LANGKAWI: Hong Kong Team Witchcraft has emerged champions for the first time as they lifted The Raja Muda Cup today, sealing their victory in the 2023 Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta (RMSIR), a nine-day sailing competition that began on Friday.
Team skipper Nick Burns, 79, and his 10-man crew - Cameron Ferguson, Darwin Santos, Peter Fletch, Fred Kinmonth, Heather Hard, Peter Baer, Warcz Downes, Zack Izham, Wilfred Kam and Maueen Mueller - won the Class 1 with only a single point ahead of second-placed The Next Factor from Australia (13 points), while Team Uranus of Malaysia took third (24 points) and Australian team Aftershock last (31 points).
They placed first in five out of eight races held, the first stage from Port Klang to Pulau Pangkor, third stage from Penang to Langkawi and three Langkawi Harbour races.
Fletch, 63, who was the team's trimmer, expressed his relief that their plans all went well even though they had to deal with unfavourable winds.
"There is a lot of variable conditions and a lot of wind changes like storm at night. Of course, its a challenge (but our) eyes focus on what going on and just watch position as well.
"Its a good success but it doesn't come easy so we are satisfied with the crew and hopefully we come back next year's RMSIR," he told reporters here tonight.
Meanwhile in the The Jugra Challenge Cup for Class 2, United Kingdom's Shahtoosh emerged champions, while Singapore's Silhouette won the Class 3 to lift the Dato' Abdul Aziz Ismail Challenge Trophy.
The Jeff Harris Challenge Trophy was won by the Lady Bubbly from Australia in the Class 4 category, while Malaysia's VG Offshore and Marikh dominated the Class 5 to win the Royal Langkawi Yacht Cup and Class 6 for the Eveline Trophy respectively.
A total of 19 teams participated in the 33rd edition of the RMSIR, competing in Class 1 to 6, with three stages, Port Klang to Pulau Pangkor, Pulau Pangkor to Penang, and Penang to Langkawi as well as Harbour Races in Penang and Langkawi.
The RMSIR was mooted by Selangor Sultan, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah while he was the Raja Muda Selangor.