The second of the seven stage event that takes the nine teams clockwise around the Gulf Co-operation Council states (GCC), starts from the Qatari capital of Doha to Abu Dhabi – the first of three stops in the UAE.
At 159 miles long and with the possibility of light winds, the organisers prudently catered for this leg taking as much as two days, but the forecast is now indicating a much breezier ride east-southeast towards the UAE’s Capital. The result is that the crews are now expecting to only spend one night at sea, but the ride will be a shorter and very much more intense one.
Earlier in the week, the forecast showed that the boats might experience as much as 30 knots but the forecast has thankfully moderated since then. “I am not so sure the wind will be so strong. The last forecast we got was showing a maximum of 17 knots, although it is stronger to the east,” said Bertrand Pacé, who is hoping he can follow up on yesterday’s success when his Team AISM won all three in-port races, elevating them to third place overall behind Cédric Pouligny’s Team BAE Systems and the Sidney Gavignet-skippered EFG Bank (Monaco).
Gavignet himself was looking forward to another new challenge in EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – The Tour, following the light first leg from Bahrain to Doha. “We have wind, 15-20 knots,” he said. “They have delayed the start, because they were not sure that there would be wind at the start, but now it looks like it will be a 16-19 hour long leg – this time tight reaching with the jib or reaching with a spinnaker.”
As excitement builds at the Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club for the arrival of the regions only long distance offshore race.
“In three short years EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – The Tour has been firmly established on the international and regional sailing calendar, known for intense and competitive legs such as this between Doha and Abu Dhabi. Sailing is in the blood of the region. It is our passion representing our past but also the future and thanks to the tour. Racing against nature as the best sailing talent in the GCC and from elite sailors around the world offers go head to head is an unrivalled experience to develop new skills and prepare sailors to compete at the highest level. We look forward to the safe arrival and warm welcome of the crews in Abu Dhabi,” Issa Al Ismaili, Director of Events of race organiser, Oman Sail said.
“After a challenging day of in-port racing, Al-Thuraya Bank Muscat skipper Dee Caffari and her all-female team, comprising of 50% Omani crew, were hoping for to better results on this longer leg.
Looking forward to this leg the most is certainly the crew of Team Abu Dhabi, led by Adil Khaled, the first Emirati sailor to compete in the Asian Games, but best known for sailing around the world as part of Ian Walker’s crew aboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in the last Volvo Ocean Race.
“It is a big feeling. It is the first time we are doing EFG Bank Sailing Arabia The Tour with a full Emirati crew, so it is going to be a great day for Abu Dhabi and our team. It is a very big responsibility for me and Yousef,” he said looking with a smile at his towering no.2 Yousef Bin Lahej. “If we can get home safely, it will be fine.”
While Khaled is the UAE’s most travelled sailor, Bin Lahej, knows the waters off the UAE the best among the crew having competed in the first running of EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – The Tour and also as a delivery skipper in the region: “It is always interesting sailing through there. There are a lot of oil fields and big transport dhows along with a lot of tankers and dredgers – there is a huge amount. But it is what it is – go to the English Channel and there are loads of boats around there too. It is part of the game.”
Arriving in Abu Dhabi will also be significant for Marcel Herrera’s team on Messe Frankfurt. Despite sounding impeccably English, Herrera is German but went to school in the UK and has lived in Dubai for the last 13 years. His sponsor, Messe Frankfurt, an exhibition company from his home country, now has a significant base in the UAE. “They are doing well and they are getting involved with sport – this is their first sport sponsorship.”
Herrera’s crew all come from the University of Plymouth in the UK, where Herrera is studying Navigation and Maritime Science. However looking at the course for this next leg, that will see the boats screaming along, while at the same time weaving their way through numerous oil fields and other hazards, Herrera said he was pleased he won’t be navigating on this leg.
“We have a dedicated navigator who is not going to get any sleep!” he said, referring to Peter Knight. “It will be a fun ride in a lot of breeze. We are looking at 20+ knots. Hopefully it will be a run, but it is going to be a full-on leg so we are going to get as much sleep as we can until midnight and see how long we can make it through the night.”
In reality, given the conditions it is unlikely that any of the crews will sleep during their one night at sea. Winning will be all about the crew that can push itself hardest, right through until the moment they cross the line on Thursday morning.
A marathon sail through the night on typically a 36 hour journey, based on an average speed of 5 knots, the race is expected to be reduced to 20 hours. Strong wind speeds are forecasted, lifting speeds to between 15-20 knots. As the longest leg is also predicted to be one of the quickest, the decision has been made to delay the start until 1200 local time.
Competing aboard identical Farr 30 yachts, the EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – The Tour has attracted nine crews representing five different nations, led locally by Oman’s Team Renaissance, Royal Navy of Oman, Team BAE Systems and the all – female Team Al-Thuraya Bank Muscat. Two teams will compete on behalf of the UAE, Team Abu Dhabi and Team AISM. International crews include EFG Bank (Monaco), Team Delft Challenge – TU Delft (Holland) and the Team Messe Frankfurt (EU).
Taking in four countries and eight ports of call, EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – The Tour is a showcase of everything that the Gulf has to offer in terms of state-of-the-art facilities and idyllic sailing conditions
Leaving Manama on February 10th, EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – The Tour calls at Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Dibba and Mussanah and ends February 25th in Muscat. The racing will include in-port racing at selected locations.