MUSCAT — Oman’s fledgling sailing stars will get the chance to measure their progress over the last 12 months when they take part in the Al Bareh International Regatta in Bahrain from June 25 to 29. The 2013 Bahrain regatta, celebrating its 20th anniversary, has attracted a large field from across the GCC region but this year, there is representation from 12 nations including Holland, Germany, Denmark and South Africa as many teams are looking to get on-location experience of the 2014 IODA Asians championship venue but also confirming its growing appeal as a popular sporting event.
Oman Sail, competing for the second year, is fielding young athletes from their Youth Programme including Laser Radial sailor Nasser al Razqi, who will represent Oman at the ISAF Youth World Championships in Cyprus in July as well as five members of the Oman Optimist national squad who will compete at the selection for the team to represent Oman at the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) African championship in South Africa in August.
Two of Oman’s top young sailors campaigning the smallest of the Lasers, the Laser 4.7, will also be in contention trying hard to achieve a good position over the five days of the regatta, which is scheduled to feature three races each day depending on the breeze. This is an event to measure progress over the past 12 months, says Oman Sail Junior Race co-ordinator Abdul Aziz al Shidi who will be the team leader and co-coach for Oman’s team at the event, alongside Leonardo Santos.
“We are not going to Bahrain for results. What we are after is to measure how much progress we have made in the region in the past 12 months. Last year, our best Optimist sailor finished mid fleet. We will be happy if everyone in the group is in the top 50 per cent. We are already leading the GCC region in the Optimist but this competition is not restricted to GCC sailors — with sailors from Denmark, Germany, Holland, Finland and South Africa — so it will not be easy.”
Oman Sail’s participation has received the full support of Youth Programme sponsors Oman Shipping Company and Omantel. Tarik al Junaidi, Acting CEO of Oman Shipping Company, said: “We are looking forward to being in Bahrain for the Al Bareh International Regatta — it is always rewarding to see the Oman flag flying outside of our country, especially when you know our representatives are the cream of Oman’s young sailing talent.”
And Dr Amer Awadh al Rawas, CEO of Omantel, added: “This is a good opportunity for the young Omani sailors to be prepared for bigger events, and we are glad to see how our support to the youth is being embodied in such participations. As the leader of the telecom sector in the Sultanate, we are committed to making these young sailors chase their dreams.”