Rasyidah Takes On RMN Challenge Aboard Uranus At RMSIR

KLANG, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- Despite being relatively new to the sport of sailing, Sub-Lieutenant Rasyidah Abdul Razak did not hesitate to take on the challenge of competing in the 36th Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta (RMSIR).

The 23-year-old Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) officer shared that her deep interest in the sport motivated her to join this prestigious tournament as a female crew member aboard the RMN-owned yacht, *Uranus*.

“I am indeed quite new to sailing. I started out with a Laser-class boat just a few months ago.

“When I first heard about this regatta, I volunteered to join because it has been a long time since the Navy has had female crew members on its vessels,” she told Bernama.

Stationed on the foredeck, Rasyidah admitted to feeling a bit nervous about her first-ever race, though guidance from her seniors and rigorous training helped alleviate some of her concerns.

“At first, I felt quite nervous because the differences between a keelboat and a Laser are very significant.

“In preparation, I had to familiarise myself with Uranus, learning about the various ropes, the placement of equipment, and how to operate everything. It was only when we began training that I truly understood how this vessel moves,” she said.

Rasyidah hopes that this debut will serve as a platform to test her own capabilities before advancing further in the sport of sailing.

“My goal for now is to gain experience. But if the opportunity arises, I would certainly like to go even further,” she said.

Meanwhile, the captain of the *Uranus* team, Warrant Officer I (TLR) Muhamad Firdaus Abdul Hamid, said his team is fielding a mix of new and experienced sailors to provide stiff competition in Class 1 for this year’s edition.

He noted that thorough preparations began a month ago, with the goal of securing a podium finish in the ‘passage race.’

"We intend to put up a strong challenge and aim for a top-three finish in the passage race. At the same time, we are also providing exposure to new team members," he said.

The RMSIR spans 10 days, beginning today. Port Klang serves as the starting point, from where participants will sail toward Pulau Pangkor and Penang, before concluding the race in Pulau Langkawi.

This year’s edition features 23 teams competing across five different classes.

-- BERNAMA