In blustery conditions, Mohd Masyuri and his Royal Malaysian Navy 1 team came from behind to snatch victory and be selected as the keelboat match racing team to represent Malaysia at the 16th Asian Games, to be contested later this year from 12 - 27 November, at the Guangdong Ocean Sports Training Centre (GOSTC) in Shanwei, China.
After struggling in the round robin stage and scraping into last spot for the semi final cut, Mohd Masyuri's RMN1 team went on to beat Nurul Elia's more favoured Perak Team, that topped the leader board after winning every race in the round robins.
By sailing fast and staying within the rules during the pre-start and on course tacking duels, they skillfully earned two race wins to go on and duel it out in the finals with fellow navy compatriots Mohd Razali on Royal Malaysian Navy 2.
Razali and team with all their experience overcame Nik Ashraf's Malaysian Yachting Assoc 2 team in their semi final round 2-0 and is considered the top navy match racing team to beat.
That did not deter Mohd Masyuri's crew as they once again put on a masterful display, that even Peter Gilmour would be proud of! and manoeuvered their Platu 25 to inflict two penalties during the pre-start and on the course to come from behind and snatch the lead within the rules and in the process triumph in the first ever MYA/RMN organised selection trials. A very jubilant team sailed their way into the record books.
The Asian Games 2010 venue
Shanwei is located on the South China Sea in the Guangdong province of China, approximately 150 kilometers east of Hong Kong. The championship will be hosted by the Asian Sailing Federation and the Chinese Yachting Association and is organized by the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee and the Shanwei People's Government. Racing will be held six men's, five women's and three open events, including the Optimist, 420, 470, Mistral, RS:X, Laser, Laser Radial and Hobie 16 class.
