Eight Lucky Winners Gear Up For A 'Hot' Date’ At Monsoon Cup

by Monsoon Cup Media 2010 on 17 Nov 2010 Eight lucky persons will get the chance of a lifetime after being chosen as winners of the fireflyz.com 'Hot Seat of MONSOON CUP 2010' contest.

The online contest at http://blog.fireflyz.com.my/tag/monsoon-cup-2010/ ran from Oct 26-Nov 8 with contestants required to write at least 300 words on why they are the Monsoon Cup's biggest fans and should be chosen to be in the Hot Seat during a race.

For the uninitiated the Monsoon Cup’s ‘Hot Seat’ allowed selected spectators the opportunity to join the crew of each competing boat as they sailed round Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa. It is a thrilling and exhilarating experience as the spectators get to experience what it is like to battle the elements.

The eight winners chosen are Aminuddin Hilmi Ahmad, Crystal Wong Mei Mei, Valentine Anthony, Mohd Fakrul Hisham, Norsufira Halim, Chelsea Lim Siew Yin, Devan Raj and Lee Chang Wei.

Monsoon Cup Event Manager Mira Navaretna said the Hot Seat was a big success last year, as proven when it won The Best Spectator Experience award. It was one of three awards the Monsoon Cup won in 2009.

The season-ending Monsoon Cup will once again be held at the five-star Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort and Spa from Nov 30-Dec 5.

Only the top eight skippers on the tour –Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team, Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN, Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar, Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team, Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra and Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing – were assured of a place in the Monsoon Cup.

Joining them are Malaysian Match Racing Championship winner Jeremy Koo (Mas) Koo Racing Team-Evernew and Asian Match Racing Championship winner Phil Robertson (NZL) Waka Racing as well as wildcard Bjorn Hansen (Swe) Hansen Global Team.

The last qualifier will come from the Sunseeker Australia Cup which will be held from Nov 24-27.

2010 ISAF World Match Racing Tour Standings
(After Stage 8 of 9)

1. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 105 Points
2. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 90 Points
3. Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 88 Points
4. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 76 Points
5. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar sponsored by Argo Group 72 Points
6. Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team 60 Points
7. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 53 Points
8. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 51 Points
9. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 33 Points
10. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team 29 Points