Ever since Azhar Mansor officially started on his quest for the Holy Grail of single-handed yachting at 1630hrs on Tuesday Feb 2^nd 1999 yachting in Malaysia has received a tremendous boost onto the International media stage. Courtesy of Sapura Communications who have kindly sponsored the Imarsat C & M with Internet connections aboard Jalur Gemilang the International media and Malaysian press have been able to carry daily updates of Azhar’s exploits and his progress has inspired the imaginations of many. Especially as he tackles the notoriously dangerous and lengthy Southern Ocean legs of his historic journey. The e-mail response and well wishes received by Azhar and his shorebase at the Awana Resort - Porto Malai start/finish line, nestled in the tropical islands of Langkawi has been overwhelming. Plus a show for the general public on how in today’s world digital satellite connections via onboard computers has become a vital item when communicating with modern hi-tech yachts at sea and an important aid to sailors when surviving the vagaries of nature anywhere in the world.

By officially sailing off Azhar not only becomes the first recorded starter but also the events pioneer, as he has single-handedly instigated and received the accreditation necessary for the newly approved WSSRC Indian Ocean West – East circumnavigation course to go ahead. Azhar is presently targeting a new solo non-stop world sailing record onboard Jalur Gemilang and is aiming to establish a high standard to which future circumnavigation aspirants will need to emulate. To the average Asian City dweller sailing at this level is a complex sport conducted by developed sailing countries where a complicated and often expensive piece of equipment has to be first prepared and mastered to go out on the water. They can be excused when asking, "What sort of person does it take to solely propel a yacht around the world by patiently harnessing natures unpredictable and forever changing elements?"

One must posses an affliction for the sea and a burning ambition to embark on a global yachting challenge. Then with a little help from friends and with a bit of luck in the sponsorship search proceed to plan, set and reach some achievable targets. Sounds easy, What? Sure! When you say it quickly. Hey! This ambitious on again, off again project has taken over two years of sheer dedication, hard work, commitment and has been made doubly difficult by the Asian region experiencing an economic crisis.

Azhar’s lucky break came when he sort the blessing of Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Whose government actively promotes the country’s vast commercial sector and tourism potential by hosting a variety of major International sporting events like the Commonwealth Games, Malaysian Yachting Challenge and the annual Tour de Langkawi, World 500cc and Formula 1 Grand Prix’s. Aspiring and exceptional Malaysian achievers like Azhar and the climbing expedition who recently scaled Mt Everest are encouraged to seek the governments assistance through the "Malaysia Boleh" campaign and in return rekindling a proud national "Malaysians Can Do" spirit whilst succeeding in their extra ordinary Asian endeavors.

Imagine a lengthy 21,600 nautical mile sail out to NW Sumatra then down the Indian Ocean to meet the roaring 40’s & 50’s below Australia and N Z and crossing the notoriously rough Southern Ocean to round South America’s famous Cape Horn and Africa’s Cape of Good Hope before returning home. If successful, perhaps some consideration should be given to promoting a future round the world yacht race from Langkawi for all Asian – Pacific circumnavigation aspirants. Possibly in years to come rivaling the American "Around Alone" race and Europe’s "2001-The Race" with a Asian version of the Verdee Globe and a Jules Verne Trophy style of event. Perhaps it’s a means to partially fulfilling the Prime Ministers 2020 vision of transforming the Legendary Isles of Langkawi into one of Asia’s biggest and safest pleasure yachting playgrounds.

For those people who have yet to experience the Southern Ocean try being crouched up alone with only your dripping wet thermals and torn foul weather gear on, at night in the cockpit of a heavily reefed yacht, feeling hungry and exhausted with a stifling head cold and huge worries about the boat and yourself surviving weeks at a time crashing about in 10 to 15m high ocean seas with 30 to 80 knots of biting cold squally conditions. Welcome to the wonderful world of offshore yacht racing and please spare a few moments wishing all sailors at sea and in particular Azhar Mansor and Jalur Gemilang a safe voyage, God Speed, and "Malaysia BOLEH" but most of all, Good luck!

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Back on the local scene, for sailors getting over Hari Raya and Chinese New Year its a good time to reflect back on last years performances whilst tentatively setting some achievable targets for this years sailing calendar. Boat owners and crews should allocate some time attending to those often neglected maintenance chores as this preparation time may prove to be commensurate with important racing performances later in the sailing year.

The organizing committees for the regions three National yachting regattas, the Singapore Straits, Raja Muda International and Kings Cup should be praised for successfully conducting their respective regattas during these difficult times. The newly time slotted Straits Regatta now provides an annual progression of top class regattas between Singapore and Phuket during the months of November and December. This should attract more international competitors, especially at the yacht clubs that encourage visiting yachts to participate.

At the joint National Yachting Associations meetings to develop yachting into an enduring sport in SE Asia representatives must consider methods of enhancing the profile of the present Asian Perpetual Cup Series and the significance of the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy. Perhaps by including cruising and classic classes with the serious racers and broadening the scope of sponsored trophies with cash prizes as an incentive to compete beyond the present one trophy. The individual race committees must be given a bit of leeway when classifying competing yachts and crews into racing and cruising classes. Instead of the present farce and draconian CHS ruling that has proven to be unfair again at last years Kings Cup and a contentious issue with some bona fide ocean cruising yachts being forced to race with the premier racing class at some regatta’s and vice versa at others. Over time when sufficient entries are received (5 or more starters in each class) then a class B with shorter courses should be considered for yachts holding a rating below 1.100 in each class. This would sort the bigger and faster yachts from the smaller ones and make for competitive racing amongst relatively sized yachts more fun.

Wishing all sailors fair wind, blue skies and good luck!

"Cheers!" Capt. Marty.

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