LANGKAWI: The Amra of Telaga Sail99 Racing Team (ATSRT) emerged as the champions in the premier racing class of the inaugural Belt and Road International Regatta (BRIR) 2024, which concluded yesterday.
The national team, helmed by Rizal Mahadi Sazili, put on an outstanding performance across four races over the two-day competition, outpacing their rivals to take home the trophy and a cash prize of RM5,000.
The wind speeds ranging between six and nine knots enabled the team to dominate the final race yesterday evening, securing the top position with eight points.
Two other national teams, the Royal Malaysian Navy led by Abdul Latif Mansor (nine points) and Cermai of Telaga Sail99 Racing Team, skippered by Nur Amirah Hamid, (11 points), finished in second and third places, respectively.
The second and third place winners each received trophies and cash prizes of RM3,000 and RM2,000, respectively.
Another Malaysian representative, Uranus RMN, led by Hasani Izhar Abu Hassan, clinched victory in the Monohull class with three points, beating Australia's Suraya (helmed by Selwyn Enoch, seven points) into second place.
The third place in that race class went to New Zealand's Lara Pinta, skippered by Frederick Florian, with a score of eight points.
In the Multihull class, China's Blue Moon team, led by Chen Shaoping, dominated the field to emerge as champions, collecting six points.
The second and third places went to Australian teams — Seadragon2, captained by Kelvin Ward with eight points and North Star, skippered by Rob Azzopardi, with nine points.
This first edition of BRIR saw 14 boats from six countries — China, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand and hosts Malaysia — competing for titles in three main classes — Racing, Monohull and Multihull.
The winning teams received trophies and cash prizes at the closing and prize-giving ceremony held at the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club here last night.