AY
Race Report 4 &
Summary
Borneo
Cup Yachting Challenge 2005
Everyone
is a winner in Borneo...
Not only is there trophies galore but competitors have won the hearts
of the locals, gained some new friends and been treated to some of the
warmest hospitality they are ever likely to experience. This is considered
the way forward in Borneo and the people are extremely proud of their
achievements and are now ready to show the world.
Troy
Yaw's mainly home grown team on Ulumulu are emerging heroes in
Miri and are forging ahead as Malaysia's only full blown racing class
competitor. Carrying the distinctive colors of Sarawak and named after
the Mulu National Heritage Caves they have competed at 6 major regattas
since purchasing the yacht and taken every opportunity to promote their
state and Miri Marina
during these events.
Losing only one race
by 36 seconds to Chris Goodwin's Ambil Angin leaving the only
blot on the score sheet they have shown tremendous improvement under Aussie
skipper Ray Roberts to record a run away win in the IRC Racing class and
lift the impressive Borneo Perpetual trophy for the second time.
In Club Racing Paul Scholten sailing 2 handed with Steve Corrigan on Burragah clinched the overall title with a 1, 2 in the final 2 races and had done enough in the earlier races to leave Bob Green's Star of Siam from Brunei in second spot. A scratch crew led by Richard Kho from Kutching sailed the Tourist Commissions Sarawak Seahorse into third place.
In
the Cruising class Michael Batham's Sea Quest broke the tie coming
into the final day with 2 convincing wins over Dennis Shepherd's Southerly
Change. This left Ron Fitzpatrick's Columbus the early leader
in third after suffering some damage and forced to retire from 2 races.
Summary
Having seminars to
discuss future regatta developments in the region and how to improve on
the present entries seems to have become the flavour of the month in Asia.
Recently at Boat-Asia in Singapore and now here in Borneo representatives from local yacht clubs, sailing associations and boat owners have thrown around a few ideas. The overall consensus is to develop sailing on the local scene by introducing keelboat racing and have some yachts available for charter so competitors can fly in, do the regatta then return home, thereby avoiding lengthy and expensive yacht deliveries.
Chairman
of the Borneo Cup YB Lee Kim Shin, likes to take a hands on approach,
suggested forming an Asian Yachting Federation to bring race committees
together and work out a suitable calendar of events was replaced with
a Borneo Yacht Clubs Federation to look after regional developments. As
most the representatives were present they have vowed for greater cooperation
when selecting dates and promoting all classes of sailing be it dinghy,
keelboat or catamarans.
Troy Yaw announced that he has purchased Alan Bond's former America's Cup 12 metres - Australia 111 and 1V with the intension of introducing some match racing and corporate team building from his Miri Marina latter in the year. This move is definitely a first for SE Asia and shows the progressive thinking and daring nature of the people involved. It could also firmly plant Miri on the world stage and put future yacht races in Borneo in good hands.
More info, full results and tourism links are posted at www.borneorace.com
Having
a Miri experience...
After
a couple days of great sightseeing, racing resumed directly out of the
Troy
Yaw's Ulumulu kept a clear sheet after 5 races to take an unbeatable
lead over Chris Goodwin's Ambil Angin in the IRC Racing class.
In Club Racing Paul Scholten's Burragah regained the overall
lead with 2 wins in race 4 and 5 to break the tie with Bob Green's Star
of Siam and the relatively inexperienced crew on Sarawak Seahorse ended
up with 2 thirds.
Dodging
Brunei's oil rigs, bombing zones and survey vessels...
The
fantastic close reaching conditions lasted well into the night allowing
the yachts to make quick work of the first 80 to 90 miles. Ulumulu
crossed the finish line in Miri just after midnight averaging over 8 1/2
knots boat speed which peaked at 12 knots to smash the inaugural race
time by 5 hrs 16 mins they set back in 2003. The last 5 miles being painfully
slow as the breeze faded and the night mist clouded in, leaving the rest
of the yachts becalmed for up to 3 hours awaiting the arrival of the morning
land breeze. Chris Goodwin's Brunei based Ambil Angin was the
nearest rival to Ulumulu which finished 10 hours latter to claim
2nd spot in the IRC class.
In
the Club Racing Class Paul Walshe's Star of Siam from the Kuala
Belait Boat Club in Brunei turned the tables on the Paul Scholten skippered
Burragah who won the first race and Neil Antrum's West Wind
was forced to stay back in Labuan due to the lack of crew.
The
newly completed Miri Marina has
free berthing for the duration of the event. This huge project includes
the reclamation of 550 acres of land with canals and waterfront housing
blocks for sale which doubles the size of Miri town have
advised cruising yachts heading their way that the new website is at 
Labuan
swings...
The
racing started with 2 inshore windward/leeward courses and Race 1 saw
Troy Yaw's Ulumulu cross the shortened finish line with the last
puff of the morning breeze that left the remaining yachts struggling against
the tide and eventually run out of time. A 3 hour delay followed before
the afternoon sea breeze materialised and race officer Jerry Rollin could
get the fleet away for Race 2. Once again Ulumulu was quick to
hit the pace this time skippered by Aussie racing legend Ray Roberts who
is well known for lending a hand to developing racing teams in the region.
The
measurer Dave Richards has devised a handicap system to suit the club
racers and out and out cruising yachts that is proving very successful.
Only 2 minutes on corrected time separated Sir Steve Corrigan's Burragah
and Neil Antrum's West Wind 3rd in the Club Racing class. Even
better in the Cruising Class only 21 seconds separated Dennis Shepherd's
Southerly Change and Ron Fitzpatrick's Columbus in third
place. As expected Ulumulu streaked away in the IRC class to
score 2 wins on the day over Chris Goodwin's Brunei based Ambil Angin
who takes 2nd place overall in the Borneo Cup stakes.
The
100 nm Labuan to Miri Race is scheduled for day 2 and 3 on the race program
which takes the fleet through the many oil platforms off Brunei which
are sandwiched between Labuan and Sarawak.
After
a hiatus of a year, the Borneo
Challenge is
back!
Found
on the north west coast of Borneo (See Map) with the
oil-rich Brunei Sultanate sandwiched in between and the South China Sea
(The worlds largest sea) lapping its shores, has often been considered
to be the last and dare I say it the greatest cruising grounds to open
in the world.
The
mystery, romance and adventure of Borneo has for hundreds of years cast
its spell on the imagination. It remains - one of the most stunning and
spectacular destinations on the planet. Its very remoteness has spared
it much of modern mans encroachments and is still, a largely wild, untamed
land of majestic rivers, surging rapids, dense rainforest, lashing rains,
mountain mists, fiery sun, exotic plants and animals, and no less supports
an exotic mix of human inhabitants.