For me, as a kid, I used to dream a lot. One of it is to own my very own yacht when I grow up someday. However, as a matter of fact, the price for a yacht and the money required to maintain it obviously beyond reach for most of us Malaysians. So, when I saw the competition organized by Firefly Airlines giving a free ride on yacht during the Monsoon Cup race, I said to myself, “It’s now or never. Whatever happens, I’m going for it.”

And so, I crapped a slogan for them and viola, I got the ride of my life!

Honestly, I’m a Terengganu local. In fact, I lived in Kuala Terengganu! So, I didn’t take the free return flight ticket to Kuala Terengganu.

The Monsoon Cup held in Pulau Duyong, Kuala Terengganu is the final race of the World Match Racing Tour, a pinnacle of the yachting competition which is equivalent to Formula 1 in car racing competition. It is held in Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa. As it is the final race of the season, it will determine the champion for the 2009 season and thus the pressure is on for all the teams who are still challenging for the title, namely, Adam Minoprio, Tovar Mirsky, Ian Williams and Mathieu Richard.

My hot seat session was scheduled to be on the 4^th December 2009. I witnessed the race between Damien Iehl’s French Racing Team and Torvar Mirsky’s Mirsky Racing Team. I was seated at the back of Iehl’s yacht while another Chinese lady from Sabah was placed in Mirsky’s yacht with the following instructions:

“When the team moved to the left of the yacht, you move to the left as well and vice versa.”

“If you don’t understand what they said, just stand in the middle!”

And of course, there’s one basic rule that you don’t need anyone telling you,

“Hold tight and don’t fell into the river!”

When everything was set, we got into the umpire’s speedboat and were sent to our assigned yacht. I was greeted by Iehl and his team members. The start of the race is different from any other race, car race, dragon boat race or cycling race. In the Monsoon Cup, the yacht might be separated from one another and depending on the wind condition and the team that successfully attack the other team, they will be given the priority to start first. So, it’s important to successfully attack and defend the attack from the other team during the start of the race. During the start, my team, Iehl Racing Team successfully attack Mirsky Racing Team. Through coordinated teamwork, communication and the ability to respond to the changing wind condition, they were able to force Mirsky to allow them to start the race first.

On the river, the wind condition changed very fast, it could be blowing to the left now and 5-10 seconds later, the wind might be blowing to the right. As such, every time the wind changed, the team will have to adjust the sails and thus, you’ll see the yacht bending to the left or right. For example, if the yacht bends to the right, the whole team will be sitting on the left, using the body weight as a way to balance the yacht again.

Each time the team changed the sail, they will have to release the ropes that tie the sail and the metal holding the sail will be swinging from left to right or right to left and everyone will have to watch out their head to avoid being hit by the metal! At the other end of the course, the team will have to turn their yacht 360 degree and it’s here when the team will have to change their sail, lowering one and releasing a new sail to allow the yacht to sail using the wind. They’ll have to work fast, efficient and quicker than their rival to maintain their advantage over their rival.

The race requires each team to sail up and down the river 3 or 4 times, depending on the race official’s decision which again depends on the wind condition. My team, Iehl’s Racing Team successfully maintain their lead from the start to the end, and thus winning their race against Mirsky Racing Team. Both however, gathered enough points to proceed to the next round of the race.

The final of the Monsoon Cup 2009 pits Adam Minoprio from Black Match Racing against Ben Ainslie from team Origin. However, the winner of the championship is known before the race since Adam Minoprio qualified for the final and all his rivals failed to do so. He won the Monsoon Cup race as well, giving him double cheer to the season ending championship.

As for me, the experience is something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. Below are some of the pictures taken during the Monsoon Cup. No picture was snapped on board because there’s one person who dropped his or her camera into the river before.

Interviews by one of the participants

Mini Concert

Monsoon Cup’s Yacht

The participants during practice match

Hello all, we have all our entries here for “SAIL YOUR WAY TO MONSOON CUP 2009″ contest!

Wish them all the best! Guess who’s the first lucky ones to be on the HOT SEAT!

NAME: NURUL LIYANA OSMAN

 Q1: TELEKOM MALAYSIA BERHAD

ASTRO

FIREFLY

 Q2: ADAM MINOPRIO 

 SLOGAN: IT LOOKS EXCLUSIVE BUT AFFORDABLE, COMFORTABLE AND CUSTOMER FRIENDLY…I LOVE FLY WITH FIREFLY… (^_^)/`

***********************************************************************

NAME: Chen Tien Zyee

 Q1: Revive Isotonic from Permanis Sdn. Bhd. , Richard Mille, Cartrade Group sponsoring Volkswagen cars for transportation

 Q2: Adam Minoprio with 100 points

 SLOGAN: they give me an opportunity to witness yacht race from start till the end, something that money wouldn’t be able to buy it! Way to go Firefly!

************************************************************************

 NAME: Ku Yin Lun

 Q1: 1) Firefly Airlines

2) Astro

3) TM

 Q2: Adam Minoprio

 SLOGAN: It’s fly incredible valueS with low fares.

************************************************************************

 NAME: Heryanto Kunadi

 Q1: Fire Fly, Ri-Yaz Heritage and Astro.

 Q2: Adam Minoprio.

 SLOGAN: Low fare airline with full service.

************************************************************************

NAME: Joseph Choo

 Q1: Permanis Sdn Bhd, Cartrade Group and Richard Mille Watches.

 Q2: Pil Robertson (Team New Zealand WAKA Racing)

 SLOGAN: it provides the best services, affordable flights and great destinations to everyone!!!

***********************************************************************

 NAME: Anino

 Q1: 1. FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd

2. Astro

3. TM

Q2: Adam Minoprio

SLOGAN: Firefly rocks my world!!

 ***********************************************************************

 NAME: Elaine Ooi

 Q1: 1) ASTRO

2) FIREFLY

3) MINISTRY OF YOUTH & SPORTS

 Q2: PHIL ROBERTSON

(TEAM NEW ZEALAND WAKA RACING)

 SLOGAN: It give me very convenience, save money & save my time to flight back to my hometown Terengganu from Singapore.

************************************************************************

NAME: Rohan Anthony

 Q1: Firefly!

Astro

Tourism Malaysia!

 Q2: adam minoprio

SLOGAN: they are small, fun and near to my house!

 ***********************************************************************

NAME: Mohd Nasir Bin Ismail

 Q1: Firefly, Astro, TM

 Q2: Adam Minoprio

 SLOGAN: affordable ticket price, comfortable facilities provided and forever the choice of the people to fly.

 ***********************************************************************

NAME: Nurfatehah Md Ulang

Q1: 1) Firefly

2) Telekom Malaysia

3) Astro

 Q2:  Adam Minoprio

 SLOGAN: I believe I still can fly eventhough I don’t have wings.

 ***********************************************************************

 NAME: Aminuddin Hilmi Bin Ahmad

Q1: Cartrade Group, Richard Mille, Firefly

 Q2: Adam Minoprio from ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing

 SLOGAN: Its offer another type of affordable budget airline travel with comfortable, simple and nice cabin interior plus the great hospitality from firefly staff which is made me fully appreciate as a part of firefly family rather than just a passenger.

 ***********************************************************************

NAME: Daphne Maia

Q1: Firefly, Astro, TM

Q2: Adam Minoprio, Torvar Mirsky, Ian Williams

SLOGAN: they’re a cool airline that listens to what customers want, through Social Media! Not only that, fans of Firefly get to partake in cool contests, and find out more about Firefly and their promotions on Facebook and Twitter. Not many airlines do it as well as Firefly does! (Psst. In fact, you’re the only airline in Malaysia that uses Social Media this well!)

***********************************************************************

NAME: Teh Foo Hock

Q1: TM, Astro & Firefly

Q2: Adam Minoprio from NZL

SLOGAN: It makes my flying experience within Malaysia and this region Complete!

***********************************************************************

NAME: Numirah Anang

Q1: Firefly, Astro, Telekom Malaysia

Q2: Adam Minoprio

SLOGAN: Good things comes in small packages! Budget airlines that don’t make you feel like you are on budget! Superb service….

***********************************************************************

NAME: mohammad shahril kamarudin

Q1: Fire fly,Astro,TM

Q2: Phil Robertson

SLOGAN: i found my love here!!!!!!!!!!!it will last forever

***********************************************************************

NAME: SY Lau

Q1: Firefly, TM & ASTRO

Q2: Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team

SLOGAN: without worrying being charged sky high, I will now only FLY SKY HIGH!

***********************************************************************

NAME: Robin Yong

Q1: Astro, FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd, TM

Q2: Adam Minoprio

SLOGAN: it just affordable, now I can dream + fly to it

***********************************************************************

NAME: mohd azahari

Q1: Cartrade Group, Richard Mille, Firefly

Q2: Adam Minoprio from ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing

SLOGAN: semua mampu terbang ke distinasi impian yang diinginkan

***********************************************************************

NAME: Norzuhaira

Q1: Telekom Malaysia (TM), Firefly, Astro

Q2: Adam Minoprio (ETNZ/BlackMatch)

SLOGAN: it’s convenient, it’s orange and it will send me to the Monsoon Cup!

***********************************************************************

NAME: OHD HAFIZ BIN MOHD SALLEH

Q1: Firefly, Telekom & Astro

Q2: Adam Minoprio

SLOGAN: firefly is a community airline that connects me from urban to rural area and vice versa at a cheaper price with fantastic added services

***********************************************************************

NAME: Ng Tien Tjuen

Q1: TM, Astro & Firefly

Q2: Adam Minoprio

SLOGAN: everyone can fly with firefly!

***********************************************************************

NAME: Azuan Ahmad Zahdi

Q1: Firefly, TM, ASTRO

Q2: Adam Minoprio of ETNZ/BlackMatch

SLOGAN: it is a perfect balance of convenient air travel, exciting flying experience and vibrant ways of connecting communities across the region.

***********************************************************************

NAME: AINA ABDUL HAMID

Q1:Firefly,ASTRO,TM

Q2:Adam Minoprio

SLOGAN:of its strategic location being 20km from KL city centre which is away from the hustle and bustle of big airport.

***********************************************************************

NAME: yeoh kah kiong

Q1: 1 firefly airline

2 tm

3 astro

Q2: phil robertson

SLOGAN: firefly  offering fantastic offer deals , excellent service , fun and caring cabin crew and lastly firefly your community airline.

***********************************************************************

Well, that’s all for today. We will announce the winners soon! STAY TUNED!

Thank you and have a nice weekend!

November 17, 2009 in Experience | Tags: monsoon cup, sailing, profressionals, fun, exciting, challenging | Leave a comment

We had briefing from the Monsoon Cup champion, Peter Gilmour and of course, we were taught the basic rule of safety (the thought of falling into the water came into my mind). But anyways, it was pouring, the water was high,cold and muddy (as we were near the coast), the wind was blowing madly and I thought we were not ready to go out in this weather.

We waited for a mere 15 minutes for the rain to slow down, the wind was blowing and we were wet before we can sit on the boat.

After that, we went sailing on a F36 sail boat made from New Zealand in the pouring rain. I was on the white team in which another professional, Dave Mills act as our guide. He assigned me to pull the rope, in which im steering based on the ’sail’. It was really challenging, having to pull (have to be strong),having to look at the wind direction and mind you, it’s all water on your feet and it was raining (which was kind of hard to open my eyes).

Hence, i really felt like i was in the Monsoon Cup race (thanks to the wind). It was an experience that i will never forget. It was tiring as i used all my body parts but definitely something in which i thought i can and will never do but i did it!

We were so proud of ourselves when we beat Gilmour to the finish line.

To get an experience similar to mine, i have a solution for you.

Just join the Firefly “Sail your way to Monsoon Cup” 2009 on http://blog.fireflyz.com.my

So, grab that chance and sit on the boat when they race. Plus, Firefly will also sponsor your flight to Terengganu for FREE! all you need to pay for is your accommodation in which it will definitely be cheap in TGG.

I’ve went sailing, how about you?

Join now! It’s FREE anyway.

http://blog.fireflyz.com.my

http://dotcherry.wordpress.com/