10:24 AM Mon 9 Nov 2009 GMT
The Asian Match Racing Championships (AMRC) 2009 started off today with the practice session at the Pulau Duyong match race circuit and amongst the teams racing to win is Team New Zealand WAKA Racing.
The team took a practice run this morning and skipper Phil Robertson called it refreshing despite the rain.
'It was really good and very refreshing. We had a good practice and just going to practice as much as we can for tomorrow's first race. We don't really mind the rain since we have quite a bit of rain in our country' Robertson said.
Asked who his biggest rivals are among the seven teams, the Asian Qualifiers first-timer picked out the Australians as the ones he would like to defeat.
'This is my first time competing in AMRC so I don't really know what their strengths are. But to me, everybody is the same. At this point we are aiming to do our best. But probably I would like to beat the Australians,' he said.
But he was confident of getting top placing in the regatta, rating his chances 8 on a scale of 10.
'I would say 8. But we just want to get through to the final and we'll see what's going to happen from there,' Robertson said with a smile.
Among the two Malaysian teams sailing in the Asian Match Racing Championships (AMRC) is Team Taring Pelangi which is aiming for at least a place in the semi-finals. The team is from Terengganu, host of the AMRC and the Monsoon Cup.
Taring Pelangi skipper Hazwan Hazim Dermawan gave an insight into the team and its unique name.
'Taring Pelangi is the original name for Terengganu. 'Ganu' means Pelangi and all of us are from Terengganu,' Hazwan said, obviously proud of his home state.
The team had practised this morning in winds that was about 4 to 5 knots which Hazwan said was perfect, adding such a wind would benefit them as they were at an disadvantage in terms of bodyweight when compared to the other teams.
'We are trying to get the hang of F36 since we don't have much experience handling it and also we would like to focus on improving our teamwork for the race tomorrow as we weren't in a same team before,' he added.
He also said the target was to reach the semis, adding the final would be a bonus for the team.
'AMRC is actually the training ground for us before competing in MMRC (Malaysian Match Racing Championships) next week. We are just trying to improve ourselves and learn as much as we can from AMRC,' he said, adding they would love to beat either Team 'EM' from Thailand or Team MAF 1 from Malaysia.
The other Malaysian team, Team Malaysian Armed Forces 1 skippered by Mohd Razali Mansor said they would have preferred faster winds of about 7 to 8 knots during the morning's practice run.
But he wasn't confident of getting to the final, saying they were targeting the semi-final just like Team Taring Pelangi.
'We are not confident to speculate on our chances to qualify for the final since we need to improve our skills and techniques. We are targeting to go to Semi-final and hoping to get to final as well,' Mohd Razali said.
He disclosed that the team had trained intensively for at least 2 to 3 hours a day for the past three weeks before turning up for the AMRC where he picked three teams as his main challengers.
'Maybe Team Taring Pelangi, Team 'EM' and Team Hong Kong. I have competed against team Hong Kong last year and we lost so I would like to try my luck this year to defeat them'
'But I can't say much about the other contenders for instance Phil Robertson of New Zealand as this is their first time in AMRC. I can't really tell their strength and weaknesses,' he added.
For Team J.F.P (JYMA), skipper Kan Yamada also noted that it was a good practise run with strong currents but he would have preferred stronger winds of about 10 knots.This is his second time at the AMRC, added the Japanese skipper.
'I have competed in last year's AMRC but with a different set of crew and I wasn't skippering instead I was jib trimmer. This year would be a very different experience for me,' Yamada said.
He was also confident of making it to the final for a chance to race in the Monsoon Cup 2009.
'I just started match racing last year and have been getting a fair bit of training since. We have improved in so ways. I would say we have a big chance to qualify for the final this year,' he said, singling Team New Zealand WAKA Racing and Slam Match Racing Team as their biggest challengers.
His added his team qualified for the AMRC by winning the Minami Ise in Japan two weeks ago, which saw nine other teams vying for a chance to participate in AMRC.
The Asian Match Racing Championship are scheduled to take place on 9-12 November 2009 in Pulau Duyong, Kuala Terengganu. The winner will receive an entry into the Monsoon Cup.
Teams Entered in the Asian Match Racing Championships.
1. Team Hong Kong - (Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club)
Skipper: Martin H. Kaye
2. SLAM Match Race Team - (Royal Sydney Yacht Club)
Skipper: Michael Dunstan
3. Team J.F.P - (JYMA)
Skipper: Kan Yamada
4. Team 'EM' - (Royal Varuna Yacht Club)
Skipper: Morten Jakobsen
5. Team New Zealand WAKA Racing
Skipper: Phil Robertson
6. MAF 1
Skipper: Mohammad Razali Mansor
7. Taring Pelangi - (TESA)
Skipper: Hazwan Hazim b. Dermawan
About the Asian Match Racing Championships (AMRC)
The Asian Match Racing Championship (AMRC) taking place on 9-12 November 2009 will see the participation of teams from various Asian Yachting Clubs vying for a spot in the Monsoon Cup, which is the final leg of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT).
At its debut in 2006, the AMRC saw participation from five regional teams, including from Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, racing in the world-class Pulau Duyong match race circuit, which is also the venue for the Monsoon Cup.
This year has seen a massive increase in interest with over 30 international teams applying for a chance to compete. But only seven selected teams are racing in the AMRC, including two from Malaysia.
Asian Match Racing Championship Winners:
2006 - Adam Minoprio (NZL) - BlackMatch Racing
2007 - Adam Minoprio (NZL) - BlackMatch Racing
2008 - Keith Swinton (AUS) - BlackSwan Racing
by RURRUM, Pulau Duyong
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
 training for the Asian Match Racing Championships 2009. Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. 9 November 2009. Photo by Gareth Cooke.jpg)
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 training for the Asian Match Racing Championships 2009. Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. 9 November 2009. Photo by Gareth Cooke_Std.jpg)
Sailing
