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A six-team fleet, including an all-women side. A 760 nautical mile course. Four countries, seven stops. We are talking of the region’s only long distance off-shore race, the ‘EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2014’, which is all set to be flagged off from the Amwaj Marina in Bahrain today. |
The annual event, which is now into its fourth year, will test the skills of the region’s best sailing talent as well some of the best names from across the world over the next 15 days.
The challenging course spans across four countries — from Bahrain to Oman via Qatar and the UAE — with eight of the region’s premier marinas playing host as stopover venues during the seven legs of the race.
The first stop for the fleet of identical Farr 30 boats will be The Pearl marina in Doha, a distance of 100 nautical miles from the Bahrain capital. The six teams representing four countries — Oman, the European Union, Monaco and The Netherlands – would next sail to Abu Dhabi, then Dubai, Ras al Khaimah, Dibba and Mussanah in Oman before culminating their journey at Muscat on February 24, conditions favouring.
The newest team in fray this year, EFG Bank from Monaco, is also the most favoured to win the race. The reason being the sheer expertise and experience on board. The team is led by experienced Frenchman Sidney Gavignet, a multiple Olympian and Volvo Ocean Race-winning skipper. He would have, among others, two local talents at his disposal, young Omani sailing prospects Ali al-Balushi and Mohamed al-Mujaini.
“We didn’t have much time to train together. But I think we have a good mix of experience and youth and we would be going all out to win. The wind will be strong, and we will mostly be sailing at night. But it will be fun,” Gavignet said.
American Katie Pettibone, skipper of Al-Thuraya Bank Muscat’s all-women team, too will be a force to reckon with. Pettibone has represented the America’s Cup team thrice, and has been twice a crew member in the tough Round-the-World race.
This will be the third time she’s participating in Sailing Arabia, so she’s well versed with both the course and conditions. “The crew morale is good. Everyone is excited to get the adventure underway. This region is a magical place. It’s both unique and complicated. Every year you encounter different conditions. But the sailing conditions are great; it’s always nice not to get battered by snow and ice,” Pettibone said.
Messe Frankfurt Sailing Team’s German skipper Marcel Herrera too is confident of a podium finish. “We are focused on finishing in the top three,” the young Herrera said.
The local hopes would, however, rest on the Oman Royal Navy team, led by AbdulAziz al-Hussaini. “The region’s climate is quite unique, because though it is the warmest area in the world it lacks proper weather stations and observations reports. Local knowledge, therefore, is a big advantage. Some of the sailors in my team are from fishing background, and they are experts on local weather, current, and tidal streams. That should serve us well,” said al-Hussaini, who has an eight-strong team of Omanis onboard.
The remaining two teams in fray are Oman’s Team Renaissance and Team Delft Challenge from the Netherlands.