Utarid rule the wave at 2012 BIYC

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SIMPLY THE BEST: Crew of the Utarid poses with their challenge trophy.

KOTA KINABALU: The Navy boys’ sheer perseverance, determination and consistency in performance paid off as they successfully won the 2102 Borneo International Yachting Challenge (BIYC).

Malaysia’s entry through the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM), Utarid, became a sensation in their maiden participation as they not only clinched the overall champion title, but also consistently winning in record times.

The Navy sent two boats – Utarid and Uranus and both made instant impact in their maiden participation at the 9th Borneo International Yachting Challenge which was concluded in Kota Kinabalu on Friday.

Utarid skippered by Ishak Jab is the winner in Miri Harbour Race, Labuan to Kota Kinabalu Passage Race and Kota Kinabalu Harbour Race.

However, Utarid lost to defending champion Selma Star in the Miri to Labuan Passage Race.

Due to consistently winning records, Utarid was declared the overall champion of the race.

During the prize presentation ceremony held at Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club, Utarid was announced as the winner of IRC Racing Class.

The second place winner was sister-boat Uranus while Selma Star had to settle for third place.

The United States’ entry, Simanderal, owned and skippered by Michael Hughes was the winner in Cruising Class A category with Hong Kong’s Bewitched (Ross Lyons) and Australia Seventh Heaven (Charlie Preen) in second and third place respectively.

Cruising Class B category saw Australia entries dominated the top three positions where Cilantro skippered and owned by J Thomson and Sandra Toomey as the champion with Freycinet (Daryl Calvert) in second and Jemimah (Geunter M Seidel) third.

Australia also dominated the Cruising Multihulls category.

The top three boats were Splashdown (Colin Hayden), Ultimate Dream (Richard Dackas) and Bach & Byte (James Moodie).

Present at the ceremony were Assistant Minister of Communications and Minister of Sports Datuk Lee Kim Shin who is also BIYC co-chairman, chairman of Sabah Tourism Board Dato Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin, Miri Working Committee chairman Troy Yaw and TLDM Chief of Staff Naval Region 2 Captain Mohd Yusri Mohd Yunus.