Taring Pelangi Team wins Malaysian Match Racing Championship

by Rurrum on 26 Nov 2009
Taring Pelangi with Hazwan Hazim Dermawan at helm scored their first top podium finish when they won the Malaysian Match Racing Championship to gain entry to the main draw of the Monsoon Cup.

Hazwan ended the monopoly of women skippers who have won the first three editions of the Malaysian Match Racing Championship since the inaugural event in 2006.

There were already tell-tail signs of Hazwan winning the Malaysian Match racing Championship when he ousted pre-tournament favourites Jeremy Koo and his Koo Racing Team AC Law 3-0 in the semi-final.

The other semi-final was won by Nurul Elia’s Sail Putrajaya team who defeated Malaysian Armed Forces 1 skippered by Mohammad Razali Mansor, who also doubles up as Elia’s coach. It was the second time within a week that Nurul Elia has beaten her coach.

In today’s final, the 'Made-in-Terengganu' Taring Pelangi defeated another pre-tournament favourite - Team Sail Putrajaya skippered by Nurul Elia Anuar 3-1 in the best of five races.

'Obliviously, I’m happy to have won and happier still that I’ve qualified for the Monsoon Cup. A little bit of team discussion last night did wonders and I told my crew to go for zero-free mistakes. This we did excellently today and won,' said Hazwan.

When asked if he was ready to ride the storm in the big test – the Monsoon Cup, Hazwan said: I have no fear. I have nothing to lose but everything to gain by competing against the cream of the world’s best sailors.'

Hazwan also said he was very happy to have broken the monopoly of women skippers who had won the event consecutively the last three years.

'Losing to a female skipper in the fourth year would have been a further embarrassment to the men, but I guess I saved the embarrassment,' he said in a jest, adding that Nurul Elia sailed really well.

However, Nurul Elia, who had the opportunity to stretch the women’s stranglehold in the final failed to achieve this and said she will live to fight another day. 'I hope I’ll be back again next year and perhaps prevent the men skippers from winning again,' she said.

Meanwhile, in the Petit final Jeremy showed his prowess that was missing in the semi-final by beating Razali Mansor 2-0 in the best-of-three race.

Hazwan further received a boost when Yanmar Racing Team, one of the 12 teams for the Monsoon Cup offered his team Taring Pelangi to train with them during the run-up to the event which starts on Dec 2.The offer was made by Yanmar Racing Team skipper Datuk Peter Gilmour, who is also the Race Advisor for the just concluded Malaysian Match Racing Championship.

'I thank Datuk Peter (Gilmour) for his good offer, we’ll take it up and discuss with him about our scheduling to train together,' said Hazwan.

Tengku Laksamana of Terengganu gave away the prizes to the winners.

FINAL:
Taring Pelangi bt Sail Putrajaya - 3-1

PETIT FINAL:
Koo Racing Team – AC Law bt Malaysian Armed Forces 1 - 2-0

SEMI-FINAL
Taring Pelangi bt Koo Racing Team AC-Law - 3-0
Sail Putrajaya Team bt Malaysian Armed Forces 1 – 3-1

For more information or media registration to access high resolution images go to www.monsooncup.com.my

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 4 teams at its inception in 2006, the Malaysian Match Racing Championship has now grown to have 13 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.

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 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