Pulau Duyong ready for MMRC

by Monsoon Cup on 6 Oct 2011 It’s all systems go as preparations are being made for the sixth edition of the Malaysian Match Racing Championship (MMRC) from 7th – 10th October 2011 followed by the Asian Match Racing Championship (AMRC) from 12th –15th October at the Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa.

But the real preparation for the race begins months ahead explained David Mills, the Yacht Manager for Monsoon Cup. The boats need to be properly maintained – engine service, timing systems, repairing leaks and damage checks – to keep them in great shape for the race. The day before the race, the boats are cleaned and polished, the sailing equipment checked, boats weighed and tested and the sailing rigs secured to ensure the tension is correct. Mills said, 'Getting the boats ready for the race is crucial to ensuring a fair race. What you do to one boat, you need to do to all the boats. For instance, the boats are weighed in water to make sure they all weigh the same.'

And it’s not just the boats that get weighed. All five members of each participating team need to step on the scales to meet the total weight limit of 437.5kg. Any team that exceeds that limit will need to lose the extra kilos by getting rid of water weight. All eight teams for the MMRC arrived at the race course in high spirits, ready to be weighed and registered. Some teams took advantage of their early arrival to take the boats out to water to get a feel of the yachts before the race proper.

The real test begins tomorrow as the teams battle it out in the waters for a chance to represent Malaysia at the Monsoon Cup which takes place from 22nd – 27th November 2011 at the same venue. The recent weather has been unpredictable which will make for an interesting race as the sailors not only battle against each other but against the elements of wind, water and possibly rain. Racing will take place close to the shore as the public follow the races as virtual on-the-water stadiums.

As the yachts make their way to the start line, they will be led by the start boat crew, members of the Royal Malaysian Navy who make up part of the race committee. The crew will perform a starting sequence which includes raising flags, blowing horns, timing boats and making sure the race course is on course. Mills said, 'It’s not an easy job and they’re very good at what they do. Timing is crucial and a good system needs to be in place so that no team will have an unfair advantage over the other.'
Now that the race is set, it’s time for the teams to set the pace.

MMRC Line-up
1. Jeremy Koo – Koo Racing Team (Selangor)
2. Mohd Afendy Abdullah – Team Afendy (Kedah)
3. M. Zaidi Pardi @ Mat Amin – MAF1 (TLDM)
4. Masyuri Rahmat – MAF2 (TLDM)
5. Mohd Romzi Muhamad – Putra Sailing Team (Malaysian Yachting Association)
6. Hazwan Hazim – Permai Hotel Match Racing Team (Perak)
7. Ahmad Khairulhafiz Ahmad Khmbali – Melaka Negeriku Sayang (Malacca)
8. Nurul Ain Md. Isa – Ri-Yaz Heritage Sailing Team (Perak)