Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2015 - opening the Asian calendar
by Event Media and Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 8 Jan 2015
Eveline - Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2014 Guy Nowell
http://www.guynowell.com
For anyone who was participating, the Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2014 was without a doubt one of the highlights of last year’s sailing calendar. Five days of uninterrupted sailing breeze of the 15kts + variety, racing both inside Bass Harbour and on the ‘outside’ courses, a round-the-islands race (Pulau Dayang and Pulau Tuba), the spectacular scenery of Langwawi for a backdrop, and the first class welcome always afforded by the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club. It was a cracker. So much so that this writer nominated the event as Regatta of the Year in the Asian Marine and Boating Awards – I have no idea how many of the judges were actually attended a regatta last year, but clearly none of them were at the RLIR, as the title went elsewhere.
Never mind. Next week RLIR are doing it all over again. In spite of some ‘development interruptions’ RLYC’s GM Wicky Sundram has assured us that business will be very much as usual, meaning cold beer at Charlie’s Place as the sun goes down and parties on the swimming pool deck. Not to mention sailing among the pristine islands of the Langkawi Archipelago, cruising with the sea eagles, and dodging the breezy bullets that come in occasionally from the south west to stir things up a little.
The 2015 edition of the RLIR stands at 35 entries to date, with both local and international yachts representing Malaysia, Thailand, Great Britain, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, Austria, Denmark, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Russia. The regatta runs 12-17 January, and more entries are expected before registration closes on 12 January at 1700h.
'We are delighted to have 35 entries on the books', says Sundram. 'Many of them are RLIR regulars, but we also have a number of first timers. This tells us that the RLIR is a highly regarded event among serious sailors around the world.'
Entries range from the centenarian Eveline, a familiar sight in Langkawi and west coast Malaysian waters, to last year’s Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy, Oi! (Peter Ahern) and the 2013 champion HiFi (Neil Pryde). Also back in the line-up is Team SMU (Singapore Management University) who missed the 2014 edition despite winning the Langkawi Sports Boat Challenge Trophy in 2013.
Not only will the participants be competing for the coveted prizes and trophies, they will stand a chance at receiving the Tunku Abdullah Sportsmanship Award which is presented every year to the best competing team. This trophy is presented in memory of the late Founding Chairman and the first Commodore of the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (RLYC), Almarhum Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
RLIR 2015 is supported by the Ministry of Youth & Sport Malaysia, together with the Ministry of Culture & Tourism Malaysia and Tourism Malaysia. Other partners include Permanis Sandilands, Neil Pryde, Caterpillar (Sime Darby Industrial) and Teraju Tri-Tech Sdn Bhd.
Media Partners include Sail-World Asia, Yacht Style, HOMME, Image Asia, Traxx FM Radio and Spectrum Outdoor Marketing. The Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR) 2015, is organised by the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (RLYC) and sanctioned by the ISAF and Malaysian Sailing Association (MSA).
For more information on the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, go to www.langkawiregatta.com or contact Wicky Sundram at wickysundram@langkawiyachtclub.com . Inquiries pertaining to RLIR 2015, kindly contact the Regatta Secretariat at office@langkawiregatta.com
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