Come learn from the best at Monsoon Sailing School

by Monsoon Cup on 13 Aug 2010 Some of the best sailing coaches in the world will be in Putrajaya later this month as part of the Monsoon Sailing School from July 29-Aug 1 at the Maritime Centre, Precint 5 Putrajaya. The four-day extravaganza promises to be much fun and educational as participants will learn the finer arts of the sport from top professionals.

Initiated in 2009 under the patronage of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Monsoon Sailing School will see the participation of several professional coaches who will share their knowledge about sailing.

The Ministry are working hand-in-hand with Monsoon Cup organizers and Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA) to identify talented Malaysian sailors as Youth and Sports Minister Dato’ Shabery Cheek has expressed his desire to see a Malaysian team competing in the World Match Racing Tour in the not too distant future.

As such, the Monsoon Sailing School is also a perfect training opportunity for teams vying to participate in the Malaysian and Asian Match Racing Championship of the Monsoon Cup as participants will be training on the actual yachts used in Monsoon Cup. A total of four F-36 match racing yachts will be brought down from Terengganu especially for the event to be held at the Maritime centre in Putrajaya.

Last year, saw a record 13 Malaysian teams participating in the Malaysian qualifiers to earn one berth in the Monsoon Cup and this was partly due to the interest raised by the Monsoon Sailing School. This year, it is hope that more local teams will enter the qualifiers.

To participate in the Monsoon Sailing School, prospective participants must have some sailing experience. The programme will include both, theoretical and on the water sessions aimed at improving their skills and techniques of sailing. Some of the practical skills to be taught in the programme include dial-ups, circling, leads/push, the hook and shift left.

Registration for the Monsoon Sailing School is now open to the public. The highly subsidised participation fee is RM1,850 per person while students will only have to pay RM1,250. Fees include course materials, use of boats, accommodation, all meals as well as a certificate of participation.

Monsoon Cup Race Advisor, Dato Peter Gilmour said: “The Monsoon Sailing School is an extension of the Heritage Bay Cup which we started in Terengganu in 2008. It has proved highly successful in sparking the interest o f the locals into the finer arts of sailing. We hope the Monsoon Sailing School, which is a more intense and competitive with more hours spent fine tuning the sailors’ skills will help the participants mature faster. The Monsoon Sailing School is where Malaysia’s future match racers are born.”

“The Monsoon Sailing School is a Monsoon Cup Corporate Social Responsibility and public outreach programme, the fees are heavily subsidised to encourage participation. Last year, 33 participants, aged between 18 and 63, took part in the Monsoon Sailing School and we are hoping to get even more participants this year.”

For more information, please contact Mira Navaretna:
Email: mira@tbest.com.my Telephone: +603-22833324