AsianYachting Press Release

Malaysia becoming Center of Match Racing in Asia...
26 Sept 06 Pt Dickson, Malaysia.

Ever since the Monsoon Cup started last year, Peter Gilmour and his Kuala Lumpur based T-Best Team have managed to turn Terengannu into the Match Racing Capital of Asia. Who would of thought that the sleepy old predominately Muslim state of Terengganu on the North East coast of West Malaysia facing out onto the South China Sea could pull off such a feat? Recently the World Match Racing Tour 2006-2007 events have received World Championship status and teams at the Monsoon Cup will be competing for the ISAF Match Racing World Championship title. Also the ISAF have revived the Nations Cup and neighbouring developed sailing nations like Australia are introducing some new events and New Zealand holding the Regional Nations Cup qualifying round. It seems that Match Racing has become the flavour of the year and undergoing rapid global expansion and acceptance as a way to settle yacht racing competitions amongst nations and racing teams.

So it all came down to the question - Who will be brave enough especially in East and popular South East Asian waters to take the leading role in developing match racing and at the same time complete the global jigsaw? By hosting two World Championship status rounds of the prestigious ISAF World Match Racing Tour 2006-2007 and more recently crowning Tiffany Koo's RSYC Team as the Malaysian Match Racing Champion plus conducting the Asian Match Racing Championships for qualifying places in the Monsoon Cup proper, places Terengganu firmly on the map. Their Kelab Teluk Warisan marina facilities on Pulau Duyong and organisational abilities are second to none, putting them head and shoulders above the rest. So much so, that they are deservedly entitled to become the Match Racing Capital in the Asian region.

Before we go any further, we probably need to explain to our not so familiar subscribers exactly what match racing sailboats is all about. Match racing is a fiercely competitive type of sailing where two boats go head to head with each other in 30 to 40 minute races. This close quarter racing is usually held near the shore drawing huge interest and excitement among spectators. In recent years match racing has become more popular due to widely recognized premier sailing events such as the America’s Cup and the World Match Racing Tour. With one-design boats and all the supplied equipment being the same ensures a level playing field between all competitors. So it comes down to sailing ability and team working racing skills amongst the crew. The ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final presents an opportunity for all countries, no matter how large or small, to enter teams and compete in this worldwide competition.

To reinforce Terengganu's claim as the Match Racing Capital of Asia - AsianYachting together with the Malaysian Yachting Association and Troy Yaw's - Ulumulu Racing Team from Miri, Sarawak are embarking on a ambitious plan to firmly plant Malaysia at the Center of Match Racing in SE Asia. With the launching of the 8m (26ft) Miri Magic that was specifically designed by Malcolm Runnalls as a mini IRC Offshore racer with family overnight sailing in mind has entered this years Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta in November. With a simple change of stanchions and guard rails this multi-purpose yacht converts to an approved sail training vessel and doubles up as a day racing Sportsboat with excellent Match Racing capabilities.

Given the universal appeal for a simple, roomy and stable dayboat AsianYachting is commissioning the building of five more Miri Magic's and hope by early next year to have a fleet of six yachts. Amazingly all this, with a lifting keel the Miri Magic can be put on a roadworthy duel axle trailer and easily towed by a 4 wheel drive vehicle across the countryside (Even on the back roads). On the top of the list is to conduct sail training courses with an intention of forming State and Club racing teams that can contest international events like Malaysia's Monsoon Cup, Borneo Cup, Raja Muda and Royal Langkawi Int Regatta, King's Cup and Phuket Race Week, Singapore Straits and Koh Samui Regatta's. As the momentum picks up some Mini-Match Racing events for local Asian sailors to prepare teams for the ISAF Nations Cup and Monsoon Cup qualifiers will be organised and eventually a combined AY Fleet and Match Racing Grand Prix is envisaged between Asian Nations.

Sailing Sports at this level is very demanding in technical disciplines and developing team spirit amongst fellow sailors is an important ingredient to success. It will be a challenge to introduce these sailing skills to Malaysians while the all important cultural, physical and human roles are playing out in the background. It takes a very talented and dedicated team with a great blend of youth and experience performing to their full potential to succeed at this level. Add this to the adventure of respecting the environment and committing these new found values to gain that little extra boatspeed is very character building, develops teamwork, volunteerism and above all, is deemed to be a worthy contribution to life.

This whole Match Racing thing has already appealed to global brand naming sponsors overseas and over the coming months AsianYachting will be staging a roadshow through SE Asia to test the waters and try to convince sponsors to allocate some of there Asian marketing budgets towards sponsoring a racing team by advertising on the sails and hull of the yacht. The smaller boat and low entry level should also be attractive to Asian companies looking for a platform to advertise their brand or services and become involved with future yacht racing events in Asia.

After years of research and trying to contain building costs we have come up with a relatively low tech building method, in this day and age using standard lamination techniques to produce a simple and robust structure. Designed in 2004 by Malcolm Runnalls, the 8m (26ft) Miri Magic is a fairly new model keelboat. Like a "big dinghy" it provides fast and exciting racing making it a class worth looking at. The Miri Magic is a simple easy-to-handle boat with basic controls for symmetric spinnakers plus an asymmetric spinnaker can be flown off a retractable bowsprit. With its long cockpit and open transom it can easily be sailed by a crew of 5-6, so gives dinghy sailors a chance to move up a size and big boat sailors a chance to get their hands dirty. The Miri Magic is a relatively inexpensive way of getting out onto the water and will be built in Malaysia by a highly respected production company to ensure quality is maintained. A new Sail Away Miri Magic comes with safety gear, 5hp o/b motor and dacron sails is expected to cost around US$50k. Add in a roadworthy duel axle trailer with brakes and full racing extras including exotic sails and racing instrument upgrade totals around US$60k.

More information on the Miri Magic can be found at: http://asianyachting.com/AYmasters/Promotion/Runnels8.htm Expressions of interest can be sent by email, fax or by phoning the AY HQ in PD on +6 06 6477701. To follow the progress of this exciting new venture, future reports will be in the popular monthly AY News and Views and daily Race Reports at major events.

AsianYachting Ventures Sdn. Bhd. (Co. No. 627106-T)
A 308 PD Perdana Condo Resort, Jln Pantai, 71050, Pt Dickson, Malaysia
Tel: 6 06 6477701 Email: info@asianyachting.com
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