Brunei yachts entered in BIYC

by Rosli Abidin Yahya on 29 Aug 2007 Crewmembers of Bruneian yachts are keen to repeat the success of compatriot Ambil Angin, last year's champion at the Borneo International Yachting Challenge (BIYC), which will be held from September 1 to September 7 this year.
Moreover, two local men are also determined to show their skills in the race as they will participate as crewmembers of an Australian yacht, Zosha.

'Two of us have been asked to participate in the race as crewmembers of Australian Zosha. So apart from two Brunei-registered yachts participating in the race, do not forget that there are two Bruneians aboard Zosha,' said Bohari Abdullah, a former soldier of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

Some 29 yachts from Brunei, Australia, UK, New Zealand, Malaysia, Canada, USA, St Vincent and France have confirmed their participation in the race as stated on the event web site.

Among the yachts making a comeback in this year's event are defending champion Ambil Angin from Brunei and Crystal Blue from Australia.

Ambil Angin came second in the previous two races in 2005 and 2003.

The event will held from September 1 to September 7, starting with the Labuan Harbour Race on September 2, followed by Labuan-Miri Passage Race on September 3.

The Miri Bay Race on September 6 and 7 includes the dinghies, optimists, lasers and other small sailing boats.

The Borneo International Yachting Challenge is endorsed by the State under the Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism, Sarawak Tourism Board, Labuan Tourism Action Council and Labuan Corporation, and the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia.

The BIYC 2007 is a category 3 event, catering to five types of boats, namely racing, cruising, sports, classic and ocean multi-hull. The highlight of the five-day event is the 100-nautical mile Labuan-Miri Passage race in which the fastest boat is expected to finish in 20 hours.

As what could be possibly the missing link for sailing events in South China Sea region, the BIYC will complete the sailing circuit made up of the Hong Kong to San Fernando Sea Race (Philippines), President's Cup (Philippines) and the Koh Samui International Regatta (Thailand).

The overall winner of the BIYC will be those with the least accumulated corrected times of the Labuan Harbour Regatta, the Labuan-Miri Passage Race and the Miri Bay Regatta.