Royal Langkawi Int. Regatta Preview

by www.asianyachting.com on 13 Feb 2006 For the first time at the RLIR 06, Thomas Blixt's world-class V60 ocean racing yacht Ericsson second placed in the VOR four years ago (as Assa Abloy) will be gracing our waters. They have shipped the yacht direct from Sweden and are kick starting their Asia Tour in Langkawi before going on to visit Singapore, Thailand and China from February through to April.

However in the racing class, they will have their hands full as Ray Roberts successful Quantum Racing Team have combined their strengths with Troy Yaw's Ulumulu Team from Miri Marina in Sarawak (East Malaysia).

On this occasion they have jointly chartered the DK 46 Drumstick which Ray's team so handsomely won the 2005 Phuket King's Cup in neighbouring Thailand back in December.

Coming hot on the heels from magnificent victories at the Rolex Challenge and Scotchmans Hill Series at Skandia Geelong Week, Ray's Aussie based Quantum Racing Team are hot property at the moment and its no wonder the DK 46 was voted the most outstanding boat of the series. As we all know it comes down to crew efficiency and teamwork to win at any regatta not just the size and speed of the boat. Troy Yaw's team of Ariffin (Fin), Bruce Chai and a couple of Swedes from the SVEA Team will fit in well as they raced together on Ulumulu to secure victory at the Koh Samui Regatta back in May last year. It's anyone's guess what they will name the boat, most likely - Ulumulu - Quantum Racing.

Other contenders for the Prime Minister's Challenge Trophy and the trip to Valencia for all the team are the Royal Malaysian Navy on their new Farr 5200 Zuhrah built by DK Yachts in Malacca. John and Francoise Thornton's Royal Corinthian Yacht Club registered Sydney 47 Mahligai with a pile of rock stars from Quantum Sails in Malacca and bunch of sailing pals from the UK onboard.

Seven boats are lining up in the IRC Class which is mainly for the cruiser/racers like Beneteau, X-Yachts and older Swan's. Keith Garry's Beaux Esprits will need to put in a good performance if they expect to beat their own RSYC Commodore Aziz Kadir on Juita and fellow sailors from the Selangor Youth Racing Team on Gapurna Mas Ayu II.

David Lindahl's Swan 40 La Samudra won the cruising class at the Raja Muda and scored second in IRC 2 at the King's Cup is always a threat where ever they are. Kevin Gillow's Minx usually driven by his daughter Mia has won a few top events in Phuket and could spring a few surprises.

The Sports Boats warrant a separate class with six entries contesting the Langkawi Sports Trophy. Five Platu 25's coming from the Royal Malaysian Navy (2), Kedah Sailing Assoc Youth Team, Japan's Kenichi Takahashi on Motomet and a team from the UK will be taking on Darren Gamble's Colgate 26 Halim Mazmin that should produce an interesting potpourri of results by the end of the week.

Nine multihulls are battling it out for the Malaysian Multihull Challenge Cup, which if performance based will probably be divided into two classes. Roger Kingdon's Motor Inzi won the King's Cup a week after it was launched last December feels his biggest challenge will come from Henry Kaye's trimaran The Sting and Bob Mott's defending champion Chameleon on charter this time to Kazuo Kobayashi's Japanese team from the Moroiso Yacht Club.

Brent McInnes won here two years ago on No Fixed Address and Joan Foo Mahony's Sedna made a late charge last year to end up a close second could well find themselves amongst the front runners by weeks end.

The biggest class with eleven entrants is the Club Class that will be contesting for the prestigious Commodore's Challenge Cup. A grand mixture of classics like Des Kearn's Harlander 45 Isobar and Morten Ringvold's Norwegian registered Haffiman are taking on the newer generation cruisers of Ayahuddin Rahman's Oyster 55 Chantique and Kevin Perrin's X430 Rusalka who scored a second place here at the inaugural regatta.

Grenville Fordham's Image Asia, the group running the Phuket boatshow are fronting up on the J44 Jemini Jo that won the Ocean Rover class at the King's Cup and we can all rest assured that happy go lucky Henning Lenz and his crew on My Toy will all be having a good time.

Principal Race Officer Mark Pryke has seventeen courses to choose from that have been devised by the race committee. In case any problems arise between race committee and competitors alike we are blessed to have Bruce Willis Chairman of the America's Cup jury on hand to sort them out.