19th
Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta 2008
“Another AY Grand Prix Championship Event”
|
19th
Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta 2008
“Another AY Grand Prix Championship Event” |
|
Racing overnight on the passage races produces its own challenges but getting through the hectic social program at the island stop over's will require the winning crews to posses an iron constitution. Past winners are Fred Kinmonth / Nick Burns (1) on Mandrake, Neil Pryde (3) on Hi-Fi and defending champion Ray Roberts (2) on Quantum Racing know exactly what it takes to stand on the top of the podium in Langkawi after it's all said and done. Frank Pong's heavily modified Reichel-Pugh 75 Jelik has narrowly missed out on several occasions but he hopes that the latest round of changes and suitable weather conditions will propel them onto overall victory this year.
Gracing IRC 3 for yachts over 40ft is Dr Jon Wardill's Cassidy 55 Australian Maid which has made the annual migration from Darwin, Australia and competed on almost every Raja Muda Regatta since 1991. The Royal Malaysian Navy Farr 520 Zuhrah should also know the way but will have their hands full fending off Ben Copley's Club Swan 42 Katsu and Peter Jones Bashford Howison 41 Moya Hin who have come down from Phuket to take up the challenge. Des Kearns and Jerry Boelens have completely refurbished Bad Habits which languished in the back boat park at the RSYC for many years and given her a new lease of life. With 10 boats competing in the IRC 4 class for yachts 40ft and less, it is the biggest class with the widest variety of boat designs. Jonathan Mahony's Mumm 30 Happy Endings could be considered the favourite but will have to overcome Neil Ankcorn"s Farr 1104 Mat Salleh, Jeff Harris Elan 340 Rapscallion and Graham Lind's Hustler SJ35 Sumatra that have either won or come very close to winning IRC classes here before. After a successful Phuket Raceweek Niels Dgenkolf's Danish crew on the X 3/4 tonner Phoenix have braved their way down from Thailand and looking at adding another trophy to the cabinet. Leading the Malaysian charge is Vincent Chan's Titan 36 Mata Hari, Heinz Heyer X 402 Super Duper, Alan Rimington / Zainal Misran Atlantic Star representing the Penang Swimming Club, Stuart Williamson's Skandia Endeavour of Whitby and John Kara's Dehler 34 Skybird. Making up Class 6 Non IRC Cruising are Dato’ Richard Curtis Shanghai Gaff Rigged Cutter Eveline and Simon Morris Thistlewaite Topsail Schooner Sirius 1935 that hail from a different era and would normally be in the Classic Class. Malcolm Elliott's Petersen 46 Coup de Soleil, Gavin Welman's Hallberg Rassy 53 Rascal, John Clayton's Millenium, David Watson's Blitz round out the fleet of twenty nine yachts taking up the challenge this year. More details in the RMSIR 08 at: http://www.rmsir.com Online AY
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The
best of the best take up the challenge.
Initially
conceived as a rally up the west coast stopping at Pangkor, Penang and
Langkawi Islands which house some of Malaysia's finest resorts, the seriousness
of competition soon took over to turn it into a series consisting of three
passage races and four harbour races along the way. To be successful crews
will have to combine offshore navigation abilities with inshore round
the cans racing skills which are two distinctly different disciplines
in the sport of sailing. This event caters for a wide variety of sailing
boats. Anything from the top echelons of the racing class, round the world
cruisers to the majestic classic boats are divided up into suitable classes
for them to race against similar vessels.
The Raja Muda Regatta as it is commonly known is the third event on the
nine five star events that make up the 
Topping the scales in the IRC 2 Premier Cruising Class for yachts over
50ft are Dr Ian Nicolson's Dubois 80 Intrigue and Hans Rahmann
Judel/Vrolijk 70 Yasooda. Royal Selangor Yacht Club Commodore
and Regatta Chairman Dato’ Alex Nah will be joining them on his
new Hunter 49 Virgo and not to be discarded after a big performance
at Koh Samui is Anthony Hastings Beneteau 53 Baby Tonga.
