THE NEXT FACTOR RULE SUPREME IN RLIR RACING CLASS TO WIN PRIME MINISTER'S CHALLENGE TROPHY

LANGKAWI, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- Team The Next Factor from Malaysia lived up to its top billing by clinching the Racing Class title at the Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR) 2025 that ended here today.

The Next Factor, skippered by Rolf Heemskerk, took home the Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy after accumulating just 15 penalty points throughout the 10 races in the competition which started since Tuesday, ahead of Team Blitz from Hong Kong that finished in second place with 18 penalty points.

Team Vayu from Thailand finished third after accumulating 22 penalty points while ATM Sailing Team from Malaysia took fourth placing with 33 penalty points.

Heemskerk said the team was both proud and happy to win the RLIR 2025 Racing Class in this year’s edition after having finished in second place during last year’s edition behind Team Witchcraft from Hong Kong.

"This victory is very sweet, first-time win racing as a skipper for this boat and sailing here, so beautiful… throughout the race, we faced various challenges and the competition was fierce from the beginning.

"We won a few race laps in first place, we kept our performance but after that we took it easy, and that caused the opposing team Blitz and Vayu to win laps in first place, but overall we are so happy and will definitely be back next year," he said when met at the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (RLYC) here today.

Meanwhile, Team Char Chan from Japan swept to the fore in the IRC1 Class, wresting the title from Team Mata Hari from Malaysia, thus ending the Team Mata Hari’s hopes of winning the title for the eighth time.

"Overall we got nice wind, and obviously we got lucky, and yesterday's incident was my fault because of the way I was handling the situation. Last year we had a mechanical problem during the race, and we got second place, but this year we managed to win first place, and this is Char Chan's second time winning first place after 2020.

"Last year, Mata Hari came to Japan and won the race for the All Japan Championship, so this year we come here to join and win the Langkawi Regatta. Next year we will come back and hope we can defend our title as IRC1 champion," said Char Chan skipper.

The five-day RLIR 2025 which started on Tuesday, is organised at the RLYC with six category of races contested, namely Racing Class, IRC1 Class, IRC2 Class, Sportboats Class, Multihull Class and Club Class.

FINAL RESULTS

RACING CLASS (10 RACES) :

1.The Next Factor (MAS) 15 penalty points

2.Blitz (HKG) 18 penalty pts

3.Vayu (THA) 22 penalty pts

4.ATM Sailing Team (MAS) 33 penalty pts

IRC1 CLASS (10 RACES) :

1.Char Chan (JPN) 11 penalty points

2.Mata Hari (MAS) 18 penalty pts

3.Team Jolt (SGP) 26 penalty pts

4.Red Rum One (SGP) 38 penalty pts

5.Venture (NEU) 50 penalty pts

6.Sailing Dream (CHN) 50 penalty pts

7.Kesini (SGP) 59 penalty pts

8.Uminoko (KGZ) 60 penalty pts

9.Team Malabar (MAS) 73 penalty pts

IRC2 CLASS (9 RACES) :

1.Phoenix (DEN) 11 penalty points

2.The Blue Angel (MAS) 18 penalty pts

3.PDRM Sailing Team (MAS) 19 penalty pts

4.Telaga Sail99 - UMT Racing Team (MAS) 27 penalty pts

5.VG Offshore (MAS) 40 penalty pts

SPORTBOATS CLASS (10 RACES) :

1.RSYC Racing Team (MAS) 9 penalty points

2.Navy 2 (MAS) 20 penalty pts

3.Navy 1 (MAS) 23 penalty pts

4.RSYC Sailing Team (MAS) 36 penalty pts

MULTIHULL CLASS (9 RACES):

1.Twin Sharks (THA) 12 penalty points

2.Haruki (AUS) 14 penalty pts

3.WOW (GBR) 19 penalty pts

4.Boreas (AUS) 36 penalty pts

5.Trident (GBR) 37 penalty pts

CLUB CLASS (9 RACES) :

1.Dash (MAS) 8 penalty points

2.Suraya (AUS) 19 penalty pts

3.Wind of Change (NEU) 20 penalty pts

4.Marikh (MAS) 28 penalty pts

5.Onisama Sailing Racing (CHN) 39 penalty pts

6.Red Cap Sailing School (GBR) 45 penalty pts

7.Tofan (MAS) 56 penalty pts

8.Eveline (MAS) 61 penalty pts

-- BERNAMA