By Mohd Hafizi Said & Noor Hidayah Mat Isa, Sailing Training Centre

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) recently organized its very first international sailing championship, as part of its commitment to empowering student development through high-impact platforms that integrate sports, leadership, and experiential learning.

Held from 28 to 30 July at the UMT Community Sailing Clubhouse, Pulau Duyong, and organized through UMT’s Sailing Training Centre (PLP), Student and Alumni Affairs Division (HEPA), the UMT International University Sailing Championship (UNISAIL) 2026 brought together teams from Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), FISU UMT, National University of Singapore (NUS), UMT Student Representative Council, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Student Representative Council, and two teams from National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU).

Teams first competed in the qualifying stage, which involved four races. Teams that advanced to the final stage competed in another four races. Team performance was assessed based on points accumulated through their positions in each race.

The competition format required participants to make quick decisions and adjust their strategies according to race conditions. Factors such as wind direction and strength, vessel positioning, the movements of opposing teams and the ability to handle the vessel must be considered to ensure teams could consistently accumulate points.

UMT Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Professor Dr. Mohd Izani Mohd Zain, said the championship was not merely a competitive sailing event but also provided students with opportunities to develop leadership, communication, teamwork and event management skills through real-world experience. This approach is in line with UMT’s aspiration to nurture well-rounded Mahasiswa Idaman who excel in academics while demonstrating strong character, leadership and volunteerism.

Naisya Ahmad Fadzil from UMT’s Bachelor of Science (Nautical Science and Maritime Transportation) with Honours programme said she was excited to gain first-hand sailing experience and viewed being a woman as no barrier to serving as the Programme Director of UNISAIL 2026. She also expressed her excitement after her team secured second place in the championship.

First place went to Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), with UMT and National University of Singapore coming in second and third, respectively. Best Team award went to National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) and Sportsmanship Award to UMT Oceanus (UMT Student Representative Council).

Strategic partners including Yayasan Perkasa Siswa (YPS), FR9 Marketing, TG Premium and The Langit Duyong Marina Resort provided support, reflecting their confidence in UMT’s efforts to strengthen sailing development and provide meaningful learning experiences for students.

The Ministry of Higher Education funded the refurbishment of UMT’s six Foundation 36 (F36) sailing boats, which has enabled UMT to enhance its sailing training and programme capabilities while providing students with better facilities to develop their talents and participate in national and international competitions.