3 days before Monsoon Cup Qualifier and We are Kings of Broga Hill !

3 days more, and we decided we needed some fresh air, something that would inspired us.
We decided to wake at 5 am in the morning, and drive all the way from Kuala Lumpur to Broga Hill, Semenyih to catch the Sunrise



Hiking up was not easy for the wrong reason, good spot always means lots of people and Broga Hill is just that lots of people.

Although reaching the bottom of the hill at 6am in the morning, there were already packs of people ahead of us. And passing them to be on time for sunrise was our mission.



Thinking back, waking up early wasn't easy,but today its one of those days, we made up our mind or a more exact phrase, we made it a point we are going to be inspired today and we are going to do just that.

Oh boy it was worth it.The few hours of extra sleep replaced by a breathtaking view of calmness . The view was just what we needed, while the hike up with lots of avoiding people maneuver brings out the determination in us.

By end of the day we have already receive news of the confirm teams, the list was not much of a big surprise, with only one new team from Putrajaya. We welcome them and hope they will enjoy match racing.

We also heard there were a lot of sun and wind in the afternoon ,and that kinda contradicts to the weather forecast of Kuala Terengganu, where lots of rains was forecast-ed. What ever the weather condition we do hope it blows there.

See you guys at the Monsoon Cup Qualifier.

3 Teams from Royal Selangor Yacht Club will participate in the National Qualifier for Monsoon Cup 2010

16 days before the qualifying, the Royal Selangor Yacht Club has always been very supportive of the Malaysian Match Racing Championship. Where we have been well represented every year since 2006 with the exception of year 2008.
In 2006 we were represented by 2 Teams, in 2007 3 Teams, In 2009 4 Teams
and this year 3 Teams !


Tom will be taking helm in Team RSYC,



Tiffany Koo will be taking helm in Koo Racing Team and Jeremy will be taking helm in Koo Racing Team Evernew !

We will face Teams from around Malaysia, these Team will will definitely give us a run for our money.

Last Year Winner Hazwan, with his Silver Match Race Team

Last Year Finalist Elia with her Sail Putrajaya Team

and Semi Finalist Razali from the Malaysian Armed Forces.

Other Team We May see include a Team from MYA, which could be represented by Masyuri. He is the Asian Games representative of Malaysia who may use this as his practice ground before leaving for Asian Games,

A Team from Johor and a Local Team from Terengganu.

So we May only sees 9 Teams only this time around.

23 Days to go before the National Qualifier for the Monsoon Cup

23 days to go before the noational qualifier for the Monsoon Cup 2010
and what is in our head?


After the dissappointment last year, this year we are trying to be better prepared physically and mentally, what was our mistake?, and things we should work on before the qualifier.

Well, I had a great workout with yew yesterday, both of us have been doing alot of pulls ,alot of lat workout, basically lots of shoulder exercise. And we are looking forward to checking out Fariz's fitness level this weekend.

We also have some sponsors stuff in our head, on trying to get a long term one, for after the Han River Match race at Seoul, we are beginning to think of getting exposure oversea, Jeremy and Tiffany was getting alot of invites, but we werent able to do it for yew and I just got off college and it was difficult for us do all the races, but now that we are nearing 3 years of working life, things are slowly getting better for us.

And if we can get a long term sponsor, we could do alot of races, we have the potential, for everyone in the team isnt a college boy anymore. And that we should work together to get sponsors.

Teams that could feature in the National Qualifier,
This isnt so difficult to figure out, last year we had 4 team from Royal Selangor Yacht Club, namely Team RSYC, Team ViewPoint ,Team AsianYachting, and us.

This year only Team RSYC and us will represent the Royal Selangor Yacht Club.

Predictions !
Other Teams, We may see
3 teams from the Malaysian Yachting Association including the Asian Games Selection Winning Team,

2 Teams from PutraJaya, including Last year's finalist Sail Putrajaya,

1 Team from our Malaysian Armed Forces Team ,

1 Team from the State of Perak , Last year's Winner Silver Match Race

1 Team from the State of Johore, Harimau Selatan

2 Team from the State of Terengganu.

Making it 12 Teams again this year.


Sean

Han River International Match Race - Seoul , South Korea

Team Update

Hi guys,

Our team has already decided to accept the invitation to go match race in Seoul, South Korea
for the Han River International Match Race from 9th -12 th September.

This will become part of our preparation for the Malaysian Qualifier which has become tougher by the year, but nevertheless we are still confident of regaining the championship this year.

and having said that we acknowledge that the team need to sail more together before the qualifying and participating in the Han River International Match Race will give us the much needed water time together instead of only coming together as a team in the first round robin of the qualifying last year.

In this Han River International Match Race, Tiffany will take helm with Jeremy as tactician this time. Although the event isnt a ISAF graded one, but with Teams from New Zealand, Australia and maybe Russia its going to be fun!

Thats All !, more updates and pictures once I get to South Korea !

Sean

Malaysian Match Racing Championship 2009 Monsoon Cup Qualifer Day 4

Day 4

We lost the semi-finals in straight sets to Hazwan, with this lost natuarally comes the question of how we did we lose it?

Before the answar ,we won the petite finals and came in a reputable 3rd in the Malaysian Match Racing Championship.


We were complacent I guess, the semi-finals were one of those days where you just couldnt keep up with the boat speed of your opponent. I believe all sailors have expericen in that, that your boat just couldnt keep up the pace.
Besides boat speed and boat handling I do attribute part of our lost to a bad strategy.


What could we had have done differently?


First mistake was picking Hazwan as our semi-finalist opponent, for reason we know that the first part of the day at Pulau Duyong is going to be light wind, and still we chose an opponent lighter than us.


Second was picking the wrong boat, the boat did served us well in the Round Robin 1, but we did reported a leaking keel then, and the result do shows it was a bad idea to use it again.

On the Petite Final we chose a different boat and we felt less vibration compared to the first boat and won the race without having too worry too much about boat speed.

And another mistake on boat picking, was that in these event, sponsors comes and goes, new sponsors do means new spinnaker.



but a big congratulation to Hazwan for winning the Malaysian Match Racing Championship 2009, their boat speed are fast with very good boat handling skills by the crew,


Big Thanks to

AC Law (http://www.aclaw.my/) our Main Sponsor

Gareth Cooke/SubZero Images, for all the amazing picture taken of us!

T-Best and RURRUM Commnunications for forwarding us an invitation and organising such a great event that places a dream on young sailors of Malaysians.

Royal Selangor Yacht Club - Sailing Committee and all members of the yacht club!


With this lost, We are very detemine to come back stronger next year!


Cheers
Sean

Malaysian Match Racing Championship - Monsoon Cup Qualifier Day 1 to 3

We are through to the semi finals!!!
Koo Racing Team - AC Law are in the Semi Finals!

Day 1,

Having not sailed together as a team before, there is some concern how we will work as a Team.
In fact we only got our first team photo on day 1 ! and we have been out of the match racing scene for 2 years now.

We only managed a match on day 1, where we go against putrajaya 5 O. They are a relatively a new team. Therefore we managed to win comfortable with them having a blag flag after they failed to do the second penalty immediately after the start.

The black flag gave us lot of time to work on our boat handling,moves and team work, which we needed very badly.


Day 2.

We were quite confident at the end of the first day but we were put firmly back to the ground on the first match of day 2 against Team Navy 1. We lost the match, but I personally see it as wake up call for us. This is how they beat us to the line, pre start we gave them a penalty, then they started in front of us, a few tacking duels, we kinda screwed up one of the tack, they surge ahead.

No spinnaker allowed, so it was basically a tight reach back to the mark, after that match we felt were very disappointed and very restricted of not having a spin to fly.

we went back to the drawing board, rectifying all our mistakes after the defeat and then bounced back immediately to win all the remaining matches in day 2 and joint top the leader board with Sail Putrajaya.

Day 3,

We carried the momentum from day 2, continuing winning all our races convincingly and finish top of the round robin 1 leader board!





We will face Team Taring Pelangi in the Semifinal tomorrow!

out
sean

Built up to the Malaysian Match Racing Championship 2009 - Monsoon Cup 2009 Qualifier

I have been thinking..

Ever Since we completed our registration for the Malaysian Match Racing Championship I have been trying to fill in the remaining 11 slots of Teams, trying to figure out who is going to compete with us the get the qualifying slot for the Monsoon Cup 2009.

For Teams that I am certain we will see..

1. Team RSYC/99°/View Point - Skippered by Rolf Heemskerk ; I will rate Rolf's Team as one of the favorites. I personally sailed with Rolf before, and he is a very a good helmsman, whats lacking in the Team are the Match Racing Experience, other that than that I am sure they will have a great time at the qualifying

2.Team RSYC- Skippered by Tom(Rizal) - I have known Tom ever since I started sailing and that was 14 years ago, and I can tell you guys, that he is good, he was the Malaysia's Sea games Representative for platu in 2007 ; and I will say he definitely have a chance at the Championship.

3 & 4 .Navy1 & Navy 2-I am not sure about Navy2, but I am very sure that Navy1 will be skippered by Razali, Razali's Team was the finalist in 2007 and the semi finalist in 2008.

Teams that we could see,

5. Perak Sailing Team- Skippered by Nurul Ain. Last Year Winner! Ayin, have told me that she intends to compete, but nothing is confirm yet, but if she turns out, as the reigning champion, she is automatically one of the favourites.

6 MYA KFC Team-Skippered by Razman. Last Year finalist, I have not much info on this guy but after some google'ling I found out he is quite active and have been winning some platu races. Since he was a finalist last year, and he was quoted as the team to beat by the Navy in a recent Newspaper cutting, we will just put him as a favourite.


Other Teams we may see.

7.Sail Putrajaya skippered by Elia, She was crown the most promising sailor in the recent Monsoon Cup Sailing School at putrajaya, I rate her as having a chance at the championship.

8.Team Asian Yachting skippered by Ayin from RSYC!. This year Asian yachting.com is sending a team and will be skippered by Ayin form the Royal Selangor yacht Club!.I rate her as having a chance at the championship.

9. Duyong Heritage Sailing Team - Since they were one of the teams who went for the Monsoon Cup Sailing School at putrajaya, I believe we may see them

10&11, Team Johor and Team Terengganu, these 2 teams have been part of the Malaysian Match Racing Championship since 2006, lets hope we see them too.


Finally our Team
12 Koo Racing Team-Ac Law, Skippered by Jeremy Koo.

thats all =P
more posts coming up

regards
Sean