October 11, 2011
3 minutes reading time
Jeremy Koo Takes Malaysian Match Racing Championship Title
After four days of match racing and after sailing an epic ten matches in the semi finals and finals of the Malaysian Match Racing Championship (MMRC), Jeremy Koo the 2010 champion, beat Hazwan Hazim Dermawan, the 2009 title winner.
After four days of match racing and after sailing an epic ten matches in the semi finals and finals of the Malaysian Match Racing Championship (MMRC), Jeremy Koo the 2010 champion, beat Hazwan Hazim Dermawan, the 2009 title winner.
After the presentation an exhausted Koo slumped into a chair and said, “It was really, really a tough battle. Early in the event we were perhaps over confident and we lost some matches we should have won, but as the racing went on we were more disciplined. We stuck to our game plan and worked very hard to control the pre-starts.
“Conditions were tricky in both the semi finals and the finals, which both went to five races. In both the semis and finals we won the first race and then we lost two and then we came back strongly – we kept up our concentration and won in the last.
“Against Hazwan we lost track of just how many tacks and gybes we did. The final match was really very tough.
“Hazwan got a blue flag (penalty) and we just concentrated on sailing very fast. We split tacked and it was close all the way, but at the second top mark we just managed to round in front of him and then we just led all the way down to the bottom mark, with a penalty in hand.
“My whole crew are very tired. They gave their all and defending the title is really, really difficult. The whole Malaysian series … the skill level has jumped forward significantly.
“At the end of the day it is all about fitness and how well the team manages to hold it together and we did hold together – we held strong and we won the title. Now we will concentrate on winning races at the Monsoon Cup (to be held at the same venue, the Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa Kuala Terengganu, from November 22-27).”
Disappointed but still smiling Hazwan will sail in the Monsoon Cup Asian Qualifiers, starting in just two days, against a very high quality field from around the world.
“We are a lightweight crew, at least 30kg under the limit, so we are hoping for light conditions for the Asian Qualifiers. At least we go into the series battle hardened.”
In the five race semi final earlier in the day, Koo and his team beat Masyuri Rahmat, while Hazwan Hazim Dermawan defeated Mohd Romzi, also in the fifth match.
In the final, Koo racked up the first win but Hazwan won the next two in quick succession. In the fourth match Hazwan was penalised and Koo equalised.
PRO David Tallis extended the time limit to 18:30 local time to allow the title to be decided on the water rather than by count back.
In a softening seabreeze Koo took the initial starboard advantage in the dial up and dominated the pre-start securing a penalty against Hazwan. The start was even and the race close but Koo had the boat speed to win.
The Petit Final was won by Masyuri Rahm 2-1 against Mohd Romzi.
Masyuri Rahmat said, “We have improved a lot this year. We got very close, we just made a few small mistakes at critical times. We will come back stronger again next year.”
Mohd Romzi said, “This was our first Malaysian Championship, the standard is very high. We were pleased and honoured to get so far and we are looking forward to next year.
“We will be cheering for Hazwan in the Asian Qualifiers (Asian Match Racing Championship (AMRC) October 12-15). We want him to join Jeremy at the Monsoon Cup.”
Earlier Nurul Ain Md. Isa, the 2008 MMRC champion decisively beat Mohd. Zaidi Pardi 2-0 to take fifth place overall.
Final Standings
1. Jeremy Koo (Abdullah Chan/KRT)
2. Hazwan Hazim Dermawan (Permai Hotel Match Racing Team)
3. Masyuri Rahmat (MAF2)
4. Mohd Romzi Muhammad (UPM Sailing Team)
5. Nurul Ain Md. Isa (Ri-Yaz Heritage Sailing Team)
6. M. Zaidi Pardi @Mat Amin (MAF1)
7. Mohd Afendy Abdullah (Team Afendy)