Ras Al Khaimah, UAE: Dubai-based Team AISM maintained the overall lead by claiming the fourth leg of the EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – The Tour following a night of drama for the world-class crews from around the world and the Gulf region competing between Dubai and northern Emirate Ras Al Khaimah, yesterday.
At only 53 miles up the coast from Dubai to Al Hamra which is the second shortest leg on the bruising 15 day and 760 nautical mile EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – The Tour, should have been routine.
But due to delays in Dubai taking longer than anticipated, the scheduled mid-morning start was delayed until afternoon, forcing crews to re-equip themselves and their boats ready for a night time finish.
The result was a race of intense fighting in darkness with the wind ranging from zero to as much as 17 knots, with the boats reaching or sailing downwind with Bertrand Pace’s overall leader, AISM, continually a nose ahead.
Following AISM into Al Hamra were the youthful Team Messe Frankfurt led by Marcel Herrera and in third team BAE Systems.
Yet the finishing order did little to tell of the drama that unfolded for the teams at around 20 miles out from the finish and an hour and a half after it turned dark.
Just at a time when the boats were being pushed to limit sailing high under their big spinnakers, the fleet came across an area densely populated with fishing boats and their nets.
As Cedric Pouligny, skipper of BAE Systems described the high jump manoeuvre they had to perform each time they ran into a net. He said: “Basically you went from 10 knots of speed to zero, then you had to broach and make even more heel before the boat could get off again.”
Broaching normally occurs when a boat is overpowered in a gust, the rudder loses control and the boat is forced over on its side.
Unfortunately the result on this leg was determined by those who got through the fishing nets the fastest.
THE PENINSULA
