Monsoon sailing school a breeze

by Charles Fernandez, The Star Online on 25 Aug 2009 33 participants, aged between 18 and 63, now have a better understanding of what competitive sailing is all about after attending the inaugural Monsoon Sailing School (MSS) in Putrajaya recently.

The four-day clinic, held at the Putrajaya Maritime Centre, was organised to prepare them for what to expect if they qualify for the finals of the Monsoon Cup to be held at Pulau Duyong in Terengganu from Dec 1 to 6.

World-class coaches like Bill Gladstone and Charlie Enwright from the United States and Brad Sheridan from Australia were flown in for the classroom sessions and on-water training. They lent credence to the sailors’ preparation for the Monsoon Cup Malaysia Open Qualifier in November.

Among the teams at the MSS were the Malaysian Armed Forces teams Navy 1 and Navy 2, which are vying for a spot in the Monsoon Cup. The other teams comprised sailing enthusiasts from various parts of the country and participants from The Netherlands and Great Britain.

While all eyes are on the Navy boys, the Duyong Heritage Sailing Team (DHST), the recently crowned Heritage Bay Cup Round 2 winners from Terengganu, have sounded a warning and have set their sights on much larger seas. “We were ecstatic when we won the Heritage Bay Cup this year. The feeling was unbelievable and it just made us want to go further,” Mohd Saiful Bahri, 30, said. Their dream now is to sail in the Monsoon Cup.

The world-class event, to be held in Terengganu, is the final and deciding leg of the World Match Racing Tour and invites the world’s top match-race sailors to Malaysia in a battle of skills on the water.

DHST’s youngest member, Mohammed Nazairi Zaidi, 23, said watching the Monsoon Cup excitement in his own backyard had given him a taste of the sport.
The clinic was an exposure to a new level of sailing for the participants.
It gave them the opportunity to sail in F36 racing yachts – the same yachts used in the Monsoon Cup – that were brought here for the clinic. “We were able to put into practice all the techniques we learnt in the classroom during the practical sessions,” said Melvin Aeria, the presenter of the Monsoon Cup for four years. “I was especially excited to have hands-on experience in the F36, which I have seen in action many times at the Monsoon Cup. “As an MC for the Monsoon Cup, this experience is invaluable and the clinic helped me get a better understanding of match racing,” Aeria added.

Female participant Nazreen Abdul Ghani, 24, who sails at the Royal Selangor Yacht Club, said: “The clinic has made me a better sailor. “The coaches gave us an insight into various methods of match-racing. I am quite excited and have keen interest in participating in the Malaysian Open Qualifiers if I ever get the chance,” she said.

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