KUALA TERENGGANU: After a week of incessant rain, there was a clear and sunny sky on the opening day of the fourth edition of the Monsoon Cup sailing competition in Pulau Duyong yesterday.

The sudden change of weather caught almost everyone by surprise, including defending Monsoon Cup and World Match Racing Tour champion Ian Williams, who, prior to arriving here on Tuesday, thought he would be racing in wet, monsoon-like condition.

The 31-year-old British helmsman for Bahrain Team Pindar said the nice weather made the opening ceremony a little more spectacular.

The event is being held at the Ri-Yaz Heritage Resort and Spa.

Williams handed the trophy he won last year to Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said before the ninth and final leg of the World Match Racing Tour, which was officiated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.
The king arrived at the race venue accompanied by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah.

The beautiful day also brought cheer to Shosholoza Team skipper Paolo Cian who joked that the Italian sun would follow him anywhere, even to Southeast Asia when the monsoon should be ruling supreme at this time of the year.

However, he said he would not be surprised if the weather turned gloomy again later in the day as he had been here enough times to know.

Australian PST skipper Datuk Peter Gilmour said it was a perfect day for sailing but not many had expected to see much sun after a week of torrential rain.

But his fellow countryman, Keith Swinton, who helms Black Swan Racing, remained unaffected as he had prepared to race in any type of weather.

The winner of the Asian Match Racing Championship said he would not mind getting a little wet again, as he had already gone through what was probably the worst of the monsoon in the Asian qualifiers earlier this week.

Terengganu and Kelantan Meteorological Department director Azmi Daud said the sailors might not have to worry about rain or rough sea conditions until tonight at least.