Publication: The Straits Times, p B9
Date: 28 March 2011
Headline: Soh's team win with winds' help
The team of (from left) Justin Wong, Maximilian Soh, Cai
Weiguo and Andrew Paul Chan (in white) cruised to victory
in the inaugural Match Racing League at the Marina
Barrage yesterday. ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
Soh's team win
with winds' help
AS IF on cue, the winds came and propelled Maximilian Soh and his crew to victory in the final of the
inaugural Match Racing League at the Marina Barrage yesterday.
Having offered little help in the semi-finals, the
elements sprang to life at the right moment for the
team skippered by the former national sailor. The
strong winds helped them to smother the challenge
of the quartet led by Russell Kan.
"When the winds picked up, it gave the advantage to them," said Kan, explaining that the heavier
weight of Soh's team made it easier for them to control their boat.
It ultimately enabled them to cruise to a 2-0 win
in the best-of-three final, despite incorrectly incurring a penalty before the start of the second race.
Then, failure to keep clear of Soh's boat in the
pre-start and forcing them into an evasive manoeuvre should have seen Kan's crew pick up the penalty. But the umpire raised the wrong flag by rnistake, pinning the infringement on Soh's team instead.
The error, which could not be reversed once the
decision had been made, proved inconsequential as
Soh's quartet raced away to a large lead. Even having to perform the penalty 270 degree turn at the
start of the second lap of the race did not stop them
from winning by a comfortable margin.
The win marked a second regatta success in as
many weeks for 2006 Asian Games Laser gold medallist Soh, 22, and his team comprising Justin
Wong, Cai Weiguo and Andrew Paul Chan. They
had tasted success in Thailand the weekend before.
"Sailing together in Thailand meant that we had
added experience," the winning skipper said.
On the other hand, Kan's team of Jeremiah Yeo,
Sherman Cheng and KO Chum Yang were snly assembled on Saturday, the first day of competition.
The bronze went to the team skippered by Christopher Lim who defeated his Singapore Management University compatriot Shaun Toh's quartet in
two straight races.
The winners of the Match Racing Leaiue are
guaranteed a spot in the International Sailing Federation Nations Cup Regional Final (Asia). But the
event - originally scheduled for April 10-16 in Bahrain - has been postponed indefinitely owing to unrest in the country.
Source: The Straits Times O Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.