A-list sailors & film stars heading to Malaysia

Monsoon Cup to feature Women’s world champion, Cup sailors and celluloid heroes

The reigning two-time ISAF women’s world match-racing champion, a bevy of America’s Cup sailors and a pair of A-list film stars highlight the inaugural Monsoon Cup, the 50th anniversary event of the Swedish Match Tour, Nov. 29-Dec. 4 in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.

Women’s world champion Sally Barkow, who is also the reigning world champion of the Yngling class, joins a fleet that includes match-racing luminaries such as New Zealanders Dean Barker, Russell Coutts and Chris Dickson, Peter Gilmour of Australia and Sweden’s Magnus Holmberg, all current or past America’s Cup Class skippers and helmsmen.

Two widely popular Asian film stars, Hong Kong’s Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh of Malaysia, have said they’ll make appearances at the event. Ferrari racing team boss Jean Todt, Yeoh’s fiancé, has also said he’ll be in attendance.

“We’re very happy about having Sally join the field,” said Gilmour, race director for the new event. “Part of the goal of the Monsoon Cup is to grow the sport of sailing in Malaysia, and by having Sally in the field we can show youth sailors that boys and girls, men and women can compete on an equal footing in sailing. Having the film stars helps boost the event’s popularity locally.”

Chan has starred in movies such as Medallion and the Rush Hour series. Yeoh has co-starred in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies and director Ang Lee’s very popular Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Yeoh has also been helping promote the event through television ads in Malaysia.

The Monsoon Cup is the final event for Tour title sponsor Swedish Match. The seven-year sponsor of the Tour has said it will conclude its partnership at the end of the year due to a new Swedish law that prohibits tobacco companies from sponsoring sports events. The final event promises great sailing.

“The Tour is very happy with how the Monsoon Cup is shaping up,” said Director Scott MacLeod. “The lineup is first rate, and what can you say about the film stars. It’s not everyday you get to meet Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh.”

Barkow, 25, won her second consecutive women’s match-racing worlds last month. She began match-racing in college, where she was a two-time All American at Old Dominion University, and feels the discipline also helps her succeed in the Yngling fleet races.

“It’s a chance to sail different boats in different situations,” said Barkow, of Chenequa, Wis. “Match-racing is short courses and one-on-one situations. It makes our boat-on-boat stuff in the fleet racing better than those who don’t do it.”

Barkow and crew will have their hands full in Malaysia. Coutts is the record-setting America’s Cup skipper, having won three consecutive Matches and owning a 14-race winning streak in the Match. Gilmour is the two-time reigning Swedish Match Tour, while Holmberg is a past champion. Barker, Coutts, Dickson and Gilmour all are past match-racing world champions.

The field also includes Thierry Peponnet of France, skipper and helmsman of the K-Challenge for the America’s Cup. Australia’s Cameron Dunn is expected to compete for Italy’s Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia syndicate for the America’s Cup. Sweden’s long-time match-racer Bjorn Hansen has also accepted an invitation, as well as England’s up-and-comer Ian Williams.

Besides being the 50th event of the Swedish Match Tour, the Monsoon Cup is garnering significant notice in Malaysia and throughout Asia. The last two days of the event, Dec. 3-4, are scheduled to broadcast live on ESPN Asia and ESPN Hong Kong. Malaysia’s TV3 and ESPN India plan to join the live broadcast on Dec. 4. There are also plans to carry the final two days live on the Tour’s broadband Internet channel, www.SwedishMatchTour.tv

Swedish Match Tour partners include Swedish Match, BMW and the Match Race Association. Swedish Match Tour Official Sponsors include Musto, Sebago and Travel Places.

For more information on the Swedish Match Tour, its competitors and events, please visit the official Tour Web site, www.SwedishMatchTour.com. Swedish Match Tour television programs may be viewed by clicking on the Tour television button on the home page of the Web site.