Borneo International Yachting Challenge Press Release

The 2010 Borneo International Yachting Challenge (BIYC) will begin in Miri (Sarawak) on the 25^th of this month.

This annual event, now in its 7^th year takes a fleet of international yachts from Miri to Labuan - a distance of 105 miles, and then from Labuan to Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) which is another 65 miles. The regatta finishes in Kota Kinabalu with two races around the Tunku Abdul Rahman national Marine Park on Friday the 30^th July, followed by a lavish prize giving dinner at Sutera Harbour Marina Club hosted by Sabah Tourism.

The regatta is a joint effort between the Ministry Of Tourism And Heritage Sarawak, Labuan Corporation, and the Sabah Tourism Board. Other sponsors include Sutera Harbour Resort, Samling Global, Pelita and Park City Everly Hotel in Miri.

This year will see 55 entries representing 13 countries from as far afield as Sweden and the United States, and includes the overall winner from last year, Selmar Star from the Philippines back to defend their title.

The fleet is almost double the size of last year’s and will set a new record for the event. It will also make the regatta one of the largest of its kind in South East Asia.

One of the reasons for this dramatic increase in numbers is due to collaboration between the BIYC and the Sail Malaysia Rally – Passage to the East.

BIYC committee member Simon Farmer, who was instrumental in forging this partnership with the organizers of Sail Malaysia, said that given the current state of the global economy and the ever shrinking sponsorship dollar it made sense to combine the two events. He said the number of entries this year proved that this had been a popular strategy.

The Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board and co-chairman of the regatta, Dato Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin expressed his delight with the number of yachts taking part this year and said that Sabah is on target to achieving its goal in becoming the Caribbean of the East.

He said that ‘events such as this are putting Borneo and Kota Kinabalu on the map, and are the perfect vehicle for showcasing the state and its bio-diversity’.

Adlin commented further that over the past 12 months Sutera Harbour Marina and Kota Kinabalu had hosted at least 10 mega yachts of over thirty meters with a combined value of over US$350 million dollars. Among these visitors was the world’s largest privately owned sailing yacht, the 92 meter ‘Eos’ valued in excess of US$150 million.

“The fact that more and more of these types of yachts are visiting our shores means that the message is getting through to yacht owners and captains that Sabah and Borneo have as much to offer, if not more than the other major destinations around the world. These types of visitors provide a tremendous boost to the local economy and to the global perception of Sabah”, remarked Adlin

Tengku Adlin will take part in the regatta once again this year sailing aboard Farmers yacht in the final two races off Kota Kinabalu. This will be a little different from last year when he crewed on the 120’ luxury sailing yacht ‘Naos’ and was treated to a gourmet lunch. Farmer warned Adlin not to expect the same this year as the boat he is sailing on is a stripped out racing yacht with only the bare essentials. Adlin replied that he was ready for the challenge.

Borneo International Yachting Challenge - Route Map

A new Google route map has been created for this years Borneo International Yachting Challenge, which is the biggest sailing event of its kind in Borneo.

You can use the map to see the various ports of call, just click on the icons for details, if you zoom in to a particular section, you made need to reload the page to zoom out again.

More details of local place of interest will be added, such as recommended eating places where to buy stores, entertainment and local tourist attractions.

David Ogden - Webmaster@borneorace.com

Borneo International Yachting Challenge

Three yachts, one each from the UK, Singapore and Australia have so far entered the BIYC 2010, which provided a week of racing and fun off the coast of Borneo. This is one of the few races that pay you take part added to which you are pampered with lavish entertainment at the receptions/ prize giving in each port of Call.

The IRC class 3 racers compete for the Borneo Cup and a number of boats are expected from Singapore and The Philippines, to take on the local boats from Miri and Kota Kinabalu.

There is a local handicap system for cruising boats, which even provides for the use of engines if the winds are light and prizes for the first 3 in each division. This years race fits in with the schedule of the Sail Malaysia Passage to the East Rally .

Borneo International Yachting Challenge

As the days drew closer to the race, there was some confusion as to which which yacht we would be sailing for the race, and it was only on the day before we traveled to Miri that we learnt we were to sail Sarawak Seahorse.

Sarawak Seahorse is a First 32.5, however the boat had been lying ashore for a year awaiting a keel replacement, so when we arrived it still had to be painted and was missing a propeller. We set about making it seaworthy, checking sails and equipment and fitting an outboard motor to the transom in case the propeller did not arrive in time.

We befriended a local taxi driver who became our drive for a couple of days as we searched for bits and pieces and supplies for the race.

24 hours before the start of the Borneo International Yacht Race and Sarawak Seahorse was still high and dry although a crane had been ordered. Then just as a wind squall approached the yacht was launched. We had a few nervous moments as the outboard fought the wind and we turned into the marina to find a berth and prepare for the start the following day.

David Ogden
Pirates Of Borneo