Maya is monsoon cup envoy

KUALA LUMPUR: The organisers of the Monsoon Cup 2007 has named actress Maya Karin (pic) as the event’s “maiden”, akin to being an ambassador.



Event adviser Peter Gilmour said Maya would be the spokesman for celebrities taking part in an upcoming concert that would be held in conjunction with the annual sailing competition.



“We chose her because of her popularity in the entertainment arena, especially in TV dramas and movies,” he told reporters at a restaurant here yesterday.



The press conference also announced the upcoming concert, An Evening with Maya Karin and Monsoon Cup 2007.



Among the artistes who would be featured are Deja Moss, Farah Wahida, Zaibo, Badri, Syanie, Raja Azura and Nazri, the former singer of nasyid group Raihan.



Maya, who counts sailing as one of her favourite past times, said: “I will do my best to promote the sport as well as the local culture, especially to the foreign participants.”



This year’s Monsoon Cup is part of the World Match Racing Tour 2006-2007 and the final of 10 international legs. (A match race is a regatta for two sailing boats, racing each other around a course.)



The competition, which is in the calendar of events for Visit Malaysia Year, is the training ground for America Cup qualifiers and will crown the champion of this season’s World Match Racing Tour.



It will be held from Nov 28 to Dec 2 at the Heritage Bay Club Marina and Resort in Pulau Duyong, Terengganu.



Gilmour, a four-time world match champion, said this year’s competition would feature an all-female team in the sailing event.



Apart from sailing, there are also side events that include the arts and fishing competitions.



T-Best Events, the organisers, said the Monsoon Cup offers a prize purse of RM1mil, making it the richest sailing event in the world.