WITH rain pelting our faces and the wind lending an extra bite to the chill, it was a perfect day indeed for a group of landlubbers to try their hand at the  ne art of sailing.

It was an early morning  flight to Terengganu, courtesy of Firefly and after checking into the Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa, we were soon assembled at the marina.

An appropriately-dressed albeit sleepy group warily eyed the howling rain and seemingly delicate boats. Well, guess that’s why it’s called the “Monsoon Cup” and not the “Sunshine Cup”.

“Pull the rope Gabey!” commanded the very patient Datuk Peter Gilmour, who was in charge of making sure that our little crew didn’t crash into a buoy or something else… like the other boat.

“I AM pulling…” was my pathetic reply, at which point he leaned over and completed the task before my utter lack of upper body strength could jeopardise anything.

He must have been missing his regular crew at that point, which includes one Japanese national by the name of Yaji-san, who bench presses 200kg and doesn’t require the help of little things like a winch to yank ropes (which he does, reportedly, one handed)!

Jaded journalists were reduced to floundering deck hands as we scrambled from one side of the boat to the other with each turn. These babies (the specially-built Foundation 36) tilt over to an almost vertical point as they turn, and the grooves along the inside suddenly turn from potential tripping hazard to a handy foot rest.

Thankfully I fared better when it came to steering the boat (“The trick is to keep your eyes on the horizon and your target!”), although it must be said that having a bespectacled person manning the helm in rainy conditions is a serious leap of faith on the said person’s ability to see anything past droplets on lens.

“Oh, she’s a natural when it came to the start, I didn’t have to say anything!” con ded Gilmour to fellow Monsoon Cup organisers before he sat down with Malay Mail for an interview after the sailing session.

At this point it should be noted that when it comes to sailors and sailing, Gilmour knows what he’s talking about (purely to prop up my battered ego and aching limbs of course).

The affable Australian began sailing at the tender age of seven, and to those not familiar with the racing scene, he is one of the big guns. Gilmour is the four-time World Champion of Match Race Sailing (1990, 1997, 1998, 2006) and one of the most respected and feared competitors on the World Match Racing Tour.

Not to mention, one of the most knowledgeable skippers around. “That’s my office out there (on the water), it’s where I feel most comfortable. It’s such a tranquil environment, being pushed along by power of wind. There’s something magical about understanding that power, that spiritual relationship to the wind, water and the boat,” he explained when asked about his affinity for the sport.

He was first invited by former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, to come to Malaysia to oversee the Monsoon Cup back in 2005.

And since then, he has played a dedicated role in growing this final leg of the World Match Racing Tour, nurturing Malaysian sailors along the way. He now holds the post of Monsoon Cup Race advisor.

“I feel like the last man standing,” he said with a laugh.

“I recently saw an old Monsoon Cup photo of me together with the former prime minister, a few of the Exco members and I’m the only one still around!”

According to Gilmour, it takes years for a sailing crew to truly come together as one cohesive unit. He himself, has been with the same crew for the past 16 years (it takes about five just to get comfortable).

That being said, it is a wonder how our ragtag little crew managed to keep the boat going at all. By the end of the exercise, a group of soaked journalists were sporting bright eyes, aching limbs and a newfound appreciation for the sport (“Never mind the keropok lekor, let’s go sailing again!”).

Now back in my little cubicle in rainy KL, only one thing needs to be said about the whole experience - it was truly glorious.

Peter Gilmour on Malaysian sailors

How has it been, coaching Malaysian teams?

Well the demand is higher now. When we first started, they didn’t really know about me and the wealth of experience I had to share. The country is not that into sailing as say, the EPL.

The interesting thing is though, that I’ve been able to work with them gently on their local level and move them along to try and improve. They appreciate the time that I take and realise that I might be paid millions in another country to do exactly the same thing.

The improvements that have occurred have been truly astonishing, in such a short period. Such as Nurul Ain and we also have a couple of teams from the Navy. They’re starting to show some real promise, but it’s a situation that takes time.

So what’s the next step?

If you ask me, I’d say to have a Malaysian team on the world circuit by 2012 or 2013 is a realistic achievement. But what they have in terms of the structure in Malaysia, it’s not conducive on the world stage. These sailors have got to want to help themselves as much as they’ve got to want to be helped.

You get out in the big wide world, it’s not a nanny state and you’re on your own. Survival of the fittest. A sport like match racing is a lot like boxing, an intense combination of strategy and skill. When looking at the top 12 teams, they’re pretty brutal in terms of pushing down anyone on their way up and it’s quite nasty at that level so you got to have the resilience, passion and commitment in order to stay in the game.

What does it take?

First of all, it’s not an individual sport, it’s a team sport. So respecting each other and the tasks each has to do is essential. Next, you need to build a team on compatibility, relationships, skills and strength.

Lastly, you need to be well educated as it gives you the ability to be analytical, to look at things and analyse situations to work out tactics and strategy. Work out a “what do we do” in each situation. It is a combination of all the above that makes a winning team.

So you’re saying a Malaysian team can get onto world stage?

Absolutely, but it’s going to require a lot of determination.

GILMOUR’S SPECTATOR TIPS

• “Try and get yourself a place in one of the hot seats. It’s a new thing we’ve introduced for this year’s race and there is no better place to be than up close and personal watching these sailors at work.” (Malay Mail is giving you the chance! See contest form below).

• When watching the event on television or in Terengganu, take note of the environment. The most interesting is what goes on in the cockpit, seeing the tension and anxiety of some of the crews. “Sometimes you can cut the air with a knife, there’s so much tension. It’s just that sporting psychology, similar to seeing two football teams facing o against each other.”

• Another aspect to be looking out for is what conditions the race will be held in. Light conditions translate to a more tactical race while breezy conditions will mean that it’s more of a rugby scrum,  ghting boats around the race course to get the most out of the wind.

• Look and try to understand some of the rule-based situations. For example, which yacht gives way to what. The more you understand the rules of the sport, the more interesting the sport becomes.

 

About the Foundation 36

THE Foundation 36 (F36) was designed in New Zealand, but built in Western Australia. The boat was specifically built for match-racing such as the Monsoon Cup. Its hull is made of glass-reinforced polyester resin with a foam core. It has an overall length of 10.86m with a beam width of 3.48m and draft (underwater depth of hull) of 1.9m.

The yacht weighs a total of 3,850kg and has a mast height of 13m. Its main power is provided by main sail which has a total area of 33sqm, a genoa sail with a total area of 30sqm and spinnaker sail with a total area of 70sqm.

ABOUT THE MONSOON CUP
IT is the tenth and final event on the World Match Racing Tour and is set to take place in Pulau Duyong, Terengganu from Dec 2 to 6. The champion of the Tour is determined at the Monsoon Cup. For more information, visit www.monsooncup.com.my

GET IN THE HOT SEAT!

DURING the Monsoon Cup Round Robin (Dec 3 and 4), a few lucky recipients will be allowed on the boat to witness first-hand how a team works together to outwit its opponent.

Malay Mail is offering readers the chance to snag themselves that coveted spot!

TWO lucky winners (along with a friend) will walk away with a spot in the battle.

Are you ready to get the chance to view the engagement up close – feel the spray of the water, the tension of the sailors, and the heat of the action?

All you need to do is send an email to lifestyle@mmail.com.my with the heading 'Malay Mail/Monsoon Cup Hot Seat' along with your name, contact numbers and address and the answers to the following questions:

1. Where does the Monsoon Cup take place?
a. Terengganu
b. Kelantan
c. Sabah

2. How many times was Peter Gilmour crowned World Champion of Match Race Sailing?
a. Four
b. Two
c. Three

3. Where was the F36 BUILT?
a. New Zealand
b. Western Australia
c. Malaysia

4) In 100 words or less, complete the following slogan: “I deserve to be in the Hot Seat because…”

* Contest ends Nov 24, so hurry!

• Note: Contest winners are only guaranteed a place on the F36. Accommodation and transport are not provided. Winners will be notified no later than Nov 26.

TERMS & CONDITIONS
• Only completed submissions with all contact details provided will be considered.
• No employee or family members of Malay Mail Sdn Bhd and T-Best Events are eligible for this contest.
• Winners must be in good health and have no preexisting medical conditions
• The Race committee has the final say in the Hot Seat allocation.
• Judges' decision is final. No correspondence will be entertained.
• Winners will be contacted by Malay Mail Sdn Bhd via email or phone.
• Boat racing is a water sport that carries certain amount of risk to bodily injury. T-Best Events Sdn. Bhd. and all sponsors & supporters of the Race will not be liable for any and all legal/financial responsibilities and liabilities for any injuries sustained by participant during the Hot Seat Experience.