9:35 AM Sun 16 Aug 2009 GMT
Putrajaya, 16 August 2009 - When eight kampung boys from Pulau Duyong first took to the deck to learn to sail together back in 2006, they had one goal: to stay afloat.
Three years on and recently crowned Heritage Bay Cup round 2 winners, the Duyung Heritage Sailing Team (DHST) have their sights set on much larger seas.
'We were ecstatic when we won the Heritage Bay Cup this year,' explains Mohd Saiful Bahri, 30, 'the feeling was unbelievable, our friends and family cheering for us. It just made us want to go further.'
The dream now is to sail in the Monsoon Cup. The world class event held in Terengganu, the final and deciding leg of the World Match Racing Tour, which invites the world's top match race sailors to Malaysia in an intense battle of skills on the water.
For team member Mohammed Nazairi Zaidi, 23, the youngest of the group, it was as a spectator watching the excitement in his own back yard that gave him a taste for the sport. It was an exposure to a whole new level of sailing.
'We come from a fishing village, our grandparents; our great grandparents were boat makers and sailors. But, I have never seen anything like the Monsoon Cup, the type of racing and the awesome skill of the sailors. 'It made me want to learn how to sail like them' says Nazairi.
The opportunity came in the form of an 'introduction to sailing' workshop held in Pulau Duyong by Monsoon Cup organizers back in 2006. A call over the fence to childhood friends and neighbours in Kampung Pulau Duyong and they had a team that would later go on to be known as the Duyong Heritage Sailing Team.
As young as 23 and as old as 57, the team of eight proved 'you are never too young or old to find a passion'.
Following their new-found passion, five of the team were on the water at the Putrajaya Maritime Centre take part in the Monsoon Sailing School held for the first time from August 14th -17th.
It was the first time they have sailed outside of their home waters in Terengganu. Not quite new seas, but for the team it has been a great experience to sail at a different venue.
An initiative of the Youth and Sports Ministry and organised by the Monsoon Cup organizers in collaboration with the Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA), the Monsoon Sailing School is a sailing clinic specific to match race sailing, a specialist area in the sport of sailing.
Three renowned coaches Bill Gladstone (USA), Charlie Wright (USA) and Brad Sheridan (AUS) were flown in especially for the clinic. While four F36 racing yachts, the exact yachts used in the Monsoon Cup, were transported down from Terengganu.
It was the first time the Putrajaya Maritime Centre was used in such a way and it set the scene for some fantastic sailing. 33 participants as well as over 120 media, sponsors and sports enthusiast got a chance to participate for the first time on Putrajaya Lake, gaining new insight into the technical competence required to be to be top match racers.
The Monsoon Sailing School comprised classroom lessons which were followed by on the water sessions where the theory got put into practice.
For Nazairi's brother and fellow team mate Mohd Nazmie Zaidi, 26, the clinic is the catalyst to sailing at a higher level and in international competition, 'We learnt how to sail the basics, picking up more as we went along. We've done really well so far in local competition. We want to go further but have been limited in terms of knowledge and experience.'
For Nazmie it's like sailing without a sail, there is only so far you can float. 'The clinic has been great in teaching us the rules and tactics of match race sailing, the coaches taught us how to sail skilfully and effectively.' he says.
For team mate Amram Abdul Rahman, 46, the next step is to compete in the Malaysian Match Racing Championships.
'To do that we have to find a sponsor, and a club, I feel like we've learnt so much as a team here, all we need to do now is put it into practice and qualify as a team to compete in an internationally recognised match racing event. After these four days we plan to improve our competition skill to ensure that we win the Malaysian Championships.'
As members of a sailing association they are eligible to compete in the upcoming Malaysian Championships and the Asian Open Championships to be held on home waters in Pulau Duyong, Terengganu, in November.
The winners of each will get a ticket into the Monsoon Cup, and the prospect of intense competition with their own idols on an international stage.
The Monsoon Cup will be held December 1st -6th this year. For the Duyong Heritage Sailing Team, that is the goal.
The chance to move on to bigger winds, larger seas and higher dreams is what motivates them.
The Duyong Heritage Sailing Team comprises skipper Mohd. Rais Hashim, 40, Mohd Saiful Bahri, 30, Salim Yunus, 57, Hasnudin Hashim, 47, Asmawi Hasni, Mohd. Nazairi Zaidi, 23, Amran Abd Rahman
About The World Match Racing Tour
The World Match Racing Tour is the world's leading professional sailing series.The 10 event series is the only global series of sailing events in the world touching 4 continents.Featuring America's Cup teams, skippers and world's top sailors in the ultimate 'race of truth', team verses team, sailor against sailor.
The WMRT is sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and one of three properties with 'Special Event' status alongside the America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race
The WMRT uses the same one-on-one, match race format (course, rules, umpires) as the America's Cup. However, races take place in identical, event-supplied racing yachts for a true test of skill and teamwork. Boats range from 30-40 feet with 4-6 crew on each yacht.
Each event lasts 5 days with racing held as close to shore as possible for a unique spectator and hospitality experience
WMRT television coverage reaches over 600 million households in 75 countries through 34 broadcasters. Unique Hospitality experiences include shore side marquees, luxury yachts and sailing with America's Cup skippers
Branding of racing yachts is controlled by the event organizer and WMRT. Teams control their own clothing worn at the event.
Sailing is a global sport that promotes a healthy (drugs free), active, environmental friendly, lifestyle. Attractive HNW demographic - 65% Male; 60% age 25-54; HHI +110k. They are affluent, educated and professional.
The WMRT is centrally organized, managed and controlled.
About The Monsoon Cup
The Monsoon Cup 2005 celebrated its inauguration and debut as the 50th official event of the Swedish Match Tour (now known as the World Match Racing Tour), and serves as the Malaysian leg for the prestigious international sailing event. This professional sailing series was formed in 2000 to unite the world's best match-race regattas under one banner.
The World Match Tour comprises ten events in nine specially selected locations around the world. As the leading professional sailing series in the world, the Tour events are recognized as must-attend regattas on the match-race circuit.
The Monsoon Cup 2009 will be held at Pulau Duyong, Terengganu, from the 1st to 6th December 2009.
by RURRUM
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