Blitz Sails To Surprise Victory In RMSIR 2026 Opener

PULAU PANGKOR, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- Team Blitz emerged victorious in the opening leg of the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta (RMSIR) 2026 from Port Klang to Pangkor, Perak, today.

Skippered by Warwick Downes, the nine-member crew clocked 12 hours, 40 minutes and 17 seconds to clinch the Class 1 racing category title.

Downes admitted that the victory came as a surprise, particularly as Blitz was the smallest yacht competing in the division.

However, he credited the crew’s strong teamwork and ability to capitalise on favourable wind conditions for their success in the opening race.

"It's the smallest boat in our division, but it's a good boat. We’ve got a good crew.

"We started okay, we went out to sea a bit, caught the new breeze out there and did quite well at the beginning of the race," he told Bernama after the prize-giving ceremony here tonight.

Defending champions The Next Factor had to settle for second place after clocking 12 hours, 47 minutes and 10 seconds, while Uranus finished third in 13 hours, 37 minutes and 32 seconds.

In Class 2, Team Shahtoosh emerged victorious while Insanity claimed the Class 3 title.

Niobe triumphed in Class 4, while Skybird topped the Class 5 category to complete the list of winners in the opening leg.

The prizes were presented by the Raja Muda of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, at the ceremony here tonight.

The Nov 13-21 RMSIR will continue tomorrow with the boats heading for Penang, with Langkawi being the final destination.

Established in 1990, the RMSIR is the second-oldest regatta in Asia and the braindchild of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who was the Raja Muda of Selangor when the race was first held.

-- BERNAMA