Malaysia's Captain Fin in Global Solo Challenge

by Sail-World/Malaysian National News Agency on 10 Apr 2007 As Malaysia gets serious about sailing, one of their best known sailors, Ariffin Abdul Aziz (otherwise known as Captain Fin or 'Masterfin') is getting ready to solo circumnavigate the world, beginning and ending in Miri, Malaysia.

All things going smoothly, the 43 year old Malaysian sailor will set off in June on the 28,649 nautical mile circumnavigation lap of the world. Timed to celebrate Malaysia's 50th year of Independence and Visit Malaysia Year 2007 the Miri Malaysia Solo Challenge aims to propel Malaysia's lesser known cruising destinations onto the International sailing stage.

Captain Fin expects to complete the arduous journey in 180 days. The custom built Sydney 46ft racing sloop Ulumulu has been undergoing serious modifications for solo sailing at Noakes yard in Newcastle, Australia and is due for launching at the end of March. After completing sea trials, Capt Fin will sail the boat up the Australian east coast, then through Indonesia and expects to arrive in Miri by the end of May for the June departure date. He will leave for Sydney, Australia, next Tuesday.

He will be accompanied by his coach Charles Blundell from Tasmania for the journey from Sydney which would take about 35 days and cover about 5,000 nautical miles.

However, this is by no means the longest distance the experienced sailor has covered – he has already sailed 7,000 miles together with four others from Langkawi to Turkey.

The RM2 million Ulumulu yacht has been undergoing extensive redesigning since being brought to Australia last June to convert it from a competitive yacht into an ocean-going vessel.

Once the Ulumulu reaches Miri, it will be undergoing final inspection and a show base will also be set up at the marina here to allow the public to view the vessel. A 24-hour communication centre will also be installed at the marina to monitor the progress of his 28,649-nautical mile journey round the world.

Ariffin's attempt to circumnavigate the world is being funded under the Miri Malaysia Solo Challenge project chaired by businessman Troy Yaw of Samling Strategic Corporation with the intention of putting Miri on the world yachting map.

To find out more about the Solo Global Challenge, Captain Fin and Ulumulu, go to the Team website