Over 140 sailors to compete in KFC/NSC 24th Merdeka Day Open Regatta
KOTA KINABALU: More than 140 sailors are expected to turn up for this year’s 24th edition of the KFC/NSC 24th Merdeka Day Open Regatta at the Kinabalu Yacht Club in Tanjung Aru here, according to the Sabah Sailing Association honorary secretary Ms Lyane Chia Ching Lian
The event is traditionally run on or around the Merdeka Celebration holidays. However, since the SEA Games dates run all the way to the Merdeka Day holidays, the organisers, Kinabalu Yacht Club and the Sabah Sailing Association shifted the dates to August 4-6. This will allow some of the participants and officials to take part in the SEA Games.
Sabah, who made a major clean sweep of medals at the recent KFC MCC Sarawak Open, may not have it so easy this time as some top sailors from the peninsula will be here to obtain points for National Ranking.
The Merdeka Regatta has been sanctioned by the Malaysian Sailing Association as a Malaysian ranking event and is a compulsory event for Malaysian sailors who want to be ranked or be selected to represent the country.
Also taking part will be sailors from Chinese Taipei and Brunei. The (eight) sailors from Chinese Taipei had been training for a few weeks with the Sabah Team.
Nationwide, sailors from Perak, Johor, Kedah, Terengganu, Sarawak, Selangor and Pahang will be competing in the various classes.
From within Sabah, sailors from Tawau Yacht Club (TYC), Navy Yacht Club Kota Kinabalu (NYCKK), Kinabalu Yacht Club (KYC) as well as Sabah Sailing Association (SAILA) have already registered.
There could still be many lastminute entries but the limiting factor will be boats availability by the organisers for charter. The classes of racing boats are 1. Optimist Novice (those entering their first regatta),
2. Optimists seniors (15 years and below with age groups A, B and C),
3. Laser 4.7 (single lightweight crew),
4. Laser Radial (single medium weight crew),
5. Laser Standard (single heavy weight crew),
6. International 420 Class (2 light weight crew) and
7. Olympic 470 class (2 medium weight crew).
Those wishing to view the racing in progress can watch the races being run off the Tanjung Aru beach from 1.00pm on Aug 4 and from 10am on Aug 5 and 6.
Spectators wishing to see the racing close-up can proceed to the Race Secretariat at the Kinabalu Yacht Club for some limited places on Race Official Vessels.