For the Gallery

The Monsoon is here Once Again

It is that season of the year again. Despite the political turbulance earlier this year and numerous request to clarifications, it did not stop the spirits of World Match Racing to happen once again in Pulau Duyong, Terengganu.

Don’t forget to get busy with updates from Monsoon Cup 2008 either through its official site, tv networks or other related medias.

Happy Eid Fitr to All Readers all over the World

Wishing all readers a Happy Eid Mubarak and merry celebration for this festive season. 1 Syawal 1429H

Pride goes on…

Author wanted to congratulate Malik Sulaiman (the Malaysian Yacht Racer) on his new promotion which brings the title of Commander (Royal Malaysian Navy) on 2nd June 2008.

May this blessings bring more success to life!

Related Article: http://www.navy.mil.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=335&Itemid=18 

Malaysian Yachting Calendar (Mar – Apr 2008)

DATE	COMPETITION	COURSES / SEMINARS	VENUE	EXPECTED CLASSES & CONTACTS
29 Feb – 02 MAC	KFC-PSC International Regatta (Ranking)		Penang Swimming Club	Optimist, Laser Standard, Laser 4.7, Laser  Radial, Open Dinghy, Race Board & Formula sailmalaysia@gmail.com noraini_772000@yahoo.com pscregatta@hotmail.com
March 07 -09	RMN Open /National Match Racing Championship (01/08)		Royal Malaysian Navy Yacht Club, Lumut	Farr Platu Malik_2881@yahoo.com
May 08-13	KEJOHANAN MSSM 2008		Komplex sukan pelayaran  kebangsaan Di Langkawi	sailmalaysia@gmail.com afendyzeta@yahoo.com.my
March 13-15		Coaching  Rule course	Komplex sukan pelayaran  kebangsaan Di Langkawi	sailmalaysia@gmail.com afendyzeta@yahoo.com.my
March 16		Coach CPR course	Komplex sukan pelayaran  kebangsaan Di Langkawi	sailmalaysia@gmail.com afendyzeta@yahoo.com.my
April 03 -05	KFC-Johor Open Regatta (Ranking)		Pantai Pasir Layar,Tanjung Langsat, Pasir Gudang,  Johor	Optimist- A,B,&C ,Laser Std, & Radial, Int  420  ,& Marathon Optimist & Laser sailmalaysia@gmail.com afendyzeta@yahoo.com.my
08 April -14 April		Kem Pemilihan akhir Int 420- Int 470	Royal Malaysian Navy Yacht Club, Lumut	sailmalaysia@gmail.com afendyzeta@yahoo.com.my
April 15 -17	-	Race Officer Clinic	Royal Malaysian Navy Yacht Club, Lumut	sailmalaysia@gmail.com afendyzeta@yahoo.com.my
April 18 – 20	KFC-Navy Day Open Regatta & National Youth (Ranking)		Royal Malaysian Navy Yacht Club, Lumut	Optimist, Laser, Int 470, Int 420, Open,Keel Boat & Windsurfing sailmalaysia@gmail.com afendyzeta@yahoo.com.my
April 08 -12		Kursus Jurulatih Tahap I	RPDYC Port Dickson	sailmalaysia@gmail.com afendyzeta@yahoo.com.my
April 24 -30		Kursus Jurulatih Tahap III Pilot Course	Komplex sukan pelayaran  kebangsaan Di Langkawi	sailmalaysia@gmail.com afendyzeta@yahoo.com.my

Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2008 – Video Show

Posted on YouTube by Virtual Malaysia.

About Malaysian Regatta on Final Day of RLIR 2008

The Star Online > SportsSunday January 13, 2008Malaysian yachtsmen capable of the taking on the big boys

By LOGANATH VELLOO

LANGKAWI: The just concluded sixth Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR) witnessed the coming of age of Malaysian sailors in the racing class categories.

Although the local sailors are more comfortable competing in the smaller dinghy, optimist and sports boat events, the ability to take on the big boys in the racing classes has begun to take root.

Despite their modest preparation, the Royal Malaysian Navy entrants Zuhal and Navy Janda Baik managed several top-five finishes over the five-day Racing Class competition. They were sixth and seventh respectively in the nine-boat overall standings.

Joyful: Quantum Racing skipper Ray Roberts (sixth left) and crew lifting the Prime Minister�s Challenge Trophy on Friday

But it was the performance of the all-local Mata Hari crew in the IRC class that made heads turn.

Skippered and funded by Vincent Chan, the Mata Hari crew, made up of seven men and two women who are all former national sailors, were in the hunt for the IRC overall title till the very end of the final race.

Although they faltered at the crucial moment to settle for third spot, their courageous display could herald the start of a new dawn for keelboat racing among Malaysians.

Among the Mata Hari crew were 2002 Busan Asian Games medallists Andrew Yeow and Looi Sing Yew.

Said Vincent: �I am surprised with Mata Hari�s good performance. My crew only took up keelboat racing seriously about three years ago, and we cherish the experience of competing against the top yachts.

�But Malaysian teams are at a disadvantage because of the lack of competitive practice in the country. Right now, there are only two regattas (Royal Langkawi and Raja Muda Selangor), and both events are held between November and January. It leaves the local racing yachts idle for the rest of the year.

�Thailand host four regattas a year, and local competitors would benefit if another regatta is held in the middle of the year, preferably in the East Coast.�

Apart from the two local regattas, Malaysia also hosted the Monsoon Cup challenge in Kuala Terengganu, contested in a one-on-one race match format and featured mostly foreign participations.

The Miri Yacht Club in Sarawak also hold an annual regatta, but its location failed to attract entries.

Zuhal skipper Lt Commander Malik Sulaiman agrees that Malaysian racing yachts could make a bigger impact if they are exposed to more competitions.

�Malaysian teams are still inexperienced in the racing categories. Teams like (RLIR overall champions from Australia) Quantum Racing compete in about 20 regattas a year, while we only take part in two. The best way to improve is by competing more often against world-class opponents.

�It costs a lot of money to manage a crew and transport the yacht to an overseas tournament. Even competing in a local regatta costs a team about RM15,000. We plan to compete in regional regattas, but we need the approval of the Malaysian Navy�s Sports Club who fund our expenses,� said Malik.

On the organisation side, the RLIR organisers� decision to bring forward the annual competition from February to January was a masterstroke.

The RLIR is now sandwiched between the Phuket King�s Cup and the Singapore Straits Regatta, allowing more yachts to stop and compete in Langkawi while heading south from Phuket to Singapore.

Due to the rescheduling, this year�s competition in the blue riband Racing and IRC classes managed to attract some of the top competitors in the region.

The decisions to introduce an under-25 sports boat youth category and host races close to the Kuah Jetty to get the public interested in the competition were also plus points for the RLIR.

Sydney-based Quantum Racing skipper Ray Roberts believes that the RLIR is catching up with the popularity of the King�s Cup as the best-organised and most competitive regatta in South-East Asia.

Prime Minister�s Challenge Trophy: Quantum Racing (Aus)

Royal Langkawi Yacht Club Commodore�s Challenge Cup: Sofa So Good (Bri)

LADA-IRC Class Challenge Trophy: Phoenix (Jpn)

Langkawi Sports Class Trophy: Raimond Land (Aus)

Malaysia Multihull Challenge Cup: Motor Inzi (Bri)

Skipper Made Debutant Remarks for Malaysia Tourism

The report made by VIRTUAL MALAYSIA – The Official e-tourism Portal for Ministry of Tourism as part of VMY Campaign:

Quantum Racing has done it again

Langkawi, January 11 – The Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR) 2008 witnessed an outstanding sailing performance by Quantum Racing from the racing class, skippered by Ray Roberts who again, won the Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy. Being champion in 2007, they held on to the title and once again, proved to be invincible.

Today marks the last day of the fleet racing that took place at Tanjung Lembong, Kuah for five consecutive days. All classes faired well amidst stiff competition.

Other classes such as club cruising, premier cruising multihull, IRC, sports boat and firefly were won by Sofa So Good (John Ramsden), Xcatriot (Bob Brindley), Phoenix (Neils Degenkolw), Navy1 (Mohd.Razali B. Mansor), and Moto Inzi (Roger Kingdon) respectively.

Skipper Malik Sulaiman of team Zuhal (Team Malaysia) said that there was a lot to learn from the international sailors who had a great deal of experience prior the race. Team Zuhal came in seven in the racing class category.

The most exciting and challenging match area was nearer to Toba Island, which is located at the south of Langkawi. As the area had strong currents, the greatest challenge for them was to not to make any mistakes and make the wind work for them.

After a long sunny race and to celebrate the victory of many, there was a prize giving ceremony at the yacht club presented by Tourism Minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor at the dinner to mark the close of the regatta.

More Pics

From Asian Yachting site:

Conclusion Remarks by BERNAMA

BERNAMA gave a positive feedback on the Malaysian performance in Langkawi Regatta 2008, dated 13th January 2008:

January 13, 2008 16:17 PM

Local Sailors Shine In RLIR 2008

By Ahmad Muliady Abd Majid

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 (Bernama) — It has been a good outing for local sailors who took part in the five-day Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR) which came to an end Saturday.

In the sixth edition of the event, held at the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, they managed to put up strong challenges to renowned competitors and some even captured podium positions in a number of categories.

Among them were Vincent Chan who led team Mata Hari that came out third in the International Racing Club category and Mohd Razali Mansor who skippered Navy 1 that won second place in the Sport Boat category.

Their achievements in the event that drew 36 teams from 14 countries, have lifted up the names of local sailors as serious challengers in future competitions.

It is a good sign for the development of the sport in Malaysia.

However, one has to admit that experience and equipment often play a major part in such competitions.

It was the lack of both elements that caused team Zuhal, captained by Lt Commander Malik Sulaiman, failing to be among the best three overall. Despite that, it was not a disappointment, said Malik.

It would only fire up the team to strive even harder, he added.

He said the race, in itself, enabled the participants to gain experience and the local sailers who were able to learn from it were the real winners because the event served the best platform for them and the future generations to gauge whether they were in the right path.

Helmsman Mohd Khairul Sharil was also satisfied with the achievement of his Navy Janda Baik team after being placed sixth overall in their international debut at RLIR 2008.

The race was won by defending champion Quantum Racing of Australia which was led by Ray Roberts. Team Jelik from Hong Kong was second while Hi Fi, also of Hong Kong, was third.

– BERNAMA