One of the entries which has sent murmurs among the participants and the local sailing fraternity is the Ericsson V060.

The 60-footer has several international wins under its sails and is sleek as it cut through the choppy waters off the langkawi islands as Thomas Blixt and his crew put the boat through its paces.

Previously called Assa Abloy, with a Swedish registration, the boat came in second in the Volvo Ocean Race 2001 to 2002 losing narrowly to Illbruck Challenge of Germany.

The Volvo Ocean Race was formerly called the Whitbread Round the World Race, held every four years where the yachts depart England in September and run south through the Atlantic Ocean, around the tip of Africa, and then to Europe covering over 45,000 km over open ocean.

In 2004 it won the Volvo Baltic Race yacht and has several other trophies that are from around the world in its trophy cabinet to boast. It has a 13-member crew.

Other notable entries are Bolero, Xcariot, Chameleon, Sunshine Forever, Juita, Motornet, KDP 1 and II from the Royal Malaysian Navy and an all youth crew on board the Gapurna Mas Ayu II.

Also vying for line honours are Running Cloud, Nom de Plume, Sedna, Rusalka, Sofa So Good, Beaux Spirits, Jemeni Jo, Fat Cat, KSA Youth team and Lighten Up.

The fourth edition of Malaysia's premier sailing event, the brainchild of Tunku Abdullah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the commodore of the Royal Langkawi Yacht

Club, is part of the Asian Regatta Calendar and has attracted several new boats from around the world.

"The RLIR 2006 is already carving a niche within this region's sailing circuit. We are striving to raise the Malaysian profile within the Asian Regatta Calendar and give home grown talents a suitable platform to establish themselves," said Tunku Abdullah.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will give away the main prizes on Thursday night and an all expense paid trip to Valencia, Spain awaits the winning team.