(From the Monsoon Cup website: www.monsooncup.com.my)

Nurul Ain Md Isa, received the loudest hurrah when she skippered Perak Sailing Team to a surprise win in the 2008 Malaysian Match Racing Championships – Malaysian Qualifiers Finals, at Pulau Duyung, today.

Feeling a little nervous and facing the barrage of questions from the Press, Nurul never dreamt of winning the qualifier, but with a solid help from her four crews, she was able to trap the gentle winds at the right times and weather the curly waves to a good finishing – something which she admitted that she had never dreamt of.

The pint-sized steely character from Lumut, Perak, largely attributed the win to her four teenage crew members. ’Their tips, guidance and judgements were accurate – a million thanks to them,’ she said.

But then again Nurul was also quick to sing praises to her sponsors. She said: ’Without their support, we would not have been here.’

Nurul, who started sailing at the age of 11, started out in the Optimist category and then moved on to the main classes – International 470 and 420. Obviously, she has benefited from the Monsoon Cup where she had picked up pointers watching the casts of world skippers in action over the last three editions.

When asked if it was an advantage with the light winds and gentle waves, she replied: ’Yes! We are all lightweights and the situations did help us.’

On her feeling on the overall control of her game, Nurul , whose first international event was the 1998 Asian Optimist Sailing Championship in Shanghai, said: Not really. I felt a little scared if we were to lose because there was support from all quarters – parents, family and extended family members and friends. So, I did not start in the best frame of mind.’

Nevertheless, their ‘journey’ today began last night when the team sat together and discussed strategies on how to chart their challenge.

’Today, something happened beyond our expectations. I hope to progress from here and look toward the future. I believe if we stay focussed, the winds of fortune will change our course.

Meanwhile, Race Advisor for Monsoon Cup 2008 Dato’ Peter Gilmour, told a press conference that it was an exciting three-days competition.

’For me, the participation from the local teams has increased since the first chapter four years ago. There were four teams in the second and third year and this year it doubled to eight,’ he said, while congratulating Nurul.

I am so excited to see this young team go all the way, it is a fantastic result, he added.

The World Match Racing Tour is the world’s leading professional sailing series. The nine event series is the only global series of sailing events in the world touching five continents. Dubbed ’The Formula One of Sailing’, this professional sailing series was formed in 2000 to unite the world’s best match-race regattas under one banner. The Tour features America’s Cup teams, skippers and world’s top sailors in the ultimate ’race of truth’ and is sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

The WMRT is one of three races with ’Special Event’ status alongside the America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race. The WMRT uses the same one-on-one, match race format (course, rules, umpires) as the America’s Cup. However, races take place in identical, event-supplied racing yachts for a true test of skill and teamwork.

Boats range from 30-40 feet with 4-6 crew on each yacht. Each event lasts 5 days with racing held as close to shore as possible for a unique spectator and hospitality experience. WMRT television coverage reaches over 600 million households in 75 countries through 34 broadcasters.

Unique Hospitality experiences include shore side marquees, luxury yachts and sailing with America’s Cup skippers. Monsoon Cup being part of the WMRT is the final leg of the tour. For more details, surf to http://www.worldmatchracingtour.com

For more information, visit the Monsoon Cup Malaysia web site at www.monsooncup.com.my

by Audrey Lakai