LANGKAWI: Australia’s Evolution Racing and New Zealand’s Hi Fi shared the lead on the fourth day of the Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR) 2010 at Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (RLYC) here yesterday.After seven races, both yachts collected nine points while Hong Kong’s Jelik came in third with 15 points, ahead of Royal Malaysian Navy’s Zuhal, helmed by Mohd Razali Mansor (22 points).
As for the final day today, both Evolution Racing and Hi Fi will surely give their best shot to take the title in the prestigious annual event.
Kevin Costin skippered Hi Fi since the first day as owner and experienced skipper Neil Pryde was not available when the race got underway on Monday but he is expected to arrive in time to help his team today.
With Pryde’s presence, Evolution Racing, skippered by Ray Roberts, can expect a tough challenge in the final race.
Spectators and organisers can’t wait to see who among the two experienced skippers, Roberts who has led Quantum Racing to win the RLIR IRC Racing Class for four consecutive years or Pryde, a seasoned campaigner with New Zealand in world-class sailing events, would emerge victorious today.
Yesterday’s results also showed that a number of teams in the different classes, had pulled away from their rivals with a huge advantage in the number of points collected.
Among them are Phoenix (IRC Class), RQYS (Sports Boats) and Astra (Ocean Rover) while in other classes, the tight battle remains in store when the yachts set sail today.
Yachts from Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Holland, United Kingdom, United States, Norway, South Africa, Germany, Singapore and Malaysia are competing for the Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy (internationally registered yachts), LADA-IRC Challenge Trophy (IRC Class), Langkawi Sports Trophy (Sports Boat Class), Malaysian Multihull Challenge Cup (Multihull category) and Commodore’s Challenge Cup (club-registered cruisers). — Bernama