Malaysian Qualifers ahead of Monsoon Cup

by Audrey Lakai on 23 Nov 2008 The Malaysian Match Racing Championship (MMRC) that doubles up as the Malaysian Qualifier for the Monsoon Cup 2008, sets sail at the venue for the Monsoon Cup, tomorrow with an exciting field of experienced and aspiring local sailors, eager to stamp their mark on the international sailing stage.

Two-time MMRC winning skipper Tiffany Koo, who went on to become the first Malaysian woman to compete in the Monsoon Cup for two consecutive years in 2006 and 2007, will be a notable absentee but that would not deprive the championship of a woman skipper.

Simply because SEA Games sailor Nurul Ain Md Isa who helms the Perak Sailing Team will be the only woman skipper and competitor among eight teams taking part in the championship that offers the winner a place in the Monsoon Cup.

Nurul who had represented the country in the SEA Games for the 420 Class will not only be hoping to fill the vacuum left by the absence of Tiffany, but emulate her feat of having represented Malaysia in the Monsoon Cup for two consecutive years.

'This is my first race in the keel boat class because I am only used to sailing sport boat (Olympic class) before. For the past two weeks we trained with the Navy Team because we did not have a 36-footer boat, the type used in the race,' Nurul said after arriving in Pulau Duyung with her four crew member.

Another team making their debut in the championship are Sail Putrajaya Team skippered by Megat Fairuz Khairuddin who is also the secretary-general of the Malaysian Yachting Association who has 11-years of sailing experience in dinghy and sport boat racing under his belt.

According to Megat, Sail Putrajaya Team represents the sailing centre, Sail Putrajaya and an internationally known boat manufacturer DK Yachts from Malacca.

This crew comprises of sailing trainers and experts who have competed in the Malaysian Games (SUKMA), SEA Games, Sailing School instructor and a Yacht Manufacturing officer.

'We have been training for the past three months and hope to make an impact in the race although it would be extremely difficult to handle a 36-footer boat in a monsoon wind,' said Megat.

Though Megat is oozing with confidence, the real battle for the title is expected to be a tussle among Navy 1, Langkawi Geopark, Johor Team and KFC (Malaysian Yachting Association), as they are regulars in local sailing regattas.

Apart from Nurul's Perak Sailing Team, Megat's Sail Putrajaya Team and the four pre-race favourites, Team Terengganu, and Navy 2 make up the eight teams that confirmed their participating in the championship which acted as a platform for local sailors to hone their skills, since seven of the eight teams are skippered by locals, except Team Terengganu who have David Mills as the skipper.

Participating Teams:

1. Johor Team (Johor Sailing Association)
Skipper: Abd Rahim Mohd Zan

2 . Navy 1 (Malaysian Navy)
Skipper: Mohd Razali Mansor

3. Navy 2 (Malaysian Navy)
Skipper: Mohd Masyuri B. Rahmat

4. Langkawi Geopark (Kedah Sailing Association)
Skipper: Mohd Afendy Abdullah

5. KFC (MYA)
Skipper: M. Zaidi Md. Amin

6. Sail Putrajaya Team
Skipper: Megat Fairuz Khairuddin

7. Team Terengganu
Skipper: David Mills

8. Perak Sailing Team
Skipper: Nurul Ain Md Isa