Five year sponsorship deal for Raja Muda Regatta

by Event Media on 9 Nov 2005 Port Klang based Royal Selangor Yacht Club yesterday announced the Selangor state government’s five-year sponsorship commitment of the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta, one of Asia’s most competitive offshore passage yacht race for top international yachtsmen and cruising sailors.

Present to officiate the launch and logo unveiling ceremony was YB Dato’ Ahmad Nawawi bin Mohd Zin – Selangor EXCO Member for Sports, Education & Human Development, representing the Menteri Besar of Selangor, and officials of the club.

‘The regatta’s world-class ranking, global reputation and proven appeal provide a powerful platform from which to promote Selangor to the world’s yachting and boating communities, many of whom are important decision makers’ said Dato’ Ahmad Nawawi.

‘We are very grateful to Selangor for its support – it will enable us to ensure Selangor’s name is broadcast widely to the world through its association with a premier sporting event such as this regatta,’ said Dato’ Richard Curtis, Chairman of RMSIR & Rear Commodore of the Royal Selangor Yacht Club.

The 7-race regatta format will begin in Port Klang next Saturday, with three overnight passage races and stop-overs in Pangkor and Penang. Yachts race in 5-6 different classes and under handicap. It will end in Langkawi on November 26th. The overall winner will be awarded a replica of the Raja Muda Cup, made by English Crown Jewellers Garrards, at the end of the Regatta.

In his speech, Dato’ Richard highlighted several facts. Firstly, he announced the official name-change of the regatta to Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta. This is in recognition of Selangor’s long-term involvement to promote sports and marine tourism, and also the continued support from the Founder & Patron, HRH the Sultan of Selangor, himself a keen circumnavigating yachtsman.

Secondly, he stressed the club’s long-term commitment to youth sailing, with the entry of two all-youth crews in the Cruising class that includes state, national and Asean ranked youth sailors. This also a reflection of Malaysia’s growing interest in sailing and boating.

Thirdly, he announced the attendance of Geoff Ross, Rear Commodore of UK-based Royal Ocean Racing Club, as observer of RMSIR. RORC organises the world’s largest programme of club-based offshore yacht races. The Raja Muda is already operated under RORC’s International Racing Club’s (IRC) rules. It is expected to join RORC’s programme in 2006 as one of its two regattas in South-East Asia.

The event, fondly known as the ‘Raja Muda Regatta’, will see a record number of 40-45 participating yachts and 350 yachtsmen from Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Europe, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore participate.

In this regatta, yachtsmen test their tactical and navigational skills amidst the squalls of the Straits of Malacca and its oft-changing weather and tidal challenges with torrential storms, blasting heat or even calm seas as constants. Majority arrive a week to ten days before the Regatta to prepare and acclimatize.

The entries include ex-Olympian and Raja Muda Cup winner in 2001 & 2004, Neil Pryde, on ‘Hi-Fi’ and last year’s Premier Cruising Class winner, ‘Shahtoosh’, a racing yacht with Peter Cremers at helm.

In addition, top Hong Kong businessman Frank Pong on his new ‘Boracay’ will take part in Racing Class, providing stiff competition to Warwick Downes, on ‘Mandrake’. Another entry confirmed is Dr Ian Nicholson’s ‘Intrigue’, this year’s longest yacht at 70 ft as well as, Port Klang-based ‘Janji’, owned by the Rahim brothers from Perlis, past winners of the Raja Muda.

There will be three entries from the Royal Malaysian Navy, including its newly-delivered and built in Malaysia ‘Bahtera Perdana’, a 51 ft yacht in Racing Class.

Entries in Classic class include Asia’s oldest sailing yacht ‘Eveline’, a 43 ft Bristol pilot Channel cutter, co-owned by HRH Sultan of Selangor and Dato’ Richard Curtis. She has recently undergone major refurbishment on her deck and interior. Also entering is ‘Sirius’, built in 1935, helmed by ex-British Airways pilot, Simon Morris.

Other yachts taking part include ‘Mat Salleh’, skippered by KL-based Englishman Neil Ankcorn, who sailed his yacht from Sydney to Port Klang recently, just to participate in the Regatta.

The event is Malaysia’s oldest keelboat sailing regatta and one of the region’s premier ones, ranked alongside Thailand’s King’s Cup and Hong Kong’s San Fernando Race.