2011 Malaysian Match Racing Championship

Day 4 Finals - AY Race Report

Thrilling finals as Jeremy Koo defends the title...

PULAU DUYONG (OCT 10th): After four days of match racing it eventually all came down to the first to win three races in a final shootout between defending champion Jeremy Koo (Abdullah Chan / KRT) and Hazwan Hazim Dermawan (Permai Hotel Match Racing Team). Very spirited pre-start calls and maneuvering close to the marina pontoons as the teams jockeyed for position kept the spectators entertained onshore. Learning from their earlier mistakes Jeremy Koo was first off the line and kept a close cover throughout to notch up win number one. Not to be outdone Haswan reversed the table and equalised to be 1 -1. Haswan won the next start and stayed on the pace to make it 2 -1.

With the time limit extended to 6:30 and despite the fading seabreeze racing continued to complete the finals. Hazwan then dug deep and during the pre-start managed to force a penalty on Koo, who recovered during a close tacking duel. Then equipment failure onboard Hazwan's yacht threw a crew member into the water, allowing Koo to comeback and equal the score at 2 - 2. Time for a few boat repairs then straight into the final of all time. Taking advantage of the starboard entry Koo held Hazwan in irons for what seemed like an eternity before breaking away and having another go at them, this time forcing a penalty on Hazwan. Good boatspeed in the windward berth won the title and an extremely elated and tired Abdullah Chan / KRT crew are happy to go on and represent Malaysia at the Monsoon Cup, which will take place at the same venue in Terengganu from 22nd to 27th November.

Earlier the Semi Finals resumed with yesterdays Race 1 loosing teams Masyuri Rahmat (Malaysian Armed Forces 2) and Hazwan Hazim Dermawan (Permai Hotel Match Racing Team) finding a complete reversal of form and won both opening rounds against defending champions Jeremy Koo (Abdullah Chan / KRT) and Mohd Romzi (UPM Sailing Team) respectively. Costly pre-start errors, not covering the opponent and taking advantage of the outgoing current made the score 2 -1. Could an upset be on the cards?

The likely hood of not making the finals must have spurred them on as both Koo and Romzi rebounded to equal the score at 2 - 2 and force both semi finals into having a fifth race to determine the winner. Jeremy Koo fired up the crew to convincingly win the start and was never headed to scrape into the finals after a very spirited clash. After being black flagged for a multiple of infringements Hazwan was determined to make up for the embarrassment and convincingly won the fifth race to claim the final berth.

The Petit Final for third and fourth places was won by Masyuri Rahmat (Malaysian Armed Forces 2) when they overcame Mohd Romzi (UPM Sailing Team) with a 2 - 1 scoreline.

In the morning session Nurul Ain Md. Isa (Ri-Yaz Heritage Sailing Team) defeated Mohd. Zaidi (Malaysian Armed Forces 1) in the Sail Off for fifth to seventh places.

Final
Jeremy Koo (Abdullah Chan / KRT) 3 - 2
Hazwan Hazim Dermawan (Permai Hotel Match Racing Team) 2 - 3

Petit Final
Masyuri Rahmat (MAF 2) 2 - 1
Mohd Romzi (UPM Sailing Team) 1 - 2

Semi Final
Jeremy Koo (Abdullah Chan / KRT) 3 - 2
Masyuri Rahmat (MAF 2) 2 - 3
Hazwan Hazim Dermawan (Permai Hotel Match Racing Team) 3 - 2
Mohd Romzi (UPM Sailing Team) 2 - 3

Go to AY Photo Gallery
MMRC - AY Race Report 3
MMRC - AY Race Report 2
MMRC - AY Race Report 1
MMRC - AY Pre-Regatta Report
Go directly to ISAF - World Match Racing Tour and season-ending Monsoon Cup website's

All the 2011-12 AY News, Views and Race Reports can be accessed Here...

This MMRC 2011 Daily Race Report is kindly bought to you by the following supporters.

AsianYachting Ventures Sdn. Bhd. (Co. No. 627106-T)
A 308 PD Perdana Condo Resort, Jln Pantai, 71050, Pt Dickson, Malaysia
Tel: 6 06 6477701 Email: info@asianyachting.com
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Yachting http://AsianYachting.com