PULAU PANGKOR: Team Witchcraft from Hong Kong clinched the first stage of the 2023 Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta (RMSIR) race from Port Klang to Pangkor, Perak here today (November 19).
Team Witchcraft, skippered by Nick Burns, 79, together with his crew who were competing in the Class 1 racing category, clocked 18 hours 43 minutes 27 seconds.
The Withcraft crew comprised Cameron Ferguson, Darwin Santos, Peter Fletch, Fred Kinmonth, Heather Hard, Peter Baer, Warcz Downes, Zack Izham, Wilfred Kam and Maueen Mueller.
"Its was a good competition and I have a great crew so we stood a good chance to win. After all this is my 12th time competing in the RMSIR and using my own boat so its a new experience.
"Last year I raced with Windsikher and won the competition. So fingers crossed for another win this year," he told Bernama after the prize presentation for the first stage yesterday (November 19).
The team from Hongkong edged Team The Next Factor from Australia that clocked 19:05.03s while Team Uranas from Malaysia finished third with a time of 19:08.19s.
In the Class 2 competition Team Shahtoosh from the United Kingdom won the race while Singapore's Silhouette took the Class 3 title and Team Lady Bubbly from Australia triumphed in Class 4.
Malaysian teams, Dash and Marikh were victorious in the Class 5 and Class 6 races.
The RMSIR which is held over eight days from November 18 (Saturday) to November 25, features 19 teams which will continue the next race to Penang while the final destination is Langkawi.
The RMSIR which started in 1989 is the oldest regatta in Asia and the braindchild of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah who was the Raja Muda of Selangor when the race was incepted. – Bernama