PUTRAJAYA, July 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia can have its own Match Racing Team to compete in the World Match Racing Tour by 2014, said Monsoon Cup Race advisor Peter Gilmore.

He said although match racing was still new in the country, it had grown tremendously since the first Monsoon Cup was introduced in 2005.

"However, the main focus now is to polish the young talents in the sport. That is why having the Monsoon Sailing School and top level coaches is so important for the national sailors," he said during the opening of the 2nd Monsoon Sailing School (MSS) here Thursday.

He said the MSS was also aimed at industrialising the sport and spur economic activities in the marine industry, namely in boatmaking and repairing facilities.

A total of 25 Malaysians, two Filipinos and three Turkish sailors took part in the four-day sailing clinic. Ten of the Malaysians were elite sailors handpicked by the Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA).

-- BERNAMA