19 April 1966

King completes solo dinghy voyage

After a 16-hour journey, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej stepped ashore at Sattahip Naval Base after successfully crossing the Gulf of Thailand in his self-built dinghy Veka. The Queen, who followed his boat with Princess Ubolratana aboard HMS Chandra, cut a ribbon to mark the occasion.

The King began the crossing from his Klai Kangwon summer palace in Hua Hin with three other dinghies accompanying him the entire way. At about 8pm the Veka reached a spot 6km off the coast, at which point the King and the other sailors boarded a torpedo boat, which carried them to shore at the cape of Thien, where a tremendous welcome awaited them. The King, who had arrived wearing a Royal Thai Marine uniform, changed into a Hawaiian shirt and joined in the festivities with the awaiting naval officers and their families.

19 April 1966

King completes solo dinghy voyage

After a 16-hour journey, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej stepped ashore at Sattahip Naval Base after successfully crossing the Gulf of Thailand in his self-built dinghy Veka. The Queen, who followed his boat with Princess Ubolratana aboard HMS Chandra, cut a ribbon to mark the occasion.

The King began the crossing from his Klai Kangwon summer palace in Hua Hin with three other dinghies accompanying him the entire way. At about 8pm the Veka reached a spot 6km off the coast, at which point the King and the other sailors boarded a torpedo boat, which carried them to shore at the cape of Thien, where a tremendous welcome awaited them. The King, who had arrived wearing a Royal Thai Marine uniform, changed into a Hawaiian shirt and joined in the festivities with the awaiting naval officers and their families.