PULAU DUYONG – 4 Oct 2011: The Malaysian Match Racing Clinic began today at the five-star Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa in Kuala Terengganu. Organised by T-Best Events, the team behind the hugely successful Monsoon Cup, it caters for the participants of the Malaysian Match Racing Championship.

The three-day intensive clinic promises to be fun and inspirational, as participants learn the finer arts of the sport from Bill Gladstone, Head Coach from the successful North U program. Assisting him is Miguel Allen, International Umpire from Portugal who is also the Technical Director of Portugal Match Cup, one of the stages in the World Match Racing Tour.

The clinic is an extension of the Monsoon Sailing School, which was initiated in 2009 under the patronage of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to help local sailors progress further in the match racing discipline.

“ I’m delighted to be here in Malaysia for the match racing clinic. I’m sure it will be a wonderful experience for me and the sailors. I’m looking forward to working with some of Malaysia’s best sailors. I was pleasantly surprised by the level of knowledge during the classroom sessions and hope to transfer all that onto the water” said Gladstone.

The Ministry is working hand-in-hand with Monsoon Cup organizers and Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA) to identify talented Malaysian sailors as Youth and Sports Minister Dato’ Shabery Cheek has expressed his desire to see a Malaysian team competing in the World Match Racing Tour in the not too distant future.