Gilmour bestowed honour of Title in Malaysia

by Yvonne Reid on 24 Aug 2007 Peter Gilmour, Monsoon Cup Race Advisor and four time Match Racing World Champion, has been conferred the title of Darjah Dato' Paduka Mahkota Terengganu (DPMT) which carries the title Dato’.

The title of Dato' conferred only by a state ruler in Malaysia, was awarded by His Majesty Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, the 16th Sultan of the state of Terengganu and the 13th King of Malaysia in conjunction with his 45th birthday. The investiture was presented on behalf of His Majesty by his son Tengku Muhammad Ismail, the Regent of Terengganu, at the Istana Maziah (Royal Palace) Terengganu, on 18 August 2007.

Dato’ Peter Gilmour receives this honour in line with the key role he played in developing the Monsoon Cup in Terengganu, Malaysia and for inspiring international relations in the sport of sailing. His continuous efforts to promote and boost tourism to the eastern state during a traditionally quiet period were also recognized.

'I am honoured to have received such an auspicious award from the state of Terengganu. In recent years, Malaysia has become my second home and I feel privileged to have been able to play a small role in the expansion of the state. The award recognises all the crucial work the staff and volunteers involved in the Monsoon Cup do and I am proud to represent them. Together we aspire to elevate and profile the country's potential of becoming a world class sailing venue as well as to identify investment opportunities for the state of Terengganu,' said Dato’ Gilmour.

The Monsoon Cup has successfully created a significant platform to showcase tourism investment opportunities. Last year alone, the event achieved a brand valuation of RM295million and drew new tourism spend of RM 2.97 million over the five-day period.

'The Monsoon Cup growing from strength to strength, serves as a catalyst for marine based opportunities, key infrastructure developments and the sailing industry in Malaysia to an international level,' said Dato’ Peter Gilmour. 'In line with this, we are also determined to expand the local interest and opportunity stemming from the event such as through public education clinics on match race sailing.'

West Australian-born, Dato’ Peter Gilmour, is one of the most respected and feared competitors on the World Match Racing circuit and the most knowledgeable skippers on the Tour. Dato’ Gilmour started sailing at the age of seven on Perth's Swan River, and competed in his first world championship at the age of 16. At the recent 32nd America’s Cup, Dato’ Gilmour was the team coach, for Team Alinghi who emerged as winners in a thrilling final race.

'This is a great award and honor for one of the World Tour’s top competitors' said Scott MacLeod, President of the World Tour 'Not only is peter a great sailor, he is also one of the good guys in the sport that takes the time to give back and works hard behind the scenes to better the sport'.

About Monsoon Cup
The Monsoon Cup first made its debut in Malaysia, the Tour’s first Asian venue, in 2005. The match race, which attracts sailing enthusiasts and visitors from around the globe, offers a prize purse of RM1 million making it the richest sailing event in the world. The five day event also brings together some of the world's best yachtsmen and sailing crews to South East Asia including America Cup qualifiers.

Monsoon Cup 2007, the final event of the 2006-07 World Match Racing Tour, which decides the 2007 World Champion will be held from 28 November to 2 December 2007 at Pulau Duyong, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.