RMSIR 2015 – a new name on the Raja Muda Cup

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World.com on 29 Nov 2015 There’s a new name to be engraved on the magnificent Raja Muda Cup – Windsikher. After eight days, 280nm, three passage races, four parties and five windward-leeward races, Sarab Jeet Singh and his crew raised the Raja Muda Cup aloft. It was a popular victory, and a well-deserved one. Starting the series opener from Port Klang to Pangkor with a bullet and collecting three more along the way, Windsikher closed the regatta with a second place in the last of the Langkawi Inshore races, and a seven-point lead over second placed EFG Mandrake.

The result was not a foregone conclusion: halfway through the series there was only one point in it, and Windsikher needed the last score to nail the title. Asked afterwards what it takes to win the Raja Muda, probably the most tactically challenging regatta in Asia, and certainly one that demands stamina and patience, Sarab Jeet Singh said “Sail straight, and stay in the shade.” It was a pleasantly flippant comment from a smiling Singh who has earned his stripes in this regatta many times over.

The last day of racing consisted of two windward-leeward races for Classes 1, 2 and 3, and a trip south and round the islands for everyone else (Classes 4, 5, 6 and 7). Langkawi put out the flags and bunting for the closing day of the event, with 15kts of breeze, brilliant blue skies, sunshine and clear clean air. It makes a change from shooting in Hong Kong!
The smallest boat in the class, Steve Manning’s Ker 42 Black Baza, at last found top gear take a first place in the first race of the day, and Alive – having raced around everywhere at high speed and collected nothing but Line Honours – won the second in a breeze that was just starting to die. Fast start, and fast finish before the breeze drops. PRO Jerry Rollin seriously considered running a third race to replace the one ‘lost’ in Penang, but the prospect of ending what has been a hugely successful edition of the Raja Muda with a gasp, a wheeze and a shortened course put paid to the idea.

Antipodes did the honourable thing and came out for the last race, uncontested. “It was a good chance to practice the crew work around a windward-leeward course, buoys laid out, start line, everything done properly,” said Alan Tillyer, Antipodes’ navigator. It wasn’t a tough series for the Antipodeans: Seven wins from seven races, and an ‘assist’ when her sole competitor, Starlight, parked on the beach near Pulau Kentut Besar (Big Fart Island) yesterday.

No surprises in Class 3 either, as Fujin added another win in the first race to her substantial tally, and then took the foot off the accelerator (6th place) on account of some technical problems. But it was good enough, even though are no ‘drops’ in the Raja Muda. That makes it three trophies in a row for Fujin, one of the best-campaigned boats around the Asian regattas. Watch them on a downwind start - either hitting the line running or else popping the spinnaker just as the gun goes – and then see how it takes the rest of the division to get properly under way, and their success becomes self-evident.
The diminutive Ker 32, ReKering Dream, finally got the wheels up to record their first win of the regatta in the very last race. “Not having instruments for most of the regatta was a handicap. ‘Feeling fast’ is not much good if it’s in the wrong direction,” said Simon Piff.

All in all it’s been a good year for the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta. This was the 26th iteration of an event that was started (1989) in order to waylay a few boats sailing north to the Phuket King’s Cup, and inveigle them into spending a little time in Malaysia. It was expected to last ”a couple of years” as related by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the then Raja Muda, and after whom the regatta is named.

The weather was relatively kind for a whole week. All three passage races started in light winds but finished – for most boats – with a capful of breeze or more. Langkawi did not disappoint, providing a unique combination of wind and scenery. Only Penang produced some sort of disappointment, where lack of puff caused the postponement and eventual abandonment of one inshore race. Social activities and entertainment are important at Asian regattas; the Raja Muda featured belly dancing, lion dancing, a live band and karaoke. That probably covers most of the bases. The Khoo Kongsi in Penang is one of the most spectacular party venues anywhere – especially when the spectacular floodlit temple is not obscured by ugly awnings (erected in case of rain, which never came. Murphy’s Law). Last night’s party at the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club nearly got washed away completely by a torrential downpour. Starting in mere ‘rain’ the event nonetheless ran as planned. All the worthy prizewinners were presented with their worthy prizes, with the loudest cheers and applause being reserved, fair enough, for Sarab Singh and the Windsikher crew, and the PRO and ‘extended family’. (Somehow Jerry Rollin appeared in this year’s programme as Office Manager as well as PRO, so now claims to be in charge of almost everything).

Another regatta stalwart, Deputy Superintendent Tharamadurai RMP, the policeman in charge of all the support vessels on the water, has been promoted (congratulations!) to Superintendent, but is confident that new duties in Alor Setar will not prevent him from being involved with the RMSIR 2016. A new and inexperienced Regatta Secretariat team acquitted themselves with distinction, which bodes well for next year.

It’s been a great week. The Raja Muda is an event unique in Asia, perhaps in the world, and we strongly encourage anyone who has not done so to plan to be here next year. The combination of different racing formats along with highly unpredictable weather, calms and blows, strong currents and even stronger fishing nets, four locations and a lot of late nights make this event as rewarding as it is infuriating. Don’t just write it on your bucket list – make it a priority for November 2016. You won’t regret it.

Short Results (full results can be found at www.rmsir.com):

Class 1
1. Windsikher 1, 5, 1, 2, 1, 1, 3, 2 16)
2. EFG Mandrake 4, 1, 4, 1,2 5, 2, 4 (23)
3. Millenium Racing 2, 6, 2, 4,6, 3, 4, 3 (30)
Class 2 Premier Cruising
1. Antipodes 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 (7)
2. Starlight 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3 (17)
Class 3
1. Fujin 1, 1, 3, 1,2, 1, 1, 6 (16)
2. Popeye 4, 5, 2, 2, 1, 3, 2, 2 (21)
3. ReKering Dream 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 3, 1 (24)

Class 4
1. Farrgo Express 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2 (8)
2. NiJinsky 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, 1 (15)
3. Old Pulteney Blue Angel 3, 3, 4, 2, 3, 2, 3 (20)
Class 5
1. Sophia 1, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1 (8)
2. Lady Bubbly 2, 2, 2, 1, 2, 2 (11)
3. VG Offshore 3, 5, 3, 2, 4, 3 (20)
Class 6
1. Sade 2 4, 5, 3, 3, 1, 1 (17)
2. Aeolus XC 2, 3, 6, 2, 2, 4 (19)
3. Eveline 5, 1, 6, 1, 6, 2 (21)
Class 7
1. Hurricane 2, 2, 1, 1, 1 (7)
2. Wow 4, 1, 2, 2, 2 (11)
3. 3Itch 1, 3, 3, 3 (13)