While the World Match Racing Tour represents the pinnacle of Match Racing, it is often forgotten that the Tour sits on top of a global pyramid of hundreds of local and national events contested by thousands of sailors.
In order for sailors from around the world to be recognised in the ISAF rankings and potentially be considered for World Match Racing Tour wildcard entries or Tour Cards, events need to conform to certain standards. The World Match Racing Tour Development Council is designed to provide a framework to ensure standards are met.
But it’s not just the development of sailors. The development of the sport as a commercially viable going concern is also within the remit of the Development Council. Advantages of working with the World Match Racing Tour for event organisers and yachting associations include knowledge about how sailing provides a unique platform for businesses to come together and associate their brand with a healthy and challenging sport that is not solely focused on physical strength, but also on skill and tactical thinking.
The Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA) has been successful in its bid to gain endorsement for the Malaysian Match Racing Circuit from the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) after a series of meetings with The WMRT Development Council.
The MYA, represented by Hj. Lukman B. Abu Bakar, Deputy President and Dato’ Wan Hisham Wan Salleh, Vice President, had two days of intensive meetings with The WMRT Development Council over two days at the St. Moritz Match Race, Switzerland. During this time, they presented Malaysia’s proposal for the sanctioning of a Malaysian Match Racing Circuit by The WMRT Development Council.
Hj. Lukman, Deputy President of Malaysian Yachting Association said:
“We are very excited to have received this endorsement for the Malaysian Match Racing Circuit from the WMRT. We are at the start of a journey that will see the Malaysian sailors elevated beyond a point not previously possible.”
The WMRT Development Council has provided strict guidelines for the MYA to adhere to, ensuring the standards of the Malaysian Match Racing Circuit measure up to the WMRT’s World Championship standards. This strategic alliance will see the WMRT share its technical and sporting knowledge, commercial strategies and development framework for officials and umpires with the MYA.
Jim O’ Toole, CEO of WMRT, commented:
“The World Match Racing Tour Development Council was set up to help develop new sailing talents and we hope to realise that vision by partnering with proactive governing bodies. After reviewing the detailed submissions and presentations we are delighted to formally endorse the MYA and its plans for the Malaysian Match Racing Circuit as we believe their competition framework will nurture the future growth in sailing across Malaysia. We look forward to working closely with the M YA to ensure the success of the Malaysian Match Racing Circuit which we hope will become a pathway for Malaysian sailors aspiring to compete on the Tour.”
The Circuit will be incorporated within the already successful KFC Regatta in Langkawi, Lumut Perak and Selangor, culminating in the Malaysian Match Racing Championship, the qualifiers for the Monsoon Cup, in Pulau Duyong, Terengganu.
Hj. Lukman commented:
“A keelboat class circuit will provide local sailors with the avenue and opportunities to continuously train and compete professionally in the match racing discipline, harnessing their full potential and preparing them for international events. We have our work cut out between now and February 2012 when we plan to launch the first event of the Malaysian Match Racing Circuit. We are hopeful of garnering the support of our partners KFC, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and T-Best Events to ensure the success of this Circuit.”
