Captain Thongyoi Sangsinchai smiled benevolently when asked where he found the time to write the boat chants that have won him so much fame.  “On the two-hour train ride from Ratchaburi, my hometown, to the Institute of Advance Naval Studies in Nakhon Pathom and back every day” was his answer.  Captain Thongyoi’s work won a nationwide competition for the best boat chant used in the Royal Barge procession on 7 November 1996 when the Narai Song Suban Rama IX was constructed and first appeared in the procession.  Since then, he has written two other boat chants for the Royal Barge processions in 1993 and 2003. 

His fourth work, to be used on 12 June 2006 comprises three parts.  First the chant describes the virtuous King who works so hard for the people to alleviate their suffering.  The second part praises the majesty and grace of the Royal Barges, and the third part focuses on depicting the beauty of Thailand, full of culture, traditions, and diverse lifestyles.  He draws his inspiration from the tireless and exemplary work of His Majesty the King, as well as a love for all things Thai.

The boat chant is a specially designed set of verses dating back to the Ayutthaya period that traditionally serves to provide a rhythm for rowing and on long journeys helps relieve the monotony of the travel, and is sung in time to clappers and a chorus from the rowers.

The chanter this year is Lieutenant Natawat Aramkluea.  He served as an oarsman in the 1982 Royal Barge Procession as well as an oarsman for the Royal Barge Subanahongsa.  Because of his fascination with chanting, he became an apprentice of Rear Admiral Mongkol Saengsawang, the Thai national artist who was chanter for several previous processions, and gained experience through observation and long practice.  Smaller barges get a tape recording of his chant to practice with three hours a day, five days a week.  However, he chants live for up to two hours a day, four or five days a week, for the Royal State Barge rowers to practice.  Another apprentice is working alongside him just in case by some odd chance he should fall ill.