Doha: The countdown to the start of 2014 EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour has begun with the six crews touching down in Bahrain to make their final sailing preparations.
The fleet of identical Farr 30 boats will be based at the Amwaj Marina in Manama until February 9 when they set off on the first leg in Qatar, a distance of 100 nautical miles which will be an opportunity for all crews to lay down vital markers in the region’s only long distance offshore sailing race.
One of the teams that are meeting for the first time in Bahrain is Sidney Gavignet’s professional team.
They have done zero training together but despite that, have emerged as the boat to beat in the 760nms endurance race around the Gulf due to the sheer expertise and experience on board, including two of Oman’s young sailing prospects Ali Al Balushi and Mohammed Al Mujaini.
“We’ll have two days of training just before the start,” said Gavignet.
“On paper we have a very good team compared to the others and we will be going all out to win. Our sponsors EFG International want us to win so we will be trying to make them happy.”
“But Messe Frankfurt Sailing Team are bringing their own boat and were definitely fast last year so they could spring a surprise. We are expecting a very intense race – you arrive at night, go sailing in shore the next day then leave on the next leg early the following morning. It will be fun.”
Messe Frankfurt Sailing Team, the team comprised mainly of students, are the most prepared of all with more than eight months of training behind them, but like all the crews flying in from a chilly northern Europe, they will have to do a lot of adjusting before they set off under a hot sun on February 9.
EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2014 will continue from Qatar. The other stops for the Tour will be Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Dibba and Mussanah in Oman with competitors crossing the line on February 24 in Muscat. year and have been training for 2014 SATT for a couple of months. This is a professional crew and I think they have become very good in their roles on the boat and in the race.”
Along the way, teams will compete against each other in exciting in-port racing and take part in events designed to let local sailors see the state-of-the-art Farr 30 One Design boats up close. As the only event of its kind in the gulf region, EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2014 – the fourth edition promises to be a thrilling event. The Peninsula
