IN HIS FATHER’S FOOTSPTEPS

by Monsoon Cup 2010 on 5 Oct 2010 KUALA LUMPUR (OCT 4, 2010): The name Gilmour is synonymous with sailing and while Datuk Peter Gilmour, a four-time world champion is known the world over, it is the exploits of his son, David, who is currently grabbing the attention.

Despite the double whammy of having a famous father and sharing the name of the lead singer for Pink Floyd, the younger Gilmour is a well adjusted lad and has been creating waves after deciding to follow in his father’s footsteps.

In June, Gilmour junior, the Western Australia State Match Racing champion, out-sailed the other teams in the matched fleet of Foundation 36 yachts to win the ultimate title – the 2010 Foundation Champion of Champions.

Later this month, he hopes to follow up that success by winning the Asian Match Racing Championship which takes place at Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort and Spa, Pulau Duyong from Oct 25-28.

The AMRC and the Malaysian Match Racing Championship (MMRC) which will be held at the same venue from Oct 20-23, each offers the winners the opportunity to compete in the prestigious Monsoon Cup, the final leg of the 2010 World Match Racing Tour.

If he is successful in the AMRC, David will then have a chance to face his father in the Monsoon Cup scheduled from Nov 30-Dec 5.

Although his father is a two-time Monsoon Cup champion, David admitted: “Unfortunately, he has not given me any tips (on how to tackle the course) but as we get closer to the event, he might start giving us some help.

“We are hoping like everyone else to qualify for the Monsoon cup but it will be very hard as the AMRC is one of those regattas where there is no reward for coming second.”

Having crewed with his father at the Match Race France earlier this year, David knows first hand how tough Match Racing can be at the highest level, but is not sure if that is the route he will be taking.

“France was a great experience and I learnt a lot about sailing. I also got the feeling of what it is like to be at the elite end of the sport it was really fantastic,” he said.

“At the moment I am not doing very much Match Racing as I’m concentrating on sailing 49ers to hopefully sail in the Perth 2011 World Championships. In any case, we have a long way to go but maybe someday we will get there.”

As for his preparations for the AMRC, David said he and his crew have been receiving support from the Warren Jones Foundation as well as Swan River Sailing and Yacht Club Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club.

He has been practising on their F36 boats and working hard to get closer to the standard of their rivals, some of whom have been competing on the European circuit.

Regardless of what happens, you can bet David will take inspiration from Pink Floyd’s popuar hit No Way, with that famous line – I won't go down easy, That's not my style.