The only other sailing event in Malaysia of any stature is the 5 year old Royal Langkawi International Regatta. The "Raja Muda" is also one of the very few true offshore passage racing regattas in the region, the others being Australia’s Sydney to Hobart and various coastal races, and Hong Kong’s China Sea/San Fernando and Vietnam/ Hainan races.
The Regatta takes place each November over the course of 9 days, and is timed to finish a week prior to the Phuket King’s Cup, as many yachts compete in both events. The RMSIR opens in Port Klang on Friday with a welcome party where the Regatta Patron, HRH Sultan of Selangor and/or another VIP such as the Minister of Tourism presents plaques and welcomes the participants. On Saturday morning the yachts, watched by the media, race 80+ miles overnight to Pangkor to arrive by Sunday morning. That evening there is a beachside prizegiving party attended by local Perak officials.
On Monday at midday the yachts race overnight to Penang to arrive there on the Tuesday morning. In the afternoon there is a friendly Trishaw race followed by a hawker foods street party at the Tanjong City Marina in George Town. All day Wednesday there are races in the waters north of Tanjong Bungah, followed by a prizegiving party at Khoo Kongsi, graced by a Penang VIP.
Thursday sees the yachts race overnight to Langkawi to arrive early the next morning. Friday is a spare day for some yachtsmen to relax, shop, play golf, etc., while others head for the harbour for extra races for their classes, or catch up on any postponed races from previous days. On Saturday there are more races within Bass Harbour, with local TV and other media in attendance, followed by the final gala prize giving dinner, customarily graced by HRH Sultan of Selangor and other notables, at the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club.
