14th Royal Langkawi International Regatta - Preview

The organisers of the 14th Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR) 2016 are all set to welcome their regular favourites as well as a number of newcomers who have registered to take part from 11 to 16 January 2016. Since the launch of registration, the 14th edition next year has received 23 entries, of which 6 are new entries, 16 are regulars and 1 is returning to Langkawi waters after a long hiatus from the regatta.

Team Ulumulu will be back after being away from the RLIR for almost a decade. Its captain, Jeremy Koo however, has raced with other teams over the years but will be looking to take the helm in his own vessel alongside Uranus, MataHari, Phoenix, Jelik, and Oi! in the IRC Racing Class.

Making their debut in the regatta and the IRC class include The Blue Angel, Black Baza and Foreign Affair. Other newcomers are Viva Layla, Millennium 2 and Allegro.

The speedsters in their Platu 25 Sports Boats class include the Royal Malaysian Navy, Malaysian Sailing Association (MSA), Singapore Management University (SMU), Phuket Sailing Club, Royal Queensland Yachting Squadron (RQYS) and Team Sharenliza.

The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (RLYC) Executive Director Wicky Sundram said, "It's such an honour that the regatta favourites keep coming back, and we attract new entries year after year. Our regatta keeps gaining more popularity among some of the best sailors in the world and I believe that the newly-built marina and clubhouse facilities will serve to enhance their experience here even more."

Social events are also on the calendar, beginning with the Welcome Dinner on 12 January, the daily Awards Ceremonies, and culminating with the Closing Ceremony party on 16 January.

The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, which is currently undergoing redevelopment, now boasts a larger Clubhouse with 9 boutique rooms and a new and ever-lively Charlie's Place. Teams will compete for the Prime Minister's Challenge Trophy – for Racing Class yachts; the Commodore's Challenge Cup – for participants of club-registered cruisers; the LADA-IRC Challenge Trophy – for participants in the IRC 1 Class; the Langkawi Sports Trophy – for participants in the Sports Boat Class and the Malaysian Multihull Challenge Cup – for participants in the Multihull category.

The Tunku Abdullah Sportsmanship Award, will be presented to the best team for its competitiveness, fair racing and comradeship, on water and land, in memory of the late Founding Chairman and the first Commodore of the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (RLYC), Almarhum Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

RLIR 2016 is grateful for the continued support of the Ministry of Youth & Sport Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia and the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), as well as its commercial sponsors and supporters.

Media Partners are SEA Yachting, Sail-World Asia, HOMME, Image Asia, Traxx FM Radio & RT and Spectrum Outdoor Marketing.

The Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR) 2016 is organised by the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (RLYC) and sanctioned by the ISAF and Malaysian Sailing Association (MSA), and supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Malaysia. The RLIR is part of the Asian Yachting Circuit.

www.langkawiregatta.com