LUMUT, May 14 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Naval Base at Telok Muroh, Lumut
in Perak took centre stage when seven match racing teams, and a host of local
and international race officals descended upo it for Stage One of the Malaysian
Match Racing Circuit (MMRC).
The MMRC which will end on Sunday, 13 May is the first of three stages of the
circuit which will decide on the Malaysian champion that will get to represent
the country in the season ending Alpari World Match Racing Tour’s Monsoon Cup.
Participants include defending champion Jeremy Koo (Koo Racing Team), past
champion (2009) Hazwan Hazim Dermawan (Permai Hotel Match Racing Team), Masyuri
Rahmat (Royal Malaysian Navy Match Racing Team 1), past champion (2008) Nurul
Ain Md.Isa (Ri-Yaz Heritage Sailing Team), Nik Ashraf Thaqid (Royal Malaysian
Navy Match Racing Team 2), Rizal Mahadi (SetiaWest Marine) and Harisfabillah b
Muhammad ((Royal Malaysian Navy Match Racing Team 3).
Racing began with light wind conditions and remained as such for the rest of the
day, giving members of the Royal Malaysian Navy who make up part of the race
committee a tough job on hand, as explained by Principal Race Officer, David
Tallis who said “It’s not an easy job and they’re very good at what they do.
Timing is crucial and a good system needs to be in place so that no team will
have an unfair advantage over the other.”
Leader of the day was crowd favourite Hazwan Hazim Dermawan (Permai Hotel Match
Racing Team) who finished the day with 3 wins. Racing at the Royal Malaysian
Naval Base is like returning home as he first learnt how to sail at this very
base. However, that did not deter him from winning his races against the very
salors who coached him in the past. “When we are racing, its very serious, an
openent is an oponent, regardless of our personal relationship.”
Hazwan Hazim Dermawan who won the MMRC in 2009 has not had a chance to reclaim
victory since. “We have regrouped and I believe we have the strongest team yet.
I am confident of winning.”
Jeremy Koo (Koo Racing Team) was also undefeated with 2 wins. Although sailing
with two new team members, Jeremy sailed like the champion that he was and lead
his team to an early lead. “Work schedules and business opportunities have taken
my regular team mates away form the start of the season, but I was lucky enough
to get Hakimi (trimmer) and Shahrizal Hashim as my pitman. Shahrizal used to
sail with Hazwan Hazim in the past and he has also sailed with my sister Tiffany
Koo (MMRC Champion 2006 & 2007)”
“I must admit starting the day, I was feeling pretty nervous as the teams looked
strong and confident and here I was with two new team members. But I must say
after the first win, my confidence grew and so did our performance. The Navy
teams are the ones to look out for, as they have the home ground advantage”
added Jeremy Koo.
Masyuri Rahmat (Royal Malaysian Navy Match Racing Team 1) ended the day with 2
wins and 1 loss. Commenting on his loss to fellow Navy comrade Harisfabillah
Muhammad (Royal Malaysian Navy Match
Racing Team 3), he said “ We were in pre-start when I made a wrong calculation
of the wind which led to loss of speed in the boat. In light conditions, we just
could not catch up with him thereafter.”
A keen participant of match racing in Malaysia since 2006, Masyuri Rahmat has
seen a gradual increase in performance and stepped up from being a trimmer to
skippering his own crew, however a victory at these events is elusive. “We can
always plan, train and hope but in the end, luck still plays a part. I am
confident that this year will be my year to shine,” he added.
The Malaysian Match Racing Circuit, which is endorsed by the International
Sailing Federation (ISAF), Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT) and Malaysian
Yachting Association (MYA) will see three events in the 2012 season, beginning
with Stage One in Lumut, Perak on 11-13 May, Stage Two in Pulau Indah, Selangor
on 29 Jun – 1 July and the Final Stage in Pulau Duyong, Terengganu on 20-23
September 2012.
The one team with the highest points collected over three events will be
declared the Champion of the MMRC and will get the opportunity to represent
Malaysia in the season ending finale of the AWMRT, the Monsoon Cup in Terengganu
on 3-8 December 2012.
Qualifying Round 1 Current Standings
Hazwan Hazim Dermawan (Permai Hotel Match Racing Team) 3-0
Harisfabillah b Muhammad ((Royal Malaysian Navy Match Racing Team 3) 3-2
Jeremy Koo (Koo Racing Team) 2-0
Nurul Ain Md.Isa (Ri-Yaz Heritage Sailing Team) 2-1
Masyuri Rahmat (Royal Malaysian Navy Match Racing Team 1) 2-1
Nik Ashraf Thaqid (Royal Malaysian Navy Match Racing Team 2) 1-4
Rizal Mahadi (SetiaWest Marine) 0-5
Note to Editor :
About Match Racing
Back in 2006, the Monsoon Cup was the first race to have a series of qualifiers
to encourage the participation of young, upcoming local sailors in the
professional match race scene. Those qualifiers were the Malaysian Match Racing
Championship (MMRC) and the Asian Match Racing Championship (AMRC).
From 4 teams at its inception in 2006, the Malaysian Match Racing Championship
has grown to have 13 local teams taking part in 2009. The winner will be the
sole Malaysian representative at the Monsoon Cup, the final and deciding leg of
the Alpari World Match Racing Tour. It is a chance to compete with the world’s
top match race sailors.
Malaysian Match Racing Championship Past Winners
2006: Tiffany Koo (Selangor) – Team Selangor Gapurna 1
2007: Tiffany Koo (Selangor) – UK Halsey Gapurna
2008: Nurul Ain Md Isa (Perak) – Perak Sailing Team
2009: Hazwan Hazim (Terengganu) – Taring Pelangi
2010: Jeremy Koo (Selangor) – Koo Racing Team Evernew
2011: Jeremy Koo (Selangor) – Abdullah Chan KRT
About Malaysian Match Racing Circuit (MMRC)
Due to overwhelming response from local sailors and the growth of match racing
as a sport in Malaysia, T-Best Events, the organisers behind the highly
successful Monsoon Cup are partnering with the Malaysian Yachting Association
(MYA), aiming to further establish the sailing and maritime industry in Malaysia
thru the Malaysian Match Racing Circuit (MMRC).
In its first year, the MMRC will kick off with 3 venues – Lumut in Perak, Pulau
Indah in Selangor and Pulau Duyong in Terengganu. Endorsed by the Alpari World
Match Racing Tour (WMRT) Development Council, the circuit is the first of its
kind in Asia.
MMRC is also a platform for aspiring match racers in Malaysia to improve their
International Sailing Federation (ISAF) rankings.
The collaboration between Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA) and T-Best Events
was sealed thru a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2011 at the Ri-Yaz
Heritage Marina Resort & Spa in Pulau Duyong, Kuala Terengganu which was
witnessed by Chief Minister of Terengganu, YAB Dato’ Seri Ahmad Said.
About Monsoon Cup
Monsoon Cup (www.monsooncup.com.my) grew from a simple vision to a world-class
experience attended by the cream of the crop in yacht racing. A not-to-be missed
yacht race event, Monsoon Cup is the last leg of the prestigious World Match
Racing Tour, a professional sailing series featuring World Championship events
across the globe. Monsoon Cup brings together the world’s top sailing teams who
will battle it out for a championship trophy and one of the highest prize money
awarded for a match racing event.
Contact Information
Facebook Group name – Monsoon Cup Malaysia
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Monsoon-Cup-Malaysia/52504271389?ref=s
Twitter Profile name – MonsoonCup
http://twitter.com/monsooncup
Website www.monsooncup.com.my
SOURCE: T-Best Events Sdn Bhd
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
For sponsorship information:
Name : Thanendran Thanesvaran
Tel : +603 7954 2204
Mobile: +6012 288 8183
Email : thanendran@tbest.com.my
For press information:
Name : Mira Navaretna
Tel : +603 7954 2204
Mobile: +6016 338 5341
Email : mira@tbest.com.my
Name : Rahyu Waris
Tel : +603 7954 2204
Mobile: +6012 3544 945
Email : rahyu@tbest.com.my
--BERNAMA