Kota Kinabalu: Mohamad Fairuz bin Zainal Abidin from Johor emerged Overall Winner of the KFC-16th Merdeka Day Regatta 2009, which was held at Tanjung Aru here, last weekend.

Fairuz who sailed in the A Division, beat Nicole Chan Mei Yii and Connie R. Tsen from Kinabalu Yacht Club (KYC) in second and third place respectively.

He also won the Optimist A while Mei Yii finished in second place and Nurvella Sari Binti Baijuri from the National Sports Council and Malaysian Yachting Association (MSN/MYA) completed the third placing.

The Regatta this year saw the appointment of a new international jury, a system that was introduced to elevate the status of the event.

"Among the objectives of having an international jury was to oversee fair play and resolve technical issues among competitors and between the Race Committee ad competitors," said KYC Commodore Louis Tseu.

Present to give away the prizes was Guest of Honour Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Y. B. Datuk Masidi Manjun.

In his closing speech, Y. B. Datuk Masidi spoke about awareness on the Influenza A (H1N1) and reminded the public to practice good hygiene to avoid contracting the virus.

He also lauded the organising committee for putting together yet another successful regatta this year.

Also present was Sabah Tourism Board Chairman, Tengku Datuk Zainal Adlin, among others.

This year's competitors was slightly disrupted by rainy weather conditions, but nonetheless the events still carried through.

In the Division B, Connie R. Tsen finished first ahead of Johor's Malone Pun Chao in second and Nur Shazrin binti Mohammad Latif in third.

Bernie Chin from Singapore (Noss) won the Optimist C, while Johor's Firdaus bin Othman and Muhammad Zahimul Hakim Zainal from KYC finished second and third.

The Novice Series Race saw KYC's Norshahirah Abdullah shinning above other sailors, finishing ahead of Shanny Kwan Aii Shen from Sandakan Yacht Club (SYC) and Yew Chi Zheng from Tawau Yacht Club (TYC).

Other races during the day included the Laser categories.  Alissa Chew Tung (KYC) finished first in the Laser Standard, beating Amiruddin bin Othman from Lumut, Perak (RMNYC) and Penang Swimming Club (PSC)'s, Ian H. Low Yee Xien in second and third place respectively.

In the Laser Radial Overall, Harisfabillah bin Muhamat (RMNYC) finished first ahead of Nur Amirah Hamid (second) and Ahmad Khairul Ridzuan (third) both from MSN/MYA.

The Laser Radial Boys saw Harisfabillah bin Muhamat (RMNYC) as the winner, while Ahmad Khairul Ridzuan (MSN/MYA) and Mohammad Farhan Kamardin from Johor finished in second and third place.

Nur Amirah Hamid from MSN/MYA won the Girls category, while Mariyanti from Indonesia (Polasi) finished second and Intan Syahirah Abdul Aziz (SYA) completed the third place.

In the Laser 4.7 Overall, SYA's Mohd Noorhafizan Yusran finshed first, while Hakim Wagiman Sarmin from Johor and Koh Boon Quan from Negeri Sembilan (Nessa) finished second and third respectively.

In the Laser 4.7 Boys event, Mohd Noorhafizan Yusran (SYA) came first, while Hakim Wagiman Sarmin and Koh Boon Quan finished second and third respectively.

In the Girl's event, Nur Dinie Rabiha binti Eddie Rosman (Nessa) beat Sabah Sailing Association (Sail'a)'s Nur Hajar Fatihah Ahmad Yusoff and Needa Lim from SYC.  There were also the Dinghy categories, which saw Mohd Zambri Azlan (MSN/MYA) winning the International 470 race, beating Mohd Mostaman bin Ismail and Mohd Firdaus Mat Yusof from RMNYC, while Khairunnisa Mohd Afendy (MSN/MYA) won the International 420 event, beating Ahmad Syafiq bin Ahmad Yusoff (Sail'a) and Abdul Aziz bin Sarip (Nessa).

In the Sailboard event, Zainal Misran @ Fred from PSC beat teammate Ian H. Low Yee Han and Chia Tshen Yeaw from KYC.

Other events during the weekend included an Optimist Marathon, which was won by Mohd Isan bin Mohd Ali (MSN/MYA).  In second place was Mohamad Fairuz bin Zainal Abidin from Johor and Nur Shazrin binti Mohammad Latif also from Johor finished third.

Mohd Zambri Azlan and Mohd Hafizzudin Mazelan (MSN/MYA) won the Overall Marathon event, finishing ahead of teammates Khairunnisa Mohd Afendy and Norashikin Mohd Sayed and Mohd Firdaus Mat Yusof and Mohd Hanafi Mohd Salim (RMNYC).

Zambri and Hafizzudin also finished ahead of Khairunnisa and Norashikin in the Marathon Dinghy Fleet (International 470 & 420) event, while Firdaus and Hanafi completed third place.

The other event, the Marathon Laser Radial Fleet saw Harisfabillah bin Muhamat (RMNYC) finishing ahead of second placed Ahmad Khairul Ridzuan (MSN/MYA) and Nur Amirah Hamid (MSN/MYA) in third.

A total of 150 sailors participated in the events.

PHOTO (No.1) - Fairuz receiving his Optimist Overall Winner's Trophy from Y. B. Datuk Masidi Manjun

PHOTO (No.2) - Norshahirah Abdullah (KYC) receiving her prize from Commodore Louis Tseu.

More Photo, click here