Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta 2013 – on the move!
by Event Media and Sail-World Asia on 5 Jul 2013
Telaga Harbour, Perdana Quay Guy Nowell
http://www.guynowell.com
Moving the finish line: This year the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta is ringing the changes in Langkawi. In order to offer competitors new and expanded inshore race courses, a modern, high standard marina for berthing and an exciting change of venue for the final prize giving and party, the RMSIR is moving to Telaga Harbour for the final regatta destination.
The course for the Penang-Langkawi passage race will be changed, with the finish line placed somewhere in the vicinity of Rebak Island – nicely convenient for continuing on into Telaga. Details for this slightly longer race will be included in the NOR to be issued soon.
Telaga Harbour is a 24 acre marina development in the north east of the island, nestling under the shadow of Gunung Machincang, Langkawi’s highest mountain. This safe and sheltered harbour evolved from a
small fishing village to become a modern marina with extensive berthing for all types of vessels. Facilities include multiple floating pontoons, a superyacht pier with stern-to mooring, fuel berth, showers, a well-equipped management office, wireless broadband and a customs house for clearing in and out of Malaysia.
Detailed mooring arrangements will be made for competitor’s boats, utilising temporary moorings to accommodate all. Perdana Quay, alongside the marina, offers a huge variety of great food accompanied by sophisticated surroundings and fabulous scenery. Here you can get Spanish tapas, classy Italian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Japanese, or Russian food. There is also a great bakery for bread, cakes and pastries and a grocery shop for replenishing boat supplies. Perdana Quay was designed to resemble a Mediterranean coastal town, so the architecture here has a European look not seen anywhere else on the island. Special arrangements are being made for RMSIR competitors to enjoy these cafes and bars after sailing.
There are a number of quality hotels close by, including the Danna Langkawi, the Berjaya Beach Resort, the Sheraton Langkawi and Tanjung Sanctuary Resort. Special rates will be negotiated at some of these hotels
and posted on the RMSIR web site soon.
An extra race this year!
Traditionally the RMSIR has scheduled a Lay Day for certain classes on the Friday of each race week, to be used if races are missed earlier in the week. However, some classes have been required to complete a 'through the islands race' on Friday. In response to comments from a number of skippers, who seem to think that their crew do nothing but sit around and drink beer when given a day off, there will be no Lay Day this year. [Probably perfectly correct! Ed] All classes will have one race scheduled for Friday afternoon, allowing some rest for those who arrive late on Thursday night. Details to be published in the NOR. The course will start and finish close to Telaga Harbour. Sailors new to Langkawi will be able to enjoy some of the spectacular scenery for the first time
and spectators on the local beaches will have a good view of the racing.
And at the other end of the race course…
Improved berthing in Port Klang and change of start. For the last 23 years, the Royal Selangor Yacht Club has organised the RMSIR, and competing yachts have arrived at the RSYC’s river pontoons a few days prior to the start of the event. RSYC is proud of its traditional club house, with a veranda overlooking the Klang River, and has always welcomed skippers and crews to enjoy the restaurant and bar facilities.
However, RSYC does recognise that berthing arrangements in the Klang River are not ideal. Lack of pontoon space, floating debris and strong tidal conditions all contribute to making this a difficult location to park boats. Therefore, from 2013 onwards, RMSIR competitors will be offered improved berthing at the newly constructed marina at Pulau Indah, located close to the mouth of the Sungai Langat River, near the
entrance channel to West Port.
Pulah Indah Marina was built by the Malaysian Government in order to promote more sailing and boating activities in the country. Now operated by Jabatan Laut (Malaysian Marine Dept), it offers 120 berths, all with power and water, on floating pontoons in a clean waterway. Onshore there are toilets and shower facilities, washing machines and security, plus offices and meeting rooms.
The RMSIR Regatta Office will be located at Pulau Indah, to conduct registration from the weekend before the start of the regatta. Catering facilities will be set up a few days in advance of the event, and transport to shops and Government offices in Port Klang will be arranged. Further details on Pulau Indah will be announced later.
The start line for Race One, Port Klang to Pangkor, will be located close to the southern entrance channel to Port Klang – convenient for Pulau Indah.
NOR & website registration
The NOR will be issued during July along with the opening of the website for online registration. This year RMSIR will be offering the customary Early Bird Discount, plus easy payment options by Paypal and credit cards.
For more details, go to www.rmsir.com
Meanwhile, watch this space!
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/111595