RMSIR 2014 - first inshore races in Langkawi

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 23 Nov 2014 'The SE Asian regatta that takes you to paradise'. Bill Bremner waxing lyrical? That’s a worry – but if Langkawi has that effect on salty sailors, maybe there is something in it. Yes, Langkawi really is a beautiful place, and after the ‘power shower’ getting here from Penang all sailors are looking forward to something a little less bruising – two days of inshore racing, surrounded by the jungly cliffs that contain Bass Harbour, and sailing among the gem-like islands and past the pristine beaches of the south west reaches of the archipelago.

Normally the Raja Muda fleet is accommodated at the splendid Royal Langkawi Yacht Club – the boats in the marina, and the sailors in the deservedly famous ‘Charlie’s’, often touted as the yacht club bar with the best sunset view in Asia, although it’s not certain that many of the patrons actually notice. This year an imminent re-building and renovation plan required that the regatta move itself off to the Bella Vista

It was just the one windward-leeward race for classes 1, 3 and 4, up at the top end of the harbour, starting in 10-12 kts of breeze that moderated to 6-8 or thereabouts. There was some very fluky wind in the vicinity of the top mark, with the mark boat reporting swings of 40 degrees from 070 to 110 and back again. HiFi won the start and lit the afterburners, enjoying just the right amount of breeze on flat water, and leading all the way round the track and into the finish – winning on the water and winning on handicap. This was HiFi’s first win since the very first race, and is a good omen for the remaining inshore races tomorrow. But the fact is that with a last place on the score sheet and no discards allowed, it is very unlikely that the merry men in the red shirts will be able to claim a seventh Raja Muda title. Foxy Lady scored third and continues to lead the overall series for the Raja Muda Cup.

Langkawi is a beautiful place, with the southern end of Bass Harbour littered with islands that make for some challenging race courses. It would be a shame not to use them, so the lower divisions ‘cruised’ off on a voyage around the bushes and bays, complete with tactically-positioned holes in some of the passages. Australian Maid was ‘delayed’ by a rock - maybe the one that Antipodes found last year – and could only manage a third place, whilst Eveline found another right on the finish line in 19m of water (truth is stranger than fiction) but had already finished for her third win in a row.

After racing, HRH The Sultan of Selangor presided at a party and book signing to officially launch the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta’s 25th Anniversary book. Collated and edited by Faye Khoo, it is a wonderful and tightly packed bundle of history and stories from the event, liberally peppered with anecdotes, reminiscences and photographs. Anyone who has ever competed in the RMSIR should have this on their bookshelf – but it will be read and reread several times before it is ‘shelved’. It tells a very salty story of an event that started more or less on the back of an envelope, and which has gone from strength to strength over the years. HRH was one of the founders of the regatta – he was the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Selangor at the time, and gave his title to the event - so it was particularly fitting that he was present for the launch.

‘25 Years of the RMSIR’ will be available through the regatta’s website, shortly.

Short Results (full results at www.rmsir.com)
Class 1
1. Foxy Lady (3,1,1,1,3,3) 12
2. Island Fling (2,3,3,6,1,2) 17
3. Hi Fi (1,8,5,2,2,1) 19
Class 2 (Premier Cruising)
1. Antipodes (1,3,1,1,1) 7
2. Starlight (3,2,3,2,2) 12
3. Australian Maid (2,1,2,4,3) 12
Class 3
1. Fujin (1,1,1,1,1,1) 6
2. Beaux Esprits (2,2,2,3,3,2) 14
3. Rikki Tikki Tavi (3,3,3,2,2,3) 16
Class 4
1. Piccolo (2,1,2,1,1,3) 10
2. Nijinsky (1,2,1,3,2,1) 10
3. Skybird (3,7,3,2,3,2) 17
Class 5
1. Sophia (1,1,1,1,1,) 5
2. Lady Bubbly (3,3,2,3,2) 13
3. Panacea (6,4,3,5,3) 21
Class 6
1. Kay Sira (1,1,2,2,2) 8
2. Eveline (5,5,1,1,1) 13
3. Aeolus XC (2,2,3,3,4) 14
Class 7
1. Hurricane (1,1,1,2) 5
2. Java (2,2,2,1) 7
3. 3 Itch (3,3,3,3) 12