WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR - MONSOON CUP Asian Qualifiers 2008
Swinton
and Black Swan Racing into Monsoon Cup
by Audrey Lakai - Rurrum Communications
Keith Swinton and his Black Swan Racing team have secured the final wildcard entry into next month’s Monsoon Cup, with a convincing victory over Japan’s Natsuki Motoyoshi in the Final of the Asian Match Racing Championships.
This morning, the Malaysian monsoon unleashed on competitors in Kuala Terengganu providing a solid 15-20 knot breeze from the north-east. The breezes kept both the competitors and umpires busy with four penalties issued in the Final alone.
Chief Umpire Shane Borrell commented that Japanese competitor Hiroshi Miura suffered from an unfortunate, 'match racing accident' today in his match against Marty Kaye. Miura made a split-second error in the fresh conditions and collided with Kaye, creating a hole in the hull of his Foundation 36 boat. Miura was found to be at fault because he failed to give Kaye room to keep clear. Kaye went on to win the match and claim third place overall, relegating Miura to fourth.
Swinton
and his team revelled in the windier conditions, but showed their versatility
conceding only one match throughout the duration of the regatta. Keith
put his victory down to, 'a lot of experience having done a lot of regattas
throughout the year, and good teamwork. The guys on my team helped me
make good decisions.'
Looking forward to the Monsoon Cup, Keith said that, 'having a close final helped develop his strategy leading into the Monsoon Cup.' Keith’s international match racing experience this year will prepare him well for the challenging competition ahead.
Action
at the 2008 Monsoon Cup will commence on the 3rd of December with 12 international
teams descending on Terengganu for the fourth edition of the prestigious
event.
FINAL RESULTS
1st Keith Swinton
- Black Swan Racing
2nd Natsuki Motoyoshi - Orbit
3rd Marty Kaye - Team Hong Kong
4th Hiroshi Miura - Extreme
5th Razman Mat Ali - KFC - MYA
6th Mohamad Razali Bin Mansor - Navy 1
7th Byeong Ki Park - Geoge
8th Morten Jakobsen - Ji Zip Zaam
WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR - MONSOON CUP Asian Qualifiers 2008
Day
2 Black Swan flying high
by ZAINUDDIN MUHAMMAD - NST Online
YOUNG
Australian Keith Swinton helmed his Black Swan Racing team to an unbeaten
run to finish top of the round robin series of the Monsoon Cup's Asian
Match Racing Championship at Ri-Yaz Heritage Resort and Spa in Pulau Duyong
yesterday.
The 21-year-old up-and-coming helmsman from Western Australia was in his
element on the second day of the race, winning comfortably over Byeong
Ki Park of South Korea Geoji, Marty Kaye of Team Hong Kong, Morten Jakobsen
of Thailand Ji-Zip Zaam, Natsuki Motoyoshi of Japan Orbit and Razman Mat
Ali of Malaysia KFC.
Being no stranger to the World Match Racing Tour after finishing sixth in the recently concluded Bermuda Gold Cup, Swinton said he was looking forward to making his debut in the Monsoon Cup, the richest sailing event in the region with RM1 million prize money up for grabs.
But first, he has to get through the semi-final stage today and as the first round winner he was given the choice of selecting his opponent in the race-to-three knockout stage.
Swinton chose to face off against Marty Kaye of Team Hong Kong who finished fourth with four wins in the preliminary round. Swinton said although it rained in the morning, the conditions in the Pulau Duyong basin were perfect for match racing with winds blowing between 14 to 18 knots, allowing races to be conducted at maximum speed.
Meanwhile, Thailand Ji-Zip Zaam skipper Jakobsen suffered gear failure in the race against Natsuki, who was at the helm for Japan Orbit, which cost him not only that particular race but also a place in the semi-finals after finishing in fifth place.
Jakobsen, who arrived from Bangkok with team trimmer Freddie Mohart after a 20-hour overland journey by bus and taxi, said he was glad he made the trip here despite his early exit.
More news available at http://www.monsooncup.com.my
Day
1: Kaye, Swinton get off to good starts
Both Kaye and Swinton admitted that it was too early to say if either
could win the title and secure a wild card into the RM1 million Monsoon
Cup.
STRONG
shifting winds and a drizzle failed to stop Nurul Ain Md Isa from winning
the Malaysian Match Racing Championship yesterday and securing a wild
card into the Monsoon Cup on Dec 3-7 at Ri-Yaz Heritage Resort and Spa
in Pulau Duyong. The Perak Sailing Team captain, who was unbeaten in the
round-robin series, continued her fine performance in the first semi-final
with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Navy 2 captained by Mohd Masyuri Rahmat.
A
very happy Nurul Ain said that the fact that she had made the cut for
the Monsoon Cup had yet to fully sink in.
9:03
PM Mon 24 Nov 2008 GMT: Competitors began racing today in the 2008 Malaysian
Match Racing Championships in Pulau Duyung. The Malaysian Match Racing
Championships serves as one of only two qualifying regattas in the lead
up to the prestigious Monsoon Cup, to be contested here next week.
Also performing well is Mohamad Razali Bin Mansor and his Navy 1 team.
A seasoned competitor at the Malaysian Match Racing Championships, Razali
thanked the event organisers and put his good first day form down to his
crew and their efforts. Within this competitive field, Razali hopes to
continue his winning ways and eventually emerge as the victor.