The fiercely competitive EFG Sailing Arabia-The Tour reached the shores of the Marina in The Pearl-Qatar on Saturday as title contenders EFG Bank Monaco (MON) and Team Al Mouj Muscat (OMA) continued their podium domination in a nail-biting second round of inshore racing.
Around a short course off Doha, the rival crews proved themselves experts at boat handling with the eight-strong fleet ramping up the fight. Both teams scored a win and a runner’s-up finish in the two intense races held in a building breeze of up to 10 knots. The action also saw a welcome return to form for Team Averda (GBR), notching up a third and fourth to claim the final Doha in-port series podium spot. Team Al Mouj Muscat, led by Christian Ponthieu, opened their scorecards with victory, capitalising on a bad start by EFG Bank Monaco.
But current EFG Sailing Arabia-The Tour title holders EFG Bank Monaco put their match racing world champion helmsman Mathieu Richard to work and snuck ahead just on the finish line to reverse the results of the opening race. Following the racing, a prize-giving ceremony was held for Leg Four and the Doha in-port race series at The Pearl-Qatar. At 205 nautical miles, the final offshore stage, starting today, is the longest of the five legs, and will see the fleet have to pick their way through oil fields and round islands over more than 32 hours at sea. The competition will reach its climax with an in-port race series in Dubai.
Community caught up with Assim al-Saqri, PR Manager of Oman Sail, to know more. “Oman Sail is holding this race, EFG Sailing Arabia-The Tour, for the seventh year now. This event comes with different aims. One of them is showcasing the marinas that we go to and show how capable they are of hosting international events and racing events. Sailing now is growing at a good rate internationally,” he said.
The other reason is to develop local sailors from the region – Oman, UAE, Qatar – and help them embark on the sailing platform in its modern form, al-Saqri said. “There are lots of racing classes and Olympic classes that the young generation can join. So this is another reason we bring together international sailors who are professional as well as local sailors who are still learning what offshore racing is. The type of racing in this tour is offshore and it spans hundreds of nautical miles; the total number of miles here being 763 miles. So it’s a big race. We started in Oman, we passed by some of the regions there, had stop overs, crossed over to Abu Dhabi, came to Doha and the final destination is Dubai.”
As for the in-port races like the one that took place on Doha’s shores, they are meant for spectators, and also for sailors to gain points. “These are shorter circuits that need some expertise to maneuver. It’s an opportunity to gain some extra points. Some teams are well-versed in this type of race, while others are strong in the offshore part. Also, these in-port races add diversity and variation in terms of racing,” al-Saqri said. “It’s tough out there. These sailors are out in the sea for one or two days. This was one of the coldest winters we have had, which made things tougher for them. This race demands a lot of endurance and physical effort. The team needs to work together so that they can steer their boat to the destination fast, even while closely factoring in the wind.”
Speaking of the current sailing trends in the region, al-Saqri said that there are federations in every gulf country, which are overseeing Olympic pathways for the young generation. “Those taking up sailing must start with young racing boats. Olympic classes are all held with the wind and the sails. So these kinds of things are meant to be learnt from a young age. The small class is called The Optimist Class and the training goes up all the way to the level of The Laser, which is the Olympic class. So these federations oversee these programmes to educate and introduce also the young generation to join sports, and get them up to a level at which they can compete at the Olympics. There’s a shared growth in terms of Olympic programmes. Also, these kinds of extreme sailing initiatives are about competition, making friendship, and attracting people to the region.”
How does Oman Sail see Qatar emerging as a force in the sailing world? “Qatar is among the leaders in the region, in terms of facilities. If you want to host an international event, you have got it all covered here; from marinas to accommodation to sightseeing. Qatar is always a welcoming country for us,” al-Saqri said.
Assim al-Saqri
