EFG Bank Monaco wins toughest leg of Sailing Arabia

Team EFG Bank Monaco continued their winning streak on the leg from Abu Dhabi to Doha.

By Sports Reporter/DohaEFG Bank Monaco’s winning streak continues as Sidney Gavignet and his mixed Omani and European team notch up another leg win from Abu Dhabi to Doha to edge closer to defending their EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour title.The teams are gearing up for a thrilling in-port race today at the Four Seasons Murjan Marina before setting off on the final leg of the race towards the finish line in Bahrain.Defending champion, Gavignet, and his all-star team including the Omanis, Mohamed al-Mujaini, Abdull Rahman al-Mashari, and Abdallah al-Shukaili, and world-class sailors Damian Foxall, Alex Pella, and Nicolas Lunven, increased their lead overnight and, by the time a shortened course was signaled at Gate 3, they had built up nearly two-miles over second-placed Team Renaissance.Gavignet commented: “This was the toughest leg ever in the history of EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour. It was breezy into headwinds all the way, and we had up to 1.5m waves, which is quite something for the Farr 30s.”Commenting on how Team EFG Bank Monaco keeps up the momentum on such a long, overnight leg, Gavignet added: “We keep the same speed but we do lots of rotation onboard and no crew is ever on watch for more than two hours, so this helps keep up the speed and avoids struggle when fatigue sets in.”Fahad al-Hasni and Team Renaissance are noted for their consistent performance during this event. This mostly Omani team, with the exception of British team member Philippe Falle as navigator, sailed a good tactical race and took second.Gavignet’s closest threat this week is the UK-based Team Averda skippered by Marcel Herrera. Herrera, a veteran of the Tour, and runner up to Gavignet in 2014, maintained second position on Leg 5 in the early stages but Renaissance were ahead at the shortened course finish line. “It was very tough and a real test of endurance and stamina. We fought to hold onto our second place but in the early hours, just before the finish, Renaissance managed to just get ahead and keep their boat going a little bit faster, so well done to Fahad and the guys.”Mary Rook and her all-female team on Al Thuraya (Oman) had a good start but were rolled on the first stretch and ended up well down the fleet.Never a team to miss an opportunity to fight back however, they played the shifts, clawed their way back up the fleet and eventually finished a creditable fourth.Wouter Sonnema and his team on Delft Challenge were always in contention in third position in the early stages of the leg but had to settle for fifth at the finish.Now onshore after a testing passage across the Persian Gulf crews are enjoying the luxury at Doha Four Seasons Marina/Hilton and all its facilities including seven restaurants and lounges, a three-storey Spa and Wellness Centre.Today, teams will take part in the final in-port race off Doha at 12:30pm before they set off on the final leg of the Tour (Leg 6) to Bahrain tomorrow at 8:30am.