Competitors will be racing over five days in the 9th Royal Langkawi International Regatta which is being held from 11th to 15th January 2011. The event sees an international line up crews along with some of the best domestic sailors from Malaysia.

Crews will be looking to complete the courses in the shortest time possible with classes divided by yacht type. Spectators can see a variety of boats competing in the event with categories divided into sports boats, racing yachts, club and IRC valid monohull keelboats as well as trimaran and catamaran yachts racing in the multihull class.

Winners will be the crews that accumulate the lowest score in a series with a minimum of two races constituting a series. An international jury will reside over the adjudication process and prizes and trophies will be handed out to the winning teams on 15th January at the closing dinner.

A special award will also go to the crew to have been deemed the best both on and off the water, with the Tunku Abdullah Sportsmanship Award presented in memory of the first commodore and founding chairman.

People using a Langkawi hotel can watch the races for free as they take place on the waters just off the island.

Lek Boonlert, marketing head at DirectRooms.com commented: “As one of the main sailing competitions in Langkawi the regatta attracts large numbers of spectators. People will need to book hotel rooms well in advance of the race dates to be sure of getting a place.”