Monsoon Cup Qualifier - Malaysian Match Racing Championship Day 1

by Monsoon Cup media on 7 Oct 2011 As the second last event on the 2011 World Match Racing Tour, the Argo Group Gold Cup in Hamilton Bermuda is moving towards the quarter finals, half a world away the first of two qualifying events, for one of two berths at the 2011 Monsoon Cup, has begun in Kuala Terengganu Malaysia.

The Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa is the host venue for the sixth edition of the Malaysian Match Racing Championship (MMRC), where seven Malaysian teams are fighting to take the single Malaysian berth at the Monsoon Cup.

Round Robin Results - Day One

Maysuri Rahmat (MAF2) 4 -1
Jeremy Koo (Abdullah Chan/KRT) 3-1
Mohd Romzi Muhamad (UPM Sailing Team) 3-1
Hazwan Hazim Dermanwan (Permai Hotel Sailing Team) 2-2
Mohd Zaidi Md. Amin (MAF 1) 2-3
Nurul Ain Md Isa (Ri-Yaz Heritage Sailing Team) 1-3
Mohd Afendy Abdullah (Team Afendy) 0-4

Defending MMRC champion Jeremy Koo started well, but it’s clear he will have a major fight on his hands to again win the title - he is currently second behind Maysuri Rahmat from the Armed Force MAF2 team.

Koo commented dockside 'Before we came here we had a warm up match racing event at Pattaya in Thailand in Platu 25's, so we are up to speed.

‘We expected tough competition this year and it’s going to be all of that. We are going to have to sail very well to have a chance of defending our title.

‘We had a scare in the second race. Nurul Ain controlled us completely and we were left at the start. Luckily for us the first race was blown out and we managed to reverse the situation in next race, though Nurul is very good in light conditions and closed up on us.

'Ahead of the event we expected Nurul Ain, Hazwan Hazim and the Armed Forces Team to perform well.

‘But challenges are coming from everywhere. Masyuri Rahmat from the Armed Force MR2 Team is leading after day one and we now realise Romzi Muhammad is also going to be a major factor in this event.’

Romzi Muhamad was smiling. He said 'We are pleased to be up 3-1 at this stage. ‘We are new at this game. We have a crew of Laser and 470 sailors, we know our way around, but match racing tactics are very different.

‘It’s early days yet. We are just pleased to have started with three wins.'

Principal Race Officer David Tallis commented ‘The Monsoon season is some time away yet and there has been little rain in recent weeks, so the Terengganu River which flows around Pulau Duyong, is running quietly across the match racing course.

'This morning the current was running at less than half a knot but it increased as the tide lowered this afternoon. After recent dredging the race course is now bigger, as it was in the first few years of the Monsoon Cup and it goes right into shore on the northern side.

'Today it’s been a warm 29 degrees. The forecast was four to five knots from the south east but the seabreeze came in as the temperature rose. The breeze was from the north-east at eight to ten knots by flight three and continued to strengthen into the afternoon.

‘The first race was sailed in the light south-easter, then the breeze stalled and the second race start was blown out as the wind swung round to the north-east.

‘We had to rapidly re-lay a new course and conditions then improved all day.'

The Asian Match Racing Championship will follow the Malaysian Match Racing Championship, 12th–15th October, with the winners of both events securing a berth at the Monsoon Cup, the prestigious final event of the 2011 ISAF World Match Racing Tour, being held from 22nd–27th November at this very venue.