Back Regatta RMSIR 2005-11-18/26 28-12-2005 A Regatta in Swan Style – Cruising! Michele Pippen,Sea Yachting The Raja Muda Regatta! My first and only participation goes back to fond memories of 1993. Departing Sydney in April that year on ‘Simpatico’ with three kids in tow, and having participated in every regatta and rally we could on the way, including the ‘Over the Top’ from Gove to Darwin, then the Darwin to Ambon, and onto Ujung Pandang, Sulawesi, for the Makassar Straits Regatta, my family enjoyed some reasonable success along the way on our Adams 12m yacht, met bunches of terrific people and had loads of fun. We just couldn’t resist yet another regatta! I’d promised myself year after year to return to do another Raja Muda – opportunity and time just never happened together until finally for 2005. It was to be the year I was going to do that regatta, by hook or by crook, even if I had to bail water from the bilges of the committee boat in order to participate! The subject came up when promoting the Raja Muda Regatta during a visit with the vibrant Dutch couple, Ed and Carla, aboard their yacht Boléro, no less than a classy Swan 59, berthed at Royal Langkawi Yacht Club. A couple of days later, a call from Ed confirmed I could join Boléro, Performance Cruising Division, for the 2005 Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta – what a mouthful! The days moved swiftly to departure date, which, as it turned out, was brought forward insisting on further stress and strain for me to tie up loose ends, business related, and verse a colleague to assist during my physical absence from Langkawi. Phew! November 12 saw me board Boléro for the 0800 hours departure, first stop Penang. With twenty-three years experience of sailing aboard yachts, cruising and racing, everywhere from 12’ to 120’, not only as crew but also in my charge, initially the little twinges of anxiety were merely thought to be sourced from excitement as we threw the lines and motored out of the marina. A few hours of rainsqualls in the afternoon turned out as eventful as the first leg proved to be. For the most, very little wind or traffic, relatively comfortable conditions and Carla’s culinary efforts in the galley were highly appreciated. After a quiet night spent anchored off the little island of Rimau, south of Penang, we set off early the next morning headed for the Pangkor group of islands, some sixty plus nautical miles further south. Once again, the weather remained relatively calm, and we were yet to get a memorable ‘really good sail’, though a few moments of 8’s were noted as boat speed. Eventually close enough to the island to get mobile telephone signal, I sent a text message to a buddy of mine, Grant, who’s latest charge is a 35m Italian luxury power yacht, based out of Pangkor Laut and Lumut. Grant soon answered with a return call and welcomed us to the anchorage with some friendly and experienced advice on the best holding spot to throw the pick. Ed and Carla, enjoying the surrounds and tranquillity immensely after months of the confinement of a marina berth, announced we ought to stay an extra day and night tucked up behind Pangkor Island. We had time up our sleeve, and this was certainly a more pleasant place to spend waiting time, before the official registration day for the regatta and meeting up with Pat and Mike Turner who were joining Boléro as guests, than up in the river in Port Klang. So, decision made, R&R it was at Pangkor. With no dinghy, time was spent reading and soaking up some cloud-filtered sun and a few welcome dips in the sea. Meanwhile, I was picking up a little more Dutch language. Looking at favourable time and tide conditions, after yet another great lunch, we took up anchor and headed out on the final leg towards Port Klang and the Royal Selangor Yacht Club. This leg was the longest, around 90 nautical miles, so a night at sea was inevitable. We managed a neat and convenient track just west of the main small fishing vessels with their laid nets and traps, and a tad east of the main shipping channel. Again, an uneventful nights sailing, with motor-sailing once again more the call than being able to get reasonable way under sail alone. Radioing ahead to the RSYC on VHF we were directed to our designated berth. Perfect! Ed managed an excellent docking, with the help of the club’s dock staff, under the strange conditions and torrent waters of the river and we were soon up at the club with a cold beer, enjoying the view and watching the non-stop activity of one of the busiest ports in SE Asia. The large open club area and bar of the RSYC quickly filled as the boats and crews arrived almost continually over the next two days. Catching up with sailing buddies and new acquaintances helped with the excitement of the atmosphere. John Ferguson, pipe in hand, back and forth, in and out of the main office and the regatta office situated out near the hardstand. Ed and Carla met up with an old cruising buddy and his family, on the SY ‘Albatros’, a thirty-year old, serious Dutch built for the North Sea, steel cruising boat that was on the hardstand undergoing maintenance and refurbishments. Before we knew it, opening ceremonies and celebrations behind us, the time had come to throw the lines again and head to the start at the mouth of the northern entrance to Port Klang for the first race - Port Klang to Pangkor. Even the largest of competing yachts were dwarfed and contrasted amongst the incoming and already docked shipping vessels. After some confusion with the start procedure, we were heading north. Boléro’s guests were to have a more animated night’s sailing than we certainly had on the delivery down. With Boléro’s gunnels in the water with a few squalls, what started out as exhilarating for the guests, celebrating with a lovely glass of red after dinner, turned into a night of bravery and noticeable silence, as they sat surely thinking they would like to call for a taxi! With their comfort and safety in mind and being a skeletal crew of three, we ‘rhumb lined’ it for the entire race. The next day had them both bright and cheerful again having found their ‘sea legs’ and now accustomed to the motion at sea. It had been many years since Mike had been to sea, and for Pat it was her inaugural journey! Well done! Celebrations and presentation ceremony held at the Sea View Resort was dampened that night by a weather front with strong winds and heavy rainfall. All participants were obliged to find refuge inside the rather clinical and spartan ‘reception’ of the resort. We pondered what criteria are listed that classifies a hotel to being able to be called a resort. The word ‘resort’ conjures up a very different picture than the reality of this particular establishment. It lacked the ‘feminine’ touch, to say the least. To be fair, the rain didn’t help the ambience. Nevertheless, all participants and committee members enjoyed the night with the help of a live band, despite the weather and lack of venue finesse. Next day saw the fleet motor out to the start to face the next race and second leg - Pangkor to Penang. A shorter leg of around 65nm, but once again no favourably strong winds were imminently evident. A ‘nothing to report’ night of racing for the majority of the fleet was the order of the second race. A few engine problems requiring a couple of yachts needing a tow to the new ‘inner city’ marina, situated adjacent to the Georgetown to Butterworth ferry terminal. Penang! What a wonderful island and a city oozing with history and architectural flair as an additional compliment – a welcomed ‘lay-day’ where participants could be found cruising the streets and beaches of our host island and carrying out adjustments and tidy-ups on their boats and swapping strategy stories for the previous two legs of the regatta. The most strenuous event was the scheduled afternoon ‘tri-shaw’ races held in front of the offices of the marina. The pewter tri-shaw replicas as trophies were just gorgeous and worth the efforts of the competitors – though some skippers probably didn’t welcome the added weight to carry. Then again, the thoughtful organisation of the RMSIR already organised a power boat to act as cargo carrier for unnecessary crew gear and unwanted additional weight. Great idea and the concept could easily be implemented for other regattas around the region. The second day in Penang saw the fleet ready and motoring north to the start line for the scheduled harbour races. The milky waters and skies were not conducive to any breeze, and the fleet sat waiting relatively patiently at the line, delayed flag hoisted on the committee boat, and all crew searching the skies for some ‘fluffy’ clouds which may herald enough breeze to begin the race sequence. Sorry, not today - the wind gods had made their decision and thus forced the racing committee to the necessary cancellation of the harbour races. Ok then, so back to the marina and to prepare for the gala night and prize giving at the E&O Hotel. Needless to say, superb setting in true style, excellent food with a wide selection of the best that Penang can offer from the speciality restaurants around the city, all set up appropriately in food stall fashion, the RMSIR’s reputably high quality trophies displayed on a long table on the stage awaiting presentation, tastefully cheerful floral arrangements on each of the many round dining tables topped with a fresh breeze blowing from the sea - the one that we had hoped for earlier in the day! Well, maybe tomorrow we will be blessed for the start of the third leg – Penang to Langkawi. Once again, unfortunately and rather a disappointment, it seemed the gods were not listening, as the prayers for some breeze fell on deaf ears, or perhaps we ought to have undertaken a pre-race official ceremony and offered incense and sacrifice to the powers to be to provide favourable winds to speed our journey for this last leg. Good idea – for next year. The start line was eventually moved further north in the hope of catching the more consistent breeze, as it seemed we had the initial designated start right in the middle of a hole, devoid of breeze. The fleet faithfully followed the start boat like ducklings following mother duck, and eventually down came the delay flag being replaced by the beginning of race sequence. Several hours later we were a mere few miles further north of Penang and it would be many hours before the island and her city lights disappeared astern. We took the time to enjoy a three course meal and a glass of wine, certainly a good idea for crew morale, why not! Most crew can sail their boats in a breeze, it takes added special skill and patience to keep a boat moving in the really light airs, taking advantage of only tides and currents to keep on track. There were reports later of several boats doing three-sixties, Aussie slang for doing a 360 degree spin. Finally, breeze! Yeah! As the wind increased so did the angle until finally it dictated ideal for a spinnaker hoist. Boléro, being fully laden for world cruising, had been severely handicapped in the light airs which dominated the regatta, and didn’t carry a number one headsail as added legacy, so the opportunity to hoist the kite was truly welcomed! Dodging fish traps and fishing boats, we made our way finally to the finish line, with an exciting finish under spinnaker, just moments ahead of ‘Jinji’, Gibsea 37, club cruising, with their local knowledge and experienced Malaysian crew, mostly ex-Gotcha Lagi! boys, including the Isham father-son team. Ah, at last! Final destination - Langkawi - and the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club keeping Charlie’s Bar open to welcome and ‘water’ the weary crew members as the marina slowly filled to almost full capacity. Again various boats’ crew discussing conditions, tactics, and frustration of the night’s racing around the bar. Another lay-day before the final harbour races to herald the end of yet another Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta. Next day, light airs dominated, so what’s new? Having spent twelve years in this area, why wasn’t I surprised! Boléro was happily joined by a few extra ‘female sailing students’, so Ed was pleased, I wonder why? Nevertheless, despite the relatively light airs, the racing and club cruising managed to make up for the postponed race back in Penang, and at the end of the day, there were still plenty of smiles to go around both from place-getters and the less fortunate alike. Time to get back to the marina, scrub up and get ready for the closing ceremonies and celebrations at the club’s poolside! Again we found an impressive array of trophies glistening under the lights, waiting to be presented to the well-deserved successful competitors, scheduled for 2100 hours. The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, management and staff, had gone all out to ensure the night’s success, with a delicious array of food served to the tables, good decision Wicky and crew – no lining up! A professional DJ poised and equipped to set the scene for after dinner dancing and whooping it up by the pool. I think I was the first to accidentally step into the pool as I missed my step walking over to greet Simon from Sirius, Classic Division, oops! The wee hours of the morning witnessed the night owls back at Charlie’s Bar with the usual back and forth ‘discussions’ of yacht racing tales and brags. Finally, all bidding each other farewell and ‘see you at the next one’, many announcing they are returning in the meantime for the Royal Langkawi International Regatta for February 2006.