of the Gulf Regatta was added to make it nine and subsequently Phuket Raceweek to make it 10. Today the circuit has 12 events and for the 2012/13 season, there have been further improvements on the significant 're-design' of the the scoring system brought in successfully for the 2011/12 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 and Sam Chan's Ffreefire 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. Neil Pryde and Hi Fi, with a record 20 points dominated the 2008/09 year to capture the title with two events to run. For the 2009/10 season the tables were turned and Ray Roberts won Skipper of the Year with one regatta to spare while the Yacht of the Year went down to the wire in the season closing Sawadee.com Regatta 2010 Samui with Ray Robert's TP52 Evolution Racing finally coming out on top. The double went to Ray Roberts.
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 20112/13 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 Samui Regatta in June 2013. The organisers state the AYGP is a 'work in progress' and will continue to evolve, and they welcome feedback from the Asian sailing community.
2012/13 Asian Yachting Grand Prix events: Phuket Raceweek (18/07/12 - 22/07/12)
China Coast Regatta (12/10/12 - 14/10/12)
Hong Kong to Hainan Island Race (starts 18/10/12)
Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta (16/11/12 - 24/11/12)
Phuket Kings Cup Regatta (01/12/12 - 08/12/12)
Royal Langkawi International Regatta (07/01/13 - 12/01/13)
Singapore Straits Regatta (29/01/13 - 02/02/13)
Subic to Boracay Race (15/02/13 - 18/02/13) and Boracay Cup (18/02/13 - 22/02/13) Hong Kong to San Fernando Race (March 27th start)
Commodore's Cup (10/04/13 - 14/04/13)
Top of the Gulf Regatta (03/05/13 - 07/05/13)
Samui Regatta (24/05/13 - 01/06/13)
