Learning From The Best At Match Racing Clinic

by Monsoon Cup on 5 Oct 2011 The Malaysian Match Racing Clinic begun today at the five star Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa, Palau Duyong, Terengganu Malaysia. Specially organized by T-Best Events, the team behind the hugely successful Monsoon Cup, it is catered for the participants of the Malaysian Match Racing Championship.

The three-day intensive clinic promises to be much fun and educational, as participants will learn the finer arts of the sport from Bill Gladstone, head coach from the successful North U program. Assisting him is, Miguel Allen, an International Umpire from Portugal who is also the Technical Director of Portugal Match Cup, one of the legs in the World Match Racing Tour.

The clinic is an extension of the Monsoon Sailing School, which was initiated in 2009 under the patronage of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to help local sailors progress further in the match racing discipline.
The programme will include both, theoretical and on the water sessions aimed at improving their skills and techniques of sailing. Some of the practical skills to be taught in the programme include dial-ups, circling, leads/push, the hook and shift left. Participants will also train hoisting the spinnakers as part of the clinic.

'I’m delighted to be here in Malaysia for the match racing clinic. I’m sure it will be a unique experience for me and the sailors. I’m looking forward to working with some of Malaysia’s best sailors. I was pleasantly surprised by the level of knowledge during the classroom sessions and hope to transfer all that onto the water' said Gladstone.

The Ministry are working hand-in-hand with Monsoon Cup organizers and Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA) to identify talented Malaysian sailors as Youth and Sports Minister Dato’ Shabery Cheek has expressed his desire to see a Malaysian team competing in the World Match Racing Tour in the not too distant future.

As such, the Monsoon Sailing School is also a perfect training opportunity for teams vying to participate in the Malaysian Match Racing Championship of the Monsoon Cup as participants will be training on the actual yachts used in regatta.

This year, eight teams are participating in the Malaysian Match Racing Championship, which takes place on 7-10 October at the same venue with the hopes of earning a berth in the Monsoon Cup.