M`SIA CAN HAVE A MATCH RACING TEAM BY 2014, SAYS GILMORE

PUTRAJAYA, July 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia can have its own Match Racing Team to
compete in the World Match Racing Tour by 2014, said Monsoon Cup Race advisor
Peter Gilmore.

He said although match racing was still new in the country, it had grown
tremendously since the first Monsoon Cup was introduced in 2005.

"However, the main focus now is to polish the young talents in the sport. That is
why having the Monsoon Sailing School and top level coaches is soimportant for the
national sailors," he said during the opening of the 2nd Monsoon Sailing School
(MSS) here Thursday.

He said the MSS was also aimed at industrialising the sport and spur
economic activities in the marine industry, namely in boatmaking and repairing
faciilities.

A total of 25 Malaysians, two Filipinos and three Turkish sailors took part in the
four-day sailing clinic. Ten of the Malaysians were elite sailors handpicked by the
Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA).
-- BERNAMA