Subic’s Selma Star bags 4th champoinship

“The tough challenge came from UluMulu which was one of our biggest rivals especially in the offshore race,” said owner and skipper, Jesus Jun Avecilla

Selma Star raced in the IRC Racing Class. It won all offshore races namely Miri-Labuan Passage Race and Labuan-Kota Kinabalu Passage Race apart from Miri Bay Regatta and Kota Kinabalu Harbour Race.

Commending good number of yachts taking part this year, Avecilla attributed the victory to a good team spirit, co-operation and support from all crew.

The increase in the number of yachts taking part this year, contributed to Avecilla’s and crew’s burning determination and desire to defend their title.

Looking forward to competing again next year Avecilla said the effort and works done by organisers for the last seven years now have been fruitful with the increase in the number of yachts taking place.

“I can see that this event is gradually developed and growing in term of number of yachts taking part and its popularity. With continuous effort and promotion and with the word spreading around, I believe and am confident that this race is going to be a renown event this year.”

Avecilla welcomed Sails Malaysia sailing programmes being incorporated into BIYC starting this year.

It will increase the awareness among international yachting community of sailing in this region and making Malaysian Borneo as their destination, he added.

However, it needs the support and co-operation from all parties in order to develop the event as ‘the event’ in the region, he added.

Responding to the appeal from the organisers to increase the number of IRC Racing Class boats taking part, Avecilla said he would be inviting two boats of the class in next year’s event.

The official results of winners in respective categories or classes were Australia Out of The Bag skippered and owned by Bill Webb in Multihull class, Cruising Class B – Sari Timur (Singapore – Mark Blasky), Crusing Class B – Remington (UK) and IRC Racing Class – Selma Star. UluMulu (Sarawak/Malaysia) won special prize as first boat to reach Kota Kinabalu in Labuan to Kota Kinabalu Passage Race.

Present were Assistant Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation (Sports) Datuk Lee Kim Shin who is also BIYC joint main organising committee co-chairman, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun and Sabah Tourism Board chairman Tengku Zainal Adlin. www.theborneopost.com