All participants welcomed to the BMW Royal Langkawi International Regatta

GM Promises "more challenging" Races

Wicky Sundram, General Manager of the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club says that the BMW Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2005 will be the best of the series of three so far especially in terms of sailing quality.

"There are many more International Racing Certificate (IRC) entries and I have a strong feeling this year will put up a much more challenging race week," he said.

The third Royal Langkawi Regatta got powered-up over the weekend with the arrival of six more yachts from Phuket completing the pre-regatta Rebak Marina Champagne Run on Sunday, 27 February. Five Racing class yachts and one Sports class boat ran all night ahead of north and northwesterly winds to make Rebak with some of the earliest finishing times including the winners with just under 20hrs, a record. Crews toasted the overall and class winner, Somtam Express, at a gala banquet party at the Rebak Marina. Manager Kong Tet Foh announced the marina, damaged in the recent tsunami, would be rebuilt in time for next year's race.

Regatta officials including Principal Race Officers Mark Pryke and David Brookes, Results Officer Howard Elliott, OMR Measurer Dave Richards, and Registration Officer Phil Hollywood checked-in over the weekend.

Wicky Sundram welcomed all participants aboard saying the club was 'hyped-up' because of early and intensive interest by participants in this year's fixture. "Even with the tsunami we were getting calls everyday."

The fleet was expected to equal or surpass last year's 57 entries with a large increase in the number of IRC boats competing. When racing starts Tuesday, the events are to be broken into 5 categories Racing, Sports, Multihull, Club and RCR with subdivisions possible depending on final numbers.

Local Bomoh to Work on Weather

Club Assistant Director Ahmad Zailani 'Zack' Bashah said, "We welcome all participants to a very enjoyable event and, although we have no control over the weather, we anticipate light breezes most mornings but stronger winds building from noon as boats head for the finish lines in the afternoon."

He told The Eagle that a local Bomoh (a traditional medicine man) had been hired to work on the winds. A layday has been added to the schedule to accommodate extra races in event of cancellations because of no wind and, although the 14 selected courses will be fixed, their lengths will be shortened on race days to ensure boats can finish.

"This year we are working closer than ever with our primary sponsor, BMW, as well as with the organisers who, to a man, are proving more professional and experienced... especially Zack who deserves credit because he really has his heart and soul in the event." added Wicky Sundram. "We also appreciate the support we are getting from MAS, Petronas and Amex."

Racing category entries this year hail from Port Klang, Phuket, Port Dickson and, of course, Langkawi, with a team from Japan aboard Princess Isabella, locally-chartered Oddessy 35.

Among Club yachts are world cruisers from as far away as Canada and England.