21st Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta 2010

Way up North to Pangkor from Port Klang

Since 1990, every November many sailing enthusiasts will make an annual call to Port Klang to participate in the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta (RMSIR), one of the region's few offshore yacht races which is on par with the Sydney to Hobart Race and the Rolex China Sea Race.

Since its inception, the regatta has attracted regular sailors who turn up year after year often with bigger and better yachts each time.

In 2009, there were 60 boats registered from 11 countries, including Hong Kong, Australia, Thailand and Singapore.

Some 400 crews and officials representing 24 nationalities participated in this nine-day event, which is part of the Asian yachting series linking other events like the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, Singapore Straits Regatta and Royal Langkawi International Regatta.

International renowned sailors such as Neil Pryde, Ray Roberts and Nick Burns/Fred Kinmonth were among the former Raja Muda Cup winners who regularly participate with their state-of-the-art designed racing yachts and with professional crews to trim and grind.

 The RMSIR Trophy

One of the regulars, Dr Jon Wardill and his team have lost count of the number of times they had competed in his Cassidy 55 Australian Maid since the early 90s.

Over the last 20 years, Club sailors who are based in Singapore and Hong Kong were also regulars. They participated in the seven classes, namely IRC I (Raja Muda Cup), IRC 2 (Jugra Cup), IRC 3 and 4, Non-IRC Cruising, Classic Cruising and OMR Multihulls.

The RMSIR is the only Southeast Asian regatta recognised by the prestigious London-based Royal Ocean Racing Club. It is an international sailing event in the local scene that provides a chance for the local crews to represent the 1 Malaysian society with an interesting ethnic mix of Malays, Chinese and Indian to join the expat members to compete.

Map showing the RMSIR route

This year’s RMSIR will take place from Nov 19–27 with the usual format that will consist of three overnight passage races covering over 240 km. The race will start from Port Klang to Pangkor, Pangkor to Penang and Penang to Langkawi, inclusive of two days of harbour racing in Penang and Langkawi.

The sea and wind conditions along the busy shipping lane of the Straits of Malacca are very challenging and set this event apart among the various categories of the boats.

Strong tides, unpredictable winds, shallow mud banks, fishing nets strung out across the course and the tropical storms, all contribute in making this three-night passage race unique. Teams with knowledge of the local conditions will certainly help the navigator and with a combination of skill and luck, their chances of winning are better.

HRH Sultan Selangor at the prize presentation in RMSIR 2009

This year, the RSYC will introduce a "matchmaking agency" to bring together new teams who may want to come to Malaysia to charter a boat and individuals seeking to join a locally based owner looking for additional crew.

Groups from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Europe have already expressed interest. The organiser is keen to hear from other interested sailors and owners while previous participating teams have been encouraged to return.