THE SPORT of sailing crosses all barriers, Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (RLYC) executive director Wicky Sundram said.
“As long as a person wants to sail, there will always be a boat available and the boat captains are always on the lookout for recruits, especially those who are keen to learn the sport.
“It has been said that sailing is a luxurious sport but you do not need to own a multi-million ringgit boat to sail.
“There are clubs like the RLYC and the Royal Selangor Yacht Club that have kept the sport active and are even teaching youngsters about the sport,” Wicky added.
He said that many corporate companies had hired a sailboat for half-a-day for about RM5,000, inclusive of lunch, for team building activities.
“Sailing is a great activity for a team building course because every single person on board must contribute and work in order for the boat to sail.
“There are so many benefits to sailing and, as most of the states throughout Peninsular Malaysia, are surrounded by the sea, sailing can become even more popular if corporate companies look into sponsorship opportunities and buying their own boats.
“In fact, the sport has grown in leaps and bound. Three annual sailing events — the Royal Langkawi International Regatta, the Royal Selangor International Regatta and the Monsoon Cup — had gained popularity among sailors from Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia.
“Today, there are more than 60 teams in each Regatta.
“Our only hope is for the younger generation to pick up the sport with more sponsors looking to develop the sport even further.
“At present, we could see the results where Malaysia have world-class sailors winning international competitions,” he said.
The Star
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