Dato' Azhar Mansor is the first Malaysian to sail solo
around the world. He made his trip in 1999, sailing the ship called Jalur
Gemilang. His round the world trip, with
stops, took 190 days, 6 hours 57 minutes 2 seconds. Despite his personal life,
Datuk Azhar has managed to set a new world record via an East about route,
attempted by no-one and has been verified by the WSSRC (World Speed Sailing
Record Council) as an official record.Azhar is one of only a couple of hundreds
of people in the world to circumnavigate the globe single-handed, and is the
only person from an Asian nation apart from Japan to do so.
Azhar, who runs a marina for yachts and builds boats at
Telaga Harbour Park here, emerged a national hero after becoming the first Malaysian
to sail solo around the world in 1999.His main mast broke during a storm in the
waters off Cape Horn, South America, causing him to be stranded for days.With
the government's assistance and support from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the prime
minister, Azhar managed to continue and completed his mission in 190 days,
boosted by the spirit of "Malaysia Boleh".Azhar was 41 when he set
sail for the mission on Feb 2, 1999, in the RM2 million "Jalur
Gemilang." He arrived back in Malaysia on Aug 11 the same year.
Azhar received recognition as an offshore yachtmaster which
enables him to captain pleasure yachts overseas. The certificate was presented
to him by AYS Yachtmaster examiner Captain Marty Rijkuris. Azhar said anyone in
Malaysia could take his own boat to sea without any certificate of competency
from a governing body. The certification scheme is a good move but it will take
some time for Malaysian authorities to review and make it a law for
yachtsman"Azhar's 'attempt to sail round the world covering over 21,600
nautical miles automatically qualifies him to receive the AYS Offshore
Yachtmaster Certificate which is also the highest order in the scheme.Apart
from the certification, Azhar will negotiate with the Awana Porto Malai Resort
management to maintain the Jalur Gemilang shorebase. "
February 2 1999, Datuk Azhar departure from Awana Porto
Malai Langkawi to achieve his ambitions
to be all around the globe, exploring the world in a new east-west-east alone.
After 14 days, he arrived in Tanjung Datuk Azhar Leewin after sailing as far as
1,859 nautical miles.On March 24 1999, Datuk Azhar successfully conquers 7,200
nautical miles. Strong winds had attacked him and nearly drowned his sail (
Jalur Gemilang) but his enthusiasms to face the challenge help him finished his
journey.12 days later, Jalur Gemilang had destroyed by typhoon. As a result he
was stranded at the Falklands Islands.After the exchange of the main mast
broken by Special Team of the Royal Malaysian Air Force ,Datuk Azhar continues
to face challenges on May 26 1999 when it storms through Rio De Janeiro ,
Fernando De Noronha . Datuk Azhar arrived at Awana Porto Malai , Langkawi after
6 months facing all challenges in the ocean.
Azhar, who was lauded as "Pahlawan Bangsa"
(Nation's Hero) is a successful businessman.On his business, a topic he seldom
shares with others, he said being a businessman is not as easy as is generally
thought to be because he often has to work till late into the night to maintain
or repair tourist boats. He has 25 employees; most of them are locals. The
focus is to build sailboats bearing the JG (Jalur Gemilang) brand.He is also
trying to draw more foreign boats to Langkawi. He often took students and their
teachers on sea excursions during school holidays and taught them about
sailing.
Azhar, who runs a marina for yachts and builds boats at
Telaga Harbour Park here, emerged a national hero after becoming the first Malaysian
to sail solo around the world in 1999.His main mast broke during a storm in the
waters off Cape Horn, South America, causing him to be stranded for days.With
the government's assistance and support from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the prime
minister, Azhar managed to continue and completed his mission in 190 days,
boosted by the spirit of "Malaysia Boleh".Azhar was 41 when he set
sail for the mission on Feb 2, 1999, in the RM2 million "Jalur
Gemilang." He arrived back in Malaysia on Aug 11 the same year.
February 2 1999, Datuk Azhar departure from Awana Porto
Malai Langkawi to achieve his ambitions
to be all around the globe, exploring the world in a new east-west-east alone.
After 14 days, he arrived in Tanjung Datuk Azhar Leewin after sailing as far as
1,859 nautical miles.On March 24 1999, Datuk Azhar successfully conquers 7,200
nautical miles. Strong winds had attacked him and nearly drowned his sail (
Jalur Gemilang) but his enthusiasms to face the challenge help him finished his
journey.12 days later, Jalur Gemilang had destroyed by typhoon. As a result he
was stranded at the Falklands Islands.After the exchange of the main mast
broken by Special Team of the Royal Malaysian Air Force ,Datuk Azhar continues
to face challenges on May 26 1999 when it storms through Rio De Janeiro ,
Fernando De Noronha . Datuk Azhar arrived at Awana Porto Malai , Langkawi after
6 months facing all challenges in the ocean.