Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2007: Raring to go With less than one month to go before the Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2007 (RLIR 2007) takes off, the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (RLYC) in Langkawi is already abuzz with activity.

Seasoned sailors and cruising yachtsmen from around the world will take part in the gruelling, 4-day race and the team at the RLYC is set to ensure a race fit for the professionals.

Preparations are being carried out for the races, registration of participants is on-going while fun-filled parties are being organised at several venues for the races.

The RLIR 2007 will be held from 4th - 9th February 2007 at the RLYC. Held for the fifth consecutive year since the inaugural event in 2003, the pristine waters of Langkawi will soon be transformed into a colourful sea of yachts, racing boats and catamarans skippered by top-notch sailors.

Over the years, the regatta has seen the participation of multihulls, racing yachts and sports boats from as far away as Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Holland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden and Thailand.

Entries are coming in fast and the committee expects more than 50 entries from both local and international yachts in the RLIR 2007. The regatta will also see the participation of at least 2 youth teams.

The RLIR is famous for its extensive and competitive multihull fleet, a benchmark of the regatta since it was first inaugurated in 2003. More excitement is in store as the RLIR 2007 is likely to see the participation of two brand new catamarans in the Multihull class.

The first is “HarAlley”, launched in August in Langkawi. The big cat was driven from Wavemaster Yachting Centre's shed in Langkawi and lowered into the waters of Bass Harbour, Langkawi Island for sea trails.

The second of these cats, “Ruby” was launched mid September and both are arguable the largest cats available in the region built specifically for the charters.

Both were developed by Silkline Catamarans and are sporty ocean performance catamarans that are robust, fast and surprisingly light. Weighing in at just 8,750 Kilos the catamarans are very weight efficient considering their 15.4 metre length and 8 metre beam.

Three years in the planning and a combined effort by Australian, British and American designers and naval architects the Silklines have a predetermined pedigree with many years of cumulative experience behind them.

Each cat has plenty of sailing horsepower to spare with the two 510C versions boasting an 18.5 metre rig with some 115 Square metres of windward sails and 270 SQM of down wind sails.

Participants can continue to register until 5th Feb 2007. Those who signed up before 30th October 2006 were given one free entry for one crew member, saving the team a total of RM200.00. Two teams benefitted from this; the crew of Nom de Plume and Rusalka.

Promising to be even bigger than previous years, the RLIR 2007 is part of the Asian Regatta Calendar, drawing regular boats as well as new participants who actively race in regional yacht circuits.

The RLIR 2007 will see competitors racing for three main trophies. The Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy which is open to internationally registered yachts, the Commodore’s Challenge Cup open to club-registered cruisers and for the first time, “The LADA-IRC Challenge Trophy” for winners of the IRC Class. The LADA-IRC Challenge Trophy will be an ongoing annual challenge in the RLIR and a new and welcome trophy for participants. Competitors will also compete for two other trophies. The Langkawi Sports Trophy is for winners of Sports Boats while the Malaysian Multihull Challenge Cup is for winners of Multihulls Yachts.

RLIR 2007 Advisory Committee Chairperson Y.M. Tunku Soraya Dakhlah binti Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah said “The overwhelming response we have received from boat owners and sailors alike, both local and international, has encouraged all involved with the RLIR and the RLYC to ensure that the 2007 regatta will be the best yet and response from all quarters has been tremendous.”

“Our thanks throughout the years must go to our sponsors and their constant support but also to all who have participated in the regatta and made it the truly world class and international sailing event that it is,” she added

The RLIR is the brainchild of Y.A.M. Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the Commodore and principal founder member of the RLYC.

Sponsors for the regatta include BMW Malaysia, Petronas, Telaga Harbour Park Development while Lembaga Pembangunan Langkawi (LADA) and Tourism Malaysia support the event.

The Royal Langkawi International Regatta is organised by the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, in Langkawi.

Mehr Information in englisch auf der offiziellen Web Seite der Royal Langkawi International Regatta 2007