Team Harimau Selatan looks for Southern Comfort

by Rurrum on 22 Nov 2009 For Team Harimau Selatan, who were formerly known as Johor Sailing Team, the change in name may bring luck to the team says skipper Abdul Rahim Mohd Zan.

'This time around, we managed to get a new sponsor – Tanjung Langsat Port, a subsidiary of Johor Corporation and they wanted us to rename the team thus Team Harimau Selatan or Southern Tigers,' said Rahim.

The southerners confessed that they are feeling nervous, though they are taking part for the third year.
'But we are not going to let this nervousness take control of us. We will try hard to give other teams a serious challenge. For us, we are not thinking of how good or how strong the other teams are.

'We are not prepared to do any comparative analysis of other teams but only thinking of how we are going to face the challenge and focus our attention on winning races,' said Rahim.

Today, the team ended five days of training and are having team talks every night to discuss their strengths and weaknesses and how to maximise their effort to synchronise their act to get the best possible result.

'Frankly, we are banking on our experience, though we started working as one unit only when we arrive here six days ago. But the crew and I have experience as some of them are ex-navy men,' Rahim said.

He said the team members are all lightweights. 'So, we are praying that there be only gentle winds as we may lose advantage if the winds are very strong. My crew does not have enough muscles.'

In 2006 the Tigers finished fourth and last year they ended their challenge by finishing fifth. 'We’ll try our best to do well for the team and our sponsors,' said Rahim, adding that they are prepared for both wet and dry weather conditions.

Rahim singles out Malaysian Armed Forces 1, Malaysian Armed Forces 2 and Asian Yachting Team to be the main contenders to grab the sole wild card entry to the main course – Monsoon Cup 2009 – from Dec 1-6.

'Harimau Selatan are serious challengers but maybe not title contenders but we hope to prove ourselves wrong by winning the special entry to the Monsoon Cup and perhaps spark a wild celebration privately over here,' he said.

About the Malaysian Match Racing Championships (MMRC)

Back in 2006, the Monsoon Cup was the first race to have a series of qualifiers to encourage the participation of young, upcoming local sailors in the professional match race scene. Those qualifiers were the Malaysian Match Racing Championship (MMRC) and the Asian Match Racing Championship (AMRC).

From four teams at its inception in 2006, the Malaysian Match Racing Championship has now grown to have 12 local teams taking part in this year's event, taking place on 23-26 November 2009.

The winner will be the sole Malaysian representative at the Monsoon Cup, the final and deciding leg of the World Match Race Championships. It is a chance to compete with the world’s top match race sailors and win a prize money.

Malaysian Match Racing Winners:
2006 - Tiffany Koo (MAS) – Team Selangor Gapurna 1
2007 - Tiffany Koo (MAS) – UK Halsey Gapurna
2008 - Nurul Ain Md Isa (MAS) – Perak Sailing Team


About the Asian Match Racing Championships (AMRC)

The Asian Match Racing Championship (AMRC) was held on 9-12 November 2009. Participants of teams from various Asian Yachting Clubs vying for a spot in the Monsoon Cup, which is the final leg of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT).
At its debut in 2006, the AMRC saw participation from five regional teams, including from Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, racing in the world-class Pulau Duyong match race circuit, which is also the venue for the Monsoon Cup.
This year has seen a massive increase in interest with over 30 international teams applying for a chance to compete. But only seven selected teams were racing in the AMRC, including two from Malaysia.
Asian Match Racing Championship Winners:
2006 - Adam Minoprio (NZL) – BlackMatch Racing
2007 - Adam Minoprio (NZL) – BlackMatch Racing
2008 - Keith Swinton (AUS) – BlackSwan Racing
2009 – Phil Robertsson (NZL), Team New Zealand WAKA Racing

About The Monsoon Cup
The Monsoon Cup 2005 celebrated its debut as the 50th official event of the Swedish Match Tour (now known as the World Match Racing Tour), and serves as the Malaysian leg for the prestigious international sailing event. This professional sailing series was formed in 2000 to unite the world's best match-race regattas under one banner.
The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) comprises nine events in nine specially selected locations around the world. As the leading professional sailing series in the world, the Tour events are recognized as must-attend regattas on the match-race circuit.
The Monsoon Cup 2009 will be held at Pulau Duyong, Terengganu, from the 1st to 6th December 2009.
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For information on the World Match Racing Tour:
Yvonne Reid
Tel: +44 (0) 1590 679613
Mob: +44 (0) 7809 149268
E-mail: yreid@f10marketing.com
Website: www.worldmatchracingtour.com

For more information on the Malaysian Match Racing Championships/Monsoon Cup :
RURRUM Communications Sdn Bhd
Name : Audrey Lakai
Mobile : 012 309 4377
Email: audrey.lakai@rurrum.com