Monsoon Cup new dates announced

by Mira Navaretna on 28 Apr 2011 To ensure its position as the world’s premier sailing event, T-Best Events Sdn Bhd have successfully secured new dates for the 2011 edition of the international sailing event, the Monsoon Cup.

A long and detailed negotiation with the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) means the season-ending race, where the ISAF Match Racing World Champion will be crowned, will now be held from 29 Nov-4 Dec.

The Monson Cup was originally scheduled from 22-27 November but it clashed with the 26th SEA Games (11-22 Nov).

'After several weeks of negotiations, the WMRT and ISAF have finally agreed to our new dates. I would like to thank them for their cooperation and we will work hard together with the continuous support and guidance of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as various events partners and members of the media to ensure the Monsoon Cup remains the nation’s premier sailing event,' said T-Best chairman Tan Sri Sabbaruddin Chik.

'We felt the old dates were unsuitable as the build up to the Monsoon Cup would have been overshadowed by the 26th SEA Games. We are also lucky that the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) which is usually held in the first week of December will now be held a week later so that it doesn’t clash with the Monsoon Cup.'

Tan Sri Sabbaruddin added the new Monsoon Cup dates fits perfectly with the Perth 2011 ISAF World Sailing Championships, which is scheduled from 3-18th December making it viable for foreign media intending to attend both events.

2011 ISAF MATCH RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Stage Date Event Location Teams Boats

1 May 10 – 15 Match Race France Marseille, France 12 J80
2 May 24 – 29 Match Race Germany Langenargen, Germany 12 Bavaria 40
3 June 7 - 12 Korea Match Cup Gyeonggi, Korea 12 KM36
4 June 22 - 26 Portimao Portugal Match Cup Portimao, Portugal 12 SM40
5 July 4 – 10 Match Cup Sweden Marstrand, Sweden 16 DS37
6 August 24 – 28 Danish Open Bornholm, Denmark 12 DS37
7 Aug 30 – Sept 4 St Moritz Match Race St Moritz, Switzerland 12 BLU26
8 October 3 - 9 Argo Group Gold Cup Hamilton, Bermuda 24 IOD
9 Nov 22 – 27 Monsoon Cup K.Terengganu, Malaysia12 F36

2011 WMRT Tour Card Holders
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Mascalzone Latino
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
Phil Robertson (NZ) WAKA Racing Team
Ian Williams (GBR), Team GAC Pindar

WMRT website
Monsoon Cup website

The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) is the leading professional sailing series featuring 9 World Championship events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with 'Special Event' status.

The World Tour awards over US$1.75million in prize money with points awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the 'ISAF Match Racing World Champion'. The prize fund includes a US$500,000 overall prize pool for the top nine teams in the Championship.

Events take place in identically supplied racing yachts to place the focus 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 in excess of 183 countries around the world.