Zuhal's Struggle to Find Better Position

The following commentaries made by Malik as reported by Harian Metro, 9 January 2008:

Belang Quantum Racing
Oleh Bazly Azmi
bazly@hmetro.com.my

JUARA bertahan, Quantum Racing merampas kedudukan pendahulu Regatta Diraja Antarabangsa Langkawi (RLIR) 2008 di Kelab Perahu Layar Diraja Langkawi (RLYC) apabila menjuarai perlumbaan hari kedua, semalam.

Pasukan kategori Racing dari Australia itu menjuarai perlumbaan pertama hari kedua dengan catatan 2 jam 27 minit 15 saat sebelum mendominasi aksi kedua berbekalkan masa 2:27:53 saat untuk memintas pendahulu kelmarin, Jelik dari Hong Kong.

Namun, Jelik masih mengekori rapat apabila menduduki tempat kedua keseluruhan dengan pendatang baru, Full Metal Jacket memintas juara tiga edisi, Yo!2 untuk menghuni tangga ketiga.

Kedudukan dua wakil negara, Zuhal dan Navy Janda Baik masih tidak berubah selepas empat perlumbaan apabila masing-masing menghuni tempat keenam dan ketujuh.

Kapten Zuhal, Leftenan Komander Malik Sulaiman ternyata kurang berpuas hati dengan prestasi kru, terutama pada perlumbaan pertama apabila tersasar laluan ekoran dihimpit bot lain ketika pelepasan.

“Laluan kami dikawal bot lain hingga terpaksa melencong bagi mengelak pelanggaran. Malah, kami terpaksa melakukan pusingan 360 darjah apabila hampir bertembung dengan Yo!2 bagi mengelak dikenakan penalti.

“Situasi itu menyebabkan kami ketinggalan hampir 0.4 batu nautika di belakang bot terakhir. Tapi, kesilapan terbabit ditutup dengan aksi cemerlang pada laluan berikutnya apabila kami bersaing sengit dengan Hi Fi.

Zuhal menduduki tempat keenam pada perlumbaan pertama berbekalkan catatan 2 jam 34 minit 48 saat sebelum mengekalkan posisi sama pada aksi berikutnya dengan catatan 2:43:41 saat.

Mengulas strategi menjelang aksi hari ketiga (hari ini) membabitkan laluan luar Pelabuhan Kuah, Malik menjangkakan faktor itu menjadi kelebihan kerana Zuhal antara bot paling berat kategori terbabit.

“Angin luar pelabuhan lebih konsisten jadi aspek itu membantu kelancaran bot kami. Jadi, peluang berada dalam kelompok tiga pasukan terbaik tetap hadir sekalipun agak tipis selepas aksi kurang memuaskan hari ini (semalam),” kata pengurus skuad perahu layar negara yang mengutip dua pingat emas pada Sukan Sea Korat, Disember lalu.

Sementara itu, pelayar negara, Rizal Mahadi Sazili mengakui terlalu sukar baginya menamatkan saingan dalam kelompok tiga pasukan teratas sekalipun menghuni tangga kelima kategori Sport.

Keraguan melanda ‘skipper’ MYA-KFC yang menduduki tempat keempat kategori Platu pada Sukan Sea Korat itu bersandarkan kelebihan bot pasukan lain yang rata-ratanya dilengkapi teknologi terbaru selain sudah ‘mengenali’ jentera mereka.

“Saya masih belum menyesuaikan diri dengan bot ini. Kami dalam proses menyelenggara mendapatkan kelajuan terbaik kerana setiap bot memiliki tahap berbeza.

“Malah, ini kejohanan pertama saya bersama empat kru baru sejak pulang dari Korat dalam misi persediaan ke Piala Monsun, Disember depan,” kata ‘skipper’ kelahiran Klang, Selangor itu.

Zuhal @ Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2008

Malik: Views and Expectations for Langkawi Regatta 2008

The following news is as reported in Berita Harian, 8 January 2008.

Jelik ketepikan Quantum Racing

Oleh Mohd Fadzrie Hazis

HARI pertama kejohanan Regata Antarabangsa Diraja Langkawi (RLIR) menyaksikan kejutan, apabila pasukan Jelik dari Hong Kong muncul pendahulu selepas mengutip dua mata daripada dua perlumbaan saingan kelas Racing.Jelik memenangi perlumbaan pertama selepas mencatat 2 jam 5.11 minit pada perlumbaan pertama, sebelum mencatat 2:18.56s pada perlumbaan kedua.

Kemampuan mengekalkan rentak konsisten dan kelajuan angin selaju 14 hingga 16 knot disifatkan kapten Jelik, Frank Pong sebagai faktor yang mendorong kejayaan pasukannya itu mengetepikan saingan juara bertahan, Quantum Racing yang hanya mendapat tempat kedua.

“Saya sentiasa mengingatkan krew saya untuk konsisten dalam perlumbaan ini. Saya harap permulaan yang baik pada hari pertama akan terus memberi keyakinan kepada kami untuk terus mengekalkan rentak konsisten esok (hari ini).

“Jika kami tersilap mengikut laluan, ia mampu menjejaskan kami dan kerana itu kami harus mengekalkan tahap konsisten yang sama sepanjang perlumbaan untuk mampu mengekalkan kedudukan kami,” kata Frank.

Dua wakil negara dalam kelas Racing, Zuhal dan Navy Janda Baik hanya mampu memulakan hari pertama di tempat keenam dan kelapan, dengan masing-masing mengutip 12 dan 16 mata.

Bagi kapten Zuhal, Lt Komander Malik Sulaiman, pasukannya tidak mempamerkan aksi baik dalam perlumbaan pertama dan hanya mula mempamerkan peningkatan pada perlumbaan kedua.

Pasukan yang dibarisi keseluruhan anggota Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) itu mencatat 2:12.26s pada perlumbaan pertama dan 2:24.51s pada perlumbaan kedua.

Walaupun dimasukkan dalam kelas Racing pada saat akhir, Malik tidak melihatnya sebagai faktor penghalang buat pasukannya memberi cabaran kepada pasukan lain.

“Memang sepatutnya kami beraksi dalam kelas IRC Premier Crusing, tetapi kerana saiz dan spesikasi bot kami melebihi had kelayakan untuk kelas itu, kami diserap dalam kelas Racing.

“Kami akur dengan keputusan penganjur, tetapi saya yakin kami boleh mencapai tiga tempat terbaik keseluruhan kerana mempunyai krew yang berpengalaman, walaupun ini adalah kali pertama kami beraksi di RLIR.

“Keadaan angin selaju 10 hingga 25 knot hari ini (semalam) juga banyak membantu kami, kerana saiz bot kami yang besar. Tetapi kekurangan kami mungkin hanya daripada segi teknologi, sesetengah pasukan seperti Hi Fi sudah melakukan banyak perubahan pada bot mereka,” kata Malik.

Malik, Making His Challenge in Langkawi Regatta 2008

This news is as reported in MyMetro (8 January 2008):

Jelik dahului saingan

Oleh Bazly Azmi
bazly@hmetro.com.my

KELEMAHAN handikap gagal menyekat wakil Hong Kong, Jelik untuk mendahului saingan pembuka tirai Regatta Diraja Antarabangsa Langkawi (RLIR) 2007 di Kelab Perahu Layar Diraja Langkawi (RLYC), semalam.

Pasukan diketuai ‘skipper’ naib juara musim lalu, Frank Pong itu mengumpul mata paling minimum (2 mata) untuk menjuarai saingan kategori Racing sekalipun memiliki 1.461 handikap – nilai tertinggi berbanding baki lapan pencabar dengan catatan 2 jam 18 minit 56 saat.

Frank berkata, beliau gembira apabila krunya berjaya bangkit selepas ketinggalan dengan agak jauh ekoran kesilapan pada awal perlumbaan.

“Kami melakukan dua kali kesilapan iaitu di Pulau Dayang Bunting dan Pulau Tuba hingga tersasar laluan. Namun, kesilapan itu ditebus pada pertengahan perlumbaan berbekalkan tiupan angin sekitar 22 knot.

“Situasi terbabit amat membantu berdasarkan handikap kami yang besar (kemampuan bot) sekali gus melancarkan perlumbaan kami,” katanya.

Justeru, beliau berharap krew Jelik mengekalkan tahap konsisten sebegitu kerana saingan masih awal selain kedudukan mereka masih belum selamat menjelang baki lapan perlumbaan. “Kebimbangan utama adalah dua pendatang baru iaitu Full Metal Jacket dan Hi Fi kerana kapal mereka dilengkapi teknologi terbaru. Mereka berpotensi besar menjuarai kejohanan ini, tapi cabaran pasukan lain tidak boleh dilupakan.

“Selain mereka, tentangan sudah tentu hadir daripada Quantum (juara bertahan) kerana mereka dibarisi kru terbaik diketuai Ray Roberts selain memiliki semangat juang tinggi,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Kapten Zuhal, Leftenan Komander Malik Sulaiman optimis mengenai peluang pasukannya menyertai kelompok tiga pasukan terbaik kategori Racing Regatta Antarabangsa Diraja Langkawi 2008 (RLIR) apabila menduduki tempat keenam pada aksi pembuka tirai, semalam.

Keyakinan wakil negara itu bersandarkan prestasi cemerlang dipamerkan 15 kru daripada Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) terutamanya pada perlumbaan kedua sekalipun baru pertama kali beralih ke kategori terbabit, musim ini.

“Cabaran Racing memang sengit sekalipun kami menduduki tempat ketiga kategori IRC Premier Cruising Regatta Antarabangsa Raja Muda Langkawi, November lalu.

“Satu-satunya halangan untuk lebih cemerlang adalah faktor handikap yang agak tinggi (1.307) selain spesifikasi bot yang tidak begitu canggih,” katanya.

Journal Widget

 

The Star reported on 30 December 2007 that :

There is a lot more to Port Klang than just port activities. 

Royal Selangor Yacht Club  

A second home to ‘yachties’ from all over the country, the Royal Selangor Yacht Club stands proudly today, with a typically Malaysian profile as well as a nautical theme with its cascading roof reminiscent of a sail, which shouldn’t surprise anyone as the club is, after all, a sanctuary for lovers of the sea.
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Backdated News (Rivals for Langkawi Regatta 2007 as reported in The Star)

Tuesday February 6, 2007

TLDM confident of giving rivals a hard time

By LOGANATH VELLOO

 LANGKAWI: The Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) sailing team believe they are capable of challenging for top honours in the fifth edition of the Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR), which begins today. 

Although renowned for their prowess in the smaller “dinghy-sized” vessel competitions, the Navy boys made the bold move to sail into uncharted waters in the racing class last year in their newly-acquired yacht Zuhrah. 

Despite being wet behind the ears, the only all-Malaysian set-up in the competition came close to producing a major upset, finishing second in the overall standings. 

Along the way, Zuhrah also won one of the six races, pushing the vastly experienced Swedish outfit, Ericsson V060, into third place. 

All set: The Royal Malaysian Navy sailing team skipper Malik Sulaiman (right) and his crew getting their yacht Zuhal ready for today’s first race of the Royal Langkawi International Regatta. – K.E. OOI / THE STAR

TLDM are now wiser to the demands of the racing class competition and will be utilising Zuhrah’s identical 52-foot sister boat Zuhal for this year’s challenge. 

And team skipper Malik Sulaiman believes that his more experienced crew would once again give the big boys a run for their money. 

Despite the high optimism, Malik conceded that Zuhal would start as the underdogs. 

“Although we gave an encouraging performance last year, we are not the favourites to win. Our competitors are all seasoned campaigners, who have been competing in the South-East Asian waters consistently,” he said. 

“We have been unable to compete outside Malaysian waters in the racing category for the past 12 months but I have to admit that we are better prepared compared to last year’s challenge.” 

Two Australian-registered yachts are the early favourites for the Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy. 

Three-time winner Peter Ahern, who skipped last year’s competition after disbanding his Yo! outfit, returns to Langkawi with his new-look Yo!2 team. 

Defending champions Ulumulu-Quantum Racing, an Australian-Malaysian collaboration between team owners Ray Roberts and Troy Yaw, are also expected to be among the frontrunners. 

Besides Zuhal, Malaysia will also have another racing boat in the competition. Matahari, skippered by Royal Selangor Yacht Club’s Vincent Chan, are making their debut in the big boat category. 

Although the Malaysian Navy would start as the underdogs in the racing category, they will be the team to beat in the sports boat category. 

Since the regatta began in 2003, the Malaysian Navy have successfully kept a stranglehold on the sports boat overall title. 

Said Malik: “Our strong point has always been in the dinghy-sized boats, which we have been sailing in since we were young. 

“The Royal Malaysian Navy have a proud reputation to protect in the sports boat category and we will be going all out to maintain our winning streak.” 

This year, the Navy boys can breathe a little easier in the absence of their fiercest rivals, the Phuket-based Somtam Express. 

But the Malaysians will still need to work hard to defend the title as strong challenges can be expected from the MYCQ team from Queensland and entries from the Singapore and Thailand sailing squads. 

SEA Games 2007 closes with 2 golds from Sailing (The Star – 15 December 2007)

Saturday December 15, 2007

A double from sailors, but manager Malik disappointed target not met

NURUL Elia Anuar and Mohd Romzi Mohamad restored Malaysia’s pride by delivering two gold medals in the sailing competition, which ended at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya yesterday. 

The 16-year-old Nurul saved her best for last, winning the decisive final race to snatch the Laser Radial gold. 

Nurul won Race 12 ahead of Siobham Tam of Singapore. Both finished with 14 points from six victories and five six-second place finishes each. But Nurul was awarded the gold by virtue of winning the final race. Thailand's Sai Chimsawat took the bronze on 30 points. 

Nurul, who hails from Negri Sembilan, was delighted to bag the gold in her maiden appearance in the Games. 

“I was optimistic that I could get the gold after the first few days when I led the competition,” said Nurul, who previously competed in the Laser 470 Open class and won a bronze in the Doha Asian Games last year. 

“But the Singaporean gave me a tough fight and it was mentally tough to focus because I was behind by one point going into the race today. This win will give me the confidence to do well in future outings.” 

Nurul will also be making attempts to win a place in the Olympics from the Laser Radial World Championships in Auckland in March. 

Romzi's victory in the International Laser competition, which is another Olympic event, also augurs well for Malaysia. 

He finished third in the final race and garnered a total of 13 points. He was the winner in seven of the 12 races and also secured four second-place finishes. Singapore's Koh Seng Leong finished on 16 points for the silver and Manat Phothong of Thailand took the bronze on 30. 

While the Malaysian team managed to better the one-gold haul from Manila two years ago, manager Malik Sulaiman was disappointed that they fell short of the National Sports Council's (NSC) target of three. 

“It was a mixed outing for us. Our team are made up of youngsters, not more than 22 years of age, and the stress of competing in such a competitive environment got to them after the first few days,” said Malik, a silver medallist in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games. 

“We had to do a lot of motivation work to get them to handle the challenges because this was the first SEA Games for almost all of them.” 

Malaysia also got two silver and two bronze medals yesterday. 

Mohd Asri Nazrin won the final Race 11 to secure silver in the boys' Optimist and another came from the combination of Nurul Ain Isa-Noor Balqis Yaacop in the women's 470. 

The bronze medallists were Alissa Chew (girls' Optimist) and Hairuddin Han (Super Mod). 

On Wednesday, Malaysia won bronze in the team Optimist racing. 

A Clip from Langkawi Regatta

Pics

Komitmen Terhadap Kemampuan di Sukan SEA 2007 – Laporan seperti di NST Online

NST Online » Sport
THE strong winds in the Gulf of Thailand could severely affect Malaysia's five-gold target in sailing in the Sea Games in Pattaya.

2007/12/02

Sea Games / Sailing: Winds could hamper gold target bid

With the average wind speed of 18 knots not conducive for handling sails, the Malaysian team — who arrived at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club sailing venue on Nov 19 to get acclimatised — could struggle to achieve their target.

However, team manager Abdul Malik Sulaiman said the wind speeds have dropped to 8-10 knots in the past two days, and he hopes it would remain steady till the competition is over.

“We have young sailors in our team and they are used to lighter wind speeds. I am hoping the wind will not blow too strong during the competition. But at least it gives us a chance to prepare for any eventuality,” he said.

Malaysia have a large team of 24 sailors competing in 11 of the 16 sailing events, with the Malaysian Yachting Association looking to the 2010 Asian Games.
“A number of countries have sent young teams here as they are also looking ahead to bigger tournaments later. Only Thailand appears to have a number of experienced sailors and they will probably win most of the gold medals.

“But that does not mean we cannot achieve our target of five gold as I think we have a decent team to do so,” added Malik.

The optimist events — boys, girls and team — and the laser radial and standard events are Malaysia's best bet for gold while Rufina Tan, the 2006 Doha Asian Games optimist gold medallist, will partner Mabel Tan in the International 420.