Call me a dreamer. Malaysian AC hopes - again

by K P Waran, New Straits Times on 5 Jul 2007 Malaysia in the America’s Cup. Our nation’s name up in bright lights.

Are not the same doomsayers who disparaged Malaysia’s hosting of the F1 Grand Prix now queuing up for tickets every year? And even neighbouring countries are now clamouring to host the event, including one which is willing to do so under the moonlight.

Call me a dreamer. From the first time Francis Yeoh (now Tan Sri) stuck me in his friend’s boat and told me to sail from Phuket to Pangkor Laut over 20 years ago, the call of the sea has been never-ending.

Malaysia, despite being surrounded by sea, has not titillated the desire of most of its people to venture into the blue yonder to enjoy the breathtaking spectacles that await those who crank, pull, tack, jibe, climb the mast and take on the challenges that the oceans thrust upon a sailing boat.

The small percentage of Malaysians who are hooked on sailing and have ventured into the open sea know that it is not all plain sailing — severe thunderstorms, collisions, ripped sails and so on, at one time or other, have made them see their life flash before their eyes.

When you are taking a drive and a thunderstorm hits, you just pull over and wait out the storm. This is not the case with the sea.

When sailboats, no matter how big or small, are hit by strong winds, rocked and rolled by high waves on paths paved with huge rocks, land and shallow waters, there is nowhere to pull over.

Circumnavigating them and reaching the destination is a matter of skill and experience.

Getting into all kinds of situations is what gets sailors’ adrenalin pumping; teamwork becomes essential, strategies are mapped out and quick decisions are made to get out of trouble and race to the finish.

Taking a boat to cruise around the harbour, participating in races such as the Raja Muda International Regatta from Port Klang to Langkawi, the Langkawi International Regatta, the Borneo Regatta and countless other day-races organised by yacht clubs around the country is usually confined to those with a penchant for sailing.

Fortunately for me, the call of the sea has given me an opportunity to get on board with the likes of Robain Trouble (pronounced Trubleh) in the Tag Heuer race, off the French Riviera; Peter Gilmour and Russell Coutts in the Monsoon Cup; Francoise Perrier at the Phuket Regatta; John Ferguson and Datuk Richard Curtis in the Raja Muda Regatta; and, Glenn Ormerod and Tiffany Koo in the Langkawi Raja Muda.

A great bunch, make no mistake.

But every sailor and sailing enthusiast’s dream is to be at the world’s premier sailing event — the America’s Cup — and that dream was fulfilled when I landed in Valencia, Spain, to watch the best of nine series between the defending champion, Alinghi of Switzerland, and Emirates Team New Zealand.

Sitting in the exclusive Foredeck restaurant, which is restricted to the participating crew, organising committee members and special guests, I had to pinch myself to believe I was really there.

It seemed unreal that I was in the presence of Kiwi team skipper Dean Barker and Swiss team captain Brad Butterworth and their crew, together with yachtsmen from BMW Oracle and other teams.

Not to mention Ernesto Bertarelli, the Swiss billionaire and owner of Alinghi, who won the America’s Cup in his first outing and put a new spin in the way the event is organised, bringing a new era of corporatisation which other teams have embraced with glee.

Valencia has new hotels (the Hilton was opened only two weeks ago), apartments, highways, promenade, viewing galleries, restaurants and the Hugo Boss entertainment outlet, which can accommodate thousands of revellers.

Apart from the thrilling races, which at press time had put Alinghi in a 4-2 lead with only one more win needed to retain the Cup, Valencia has taken on a carnival-like atmosphere, featuring entertainment, cruises and merry-making, that has attracted five million sailing enthusiasts from all over the world.

They spend an average of 200 euros a day, contributing one billion euros a day to Valencia’s economy (this is equivalent to RM4.6 billion a day). This does not include television rights, merchandising and other income streams.

Among those on yachts, motor boats and cruisers watching the race offshore were celebrities like Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jean Todt and Datuk Michelle Yeoh and others.

So I dream on… Malaysia in the America’s Cup. Our nation’s name up in bright lights.

Are not the same doomsayers who disparaged Malaysia’s hosting of the F1 Grand Prix now queuing up for tickets every year? And even neighbouring countries are now clamouring to host the event, including one which is willing to do so under the moonlight.

One has to accept that getting involved in this mammoth project is not for the faint-hearted. The uniqueness of the America’s Cup is that participating nations have to build a 24-metre, 24-tonne boat in their own country.

Past experience has shown that at least two boats need to be built — one for practice and the other, the real McCoy.

Some Malaysian boatyards have the facilities to build the boats and the expertise to construct can easily be sourced from outside.

Is it worth it? In 2000 and 2003, when New Zealand hosted the America’s Cup, its revenue from the event was equivalent to three per cent of the nation’s GDP, prompting the Kiwi government to continue to set aside a huge allocation for the team’s participation.

This was a decision that has gone down well with the people and the corporate sector.

Peter Gilmour, the race director of the Monsoon Cup in Terengganu and exponent of Malaysia hosting the America’s Cup, said the best model to follow is that of Bertarelli and Alinghi.

'To go into it, a nation without world-class sailors should take a leaf from Bertarelli’s book. In 2003, he sourced the best sailors from around the world — including Coutts, the winning captain of the previous Cup — and built the team around the best, regardless of nationality and went for it, without holding anything back.

'When it comes to funding, technology, expertise and crew — it has to be the best that money can buy to ensure a strong showing and a good opportunity to win the event.

'The winners host the next event, which means more investments, teams wanting to establish bases in the country and millions of people turning up with tourist dollars to spend,' he said.

Gilmour has been involved in every America’s Cup since 1987 and is currently the team strategist for Alinghi.

C.M. Skip Lissiman, a member of the winning Australia II team, which defeated the Dennis Connor-led Liberty (United States) in 1983, recalled how part of the planning of the Aussie team was to initiate a match-racing competition in 1982, which was the stepping-stone for the challenge against Liberty.

He said the Monsoon Cup, which has gained fame and popularity in the international racing circuit, could be a similar stepping-stone for Malaysia since it had brought in match-racing expertise and promoted the country in the international sailing arena.

He pointed out that Bertarelli’s involvement in the America’s Cup had also turned it from a competition, where the teams are backed only by individuals or funding syndicates, to one of wider corporate sponsorships — with multi-nationals clambering to get on board in view of the two billion television spectators the event attracts.

Gilmour added that with Asia boasting only one team, China, a well-prepared Malaysian challenge with government support can also roll in other sponsors.

He said that while some of the teams insisted on home-grown talent, the trick was to get the best in the world.

This would spur local talent to improve themselves and compete for a place in the team of the future.

Malaysia is fortunate that Gilmour, Lissiman and Malaysia’s very own hero who circumnavigated the world, Datuk Azhar Mansor, are