Raja Muda Epic struggle

by Bruce Maxwell on 17 Nov 2003 The Australia versus New Zealand tussle that came to a head at the weekend’s World Cup Rugby Union semi final in Sydney continued in Malaysian waters as the two sports mad countries took on each other in the opening 60 mile Port Klang to Pangkor sailboat race of the Raja Muda International Regatta.

And the result was the same, as Australians Ray Roberts and Peter Ahern aboard Hollywood Boulevard and Yo! respectively edged out the Kiwi sailmaker Neil Pryde in Hi Fidelity. Fourth placed in Racing Class was defending Raja Muda champion, the Sydney 38 Stella Minter Ellison, skippered by Australian Warwick Downes and campaigned by Hong Kong based lawyer Fred Kinmonth.

Bill Bremner’s Sydney 36, Foxy Lady was well sailed to clinch fifth place overall and first in Racing Class B, while the all ladies Malaysian crew led by Joan Foo Mahoney and Tunku Soraya, daughter of Royal Langkawi Yacht Club owner Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah, put in an excellent performance to take second in Class B in their chartered Gotcha Lagi, ahead of six other male-sailed racers.

In Premier Cruising Class, introduced for the first time in this 14th Raja Muda International Regatta, another Australian, Darwin based Dr Jon Wardill aboard (Ausmaid ,ed), won easily from New Zealand-built Shatoosh and Intrigue of Stornaway, the latter owned by another visiting doctor, Scot Ian Nicolson. Yendys and X-Treme, both registered at the regatta host, Royal Selangor Yacht Club, came next and then followed the big Swan 68 from Singapore, Irvmiren.

Malaysian yachts placed one, two and three in Cruising Class, with Pelangi taking the gun from Muzbenuts and Vela, while Bintang retired in rapidly lightening airs after dawn, as did the Classic Class yachts.

The series continues with another 60 miler from Pangkor to Penang starting today, then a third similar length race to Langkawi in this unique regatta format which sees the fleet visit all three of Malaysia’s premier West Coast tourist islands. Shorter races are then held in Kuah Harbour and around Langkawi’s 104 islands to determine the overall and class winners.