David Richards and Geoff Cruse are the regatta's official measurers. When these guys say 6 inches, they mean 6 inches literally!

Geoff, an avid multihull enthusiast, is from Brisbane, Australia. A former primary school teacher, he now has a marine consultancy firm that offers boat surveys, building and brokerage.

Geoff 's main sailing area is the east coast of Australia. This year will see him competing in his 28th Brisbane to Gladstone race. Both Geoff and his wife, Jan, are life members of the Multihull Yacht Club of Queensland. They have held many positions on the club's committee since joining in 1967. Jan was the first and only female Club Commodore.

His wife's reluctance to fly sees him making this his first trip to Langkawi solo. Geoff is enjoying being involved in the regatta and would certainly take up an offer to return again next year.

David, the other member of the 'dastardly duo', and also from Brisbane, is no stranger to Malaysian regattas. He has been the official measurer for the Raja Muda Regatta for the last six years and also at the inaugural Borneo Cup. This is his second BMW Royal Langkawi International Regatta.

David began blue water sailing in 1960, has owned an assortment of boats and at times taught sailing or as he says ,"how not to sail." His current boat, a Richards 28, is named Measures Up (though I was not quite sure if he was pulling my leg!) and he plans to call his next one Desperate Measures. At present his job as a civil engineer is keeping him too busy to spend enough time on the water.

" I can understand people making mistakes BUT I never do!" D.R