The Excitement gets bigger as Terengganu braces for the Monsoon Cup

by Rurrum on 29 Nov 2009 Pulau Duyong is bracing itself to welcome the best 12 teams on the World Match Racing Tour to the finale leg event – the Monsoon Cup.

The stunning, refurbished Ri-Yaz Marina Clubhouse, with additional facilities to cater to the needs of the biggest sailing event on the World Match Racing Tour, have impressed some of the sailors who have descended on this island, noted for its boat-building industry.

The air of festivity has already begun and the weather men have also predicted a second advent of long rainy spells over the next week which truly reflects the name Monsoon Cup.

Looking forward to the six days of action beginning Dec 1, Team Victory Challenge tactician Sten Mohr, a first-timer to the Monsoon Cup, said he was captivated by the Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Bay.

'We are all incredibly excited that the Monsoon Cup is held in this ideal, picturesque backdrop to a week of exciting action involving some of the world’s top match racing teams. It was good to see the Monsoon Cup advertisements at the airport, on taxis and everywhere,' he said.

He added: 'The way the organisers have set up the arena, the hospitality suites and other facilities is amazing,' said Mohr.

One foreign team – Sweden’s Victory Challenge with former Olympian Magnus Holmberg in command and Terengganu’s very own Taring Pelangi, skippered by Hazwan Hazim Dermawan who gained entry to the main draw list after clinching the Malaysian Match Racing Championship last Thursday have arrived in their bid to familiarise with conditions at Pulau Duyong’s Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Bay.

Taring Pelangi’s Hazwan said as the race draws closer, he is getting excited. 'Though there are many activities going on, but the crew and I are staying out of all these extras to fully focus on our 'big week' beginning on Dec 1,' he said.

YANMAR Racing’s pitman Yasuhiro Yaji has the experience sailing at the Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Bay since 2005, but the strongman who was in the winning team last year, said the event is getting bigger and bigger.

'It’s like three times bigger this year compared with last year. But I’m more concerned with our preparations to defend our title,' he said.

While the race office is awaiting the arrivals of other teams most of whom are fine tuning at the Swan River in Perth, Australia.
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Besides, Australia’s YANMAR Racing , Sweden’s Victory Challenge and Malaysia’s Taring Pelangi, the other teams taking part are New Zealand’s Black Match Racing (skippered by Adam Minoprio, current leader on the World Match Tour ranking list with 100 points), Australia’s Mirsky Racing (Torvar Mirsky – 88 points), Great Britain’s Team Pindar (Ian Williams – 75 points), France Match Racing Team (Mathieu Richard - 74 points), Great Britain’s Team Origin (Ben Ainslie – 65 points), France Match Racing Team (Damien lehl – 48 points), France’s All4One (Sebastien Col – 41 points), Italy’s Team Azzurra (Francesco Bruni – 18 points) and New Zealand’s WAKA Racing – (Phil Robertson).

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

WMRT 2009 Tour Standings (after 8 of 9 events)
Tour Standings - (After 8 of 9 events)
1. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 100 Points
2. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 88 Points
3. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar 75 Points
4. Mathieu Richard (FRA), French Match Racing Team Racing 74 Points
5. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR 71 Points
6. Ben Ainslie, (GBR) Team Origin 65 Points
7. Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team 48 Points
8. Sebastien Col, (FRA) French Match Racing Team 41 Points

About the World Match Racing Tour:
• The World Match Racing Tour is the leading professional sailing series featuring 9 World
Championship events across the globe
• The World Tour is sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with 'Special
Event' status
• The World Tour awards over US$1.5million in prize money
• Points are awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the ‘ISAF Match Racing
World Champion’
• Events utilize the same 'match race' format used in the America’s Cup with racing taking
place in identically supplied racing yachts which places a focuses on team work and skill.
Racing takes place close to the shore for the general public to follow the races as virtual on-
the -water stadiums.
• Media and television highlights coverage reaches over 600 million households in excess of
90 countries around the world

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 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. Website : www.monsooncup.com.my
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 Monsoon Cup :
RURRUM Communications Sdn Bhd
Name : Audrey Lakai
Mobile : 012 309 4377
Email: audrey.lakai@rurrum.com