Oman Sail’s Exciting
developments
The Oman Sail project was officially launched in Muscat,
by Her Excellency, The Minister of Tourism Dr Rajhia bint
Abdulamir bin Ali. The project has already succeeded
in supporting the marketing of Oman as one of the few
remaining unspoilt destinations.
Her Excellency explained “Oman Sail is a long term initiative
created to inspire a new generation of young Omanis to take up
sailing as recreation and as competitive sport, to restore Oman’s
maritime eminence through competing at international level, as well
as supporting the development of events to support professional
sailing in the Arabian Peninsula”
Backed by the Sultanate of Oman, Oman Sail aims to promote the
country to a wider international audience to encourage economic
investment, promote the country as a prime tourist destination and,
at the same time, provide working opportunities for its growing
population of young adults.
Her Excellency launched the project “Oman Sail is an audacious
and challenging long-term project to inspire our youth and to
allow our friends outside of the Sultanate to learn more about our
magnificent country. Set against a proud history and a rich maritime
heritage, it is our nature to accept new challenges and adventures”
Oman Sail’s dream is a big one, and it will take a decade or more
to build this new capability for the Omani team to compete at top-
Mohsin Al Busaidi
level competitions, but as part of the plan to drive interest in young
Omanis to step onboard, Her Excellency announced today that
Mohsin Al Busaidi will be the first ever Omani, as part of a crew of
“After a vigorous selection process, 33
5, to attempt to sail at high speed the gruelling 23,000 miles around
the planet from Muscat to Muscat, onboard the 75 foot trimaran
year old Mohsin Al Busaidi is preparing to
‘Musandam’.
set sail to become the first Omani to race
‘Musandam’ is the former record-breaking 75 foot trimaran ‘B&Q’.
around the world and face the freezing cold
Her previous skipper Dame Ellen MacArthur was an official guest
of the hostile Southern Oceans”
in Muscat for the launch, to wish the project well, and explain to
the audience what it means to sail around the planet and the tough
challenges ahead. “Oman Sail is a project with a great heart and
serious aims, and watching the Omani team progress over the past
6 months of intensive learning has been fantastic. I’m delighted to
see my old boat now heading off across the oceans again on a new
expected to decide whether CNEV is a
challenge, she was created just for that! I wish the Oman Sail team
legitimate challenger under the terms of the
fair winds and good luck on what remains an extremely difficult
1887 Deed of Gift that governs the oldest
challenge - although I’m sure ‘Musandam’ will look after them.”
continuous team event in sports. Surely they
will have no choice but to force a contest
The transfer of knowledge from an international team of professional
between Alinghi and BMW-Oracle in giant
sailors is well underway, and the Oman Sail Race Team will become
multihulls.
progressively more and more Omani with time – in ocean racing,
and in the cauldron of high level inshore professional racing, as
well as in the Oman Sail Academy for
younger sailors. Aspiring, one day, to
create champions in Asian and Olympic
level competitions.
In 2009, Oman Sail will continue to race
in the European iShares Cup Extreme 40
circuit, as well complete the construction
of a new One Design 105’ ocean racing
BMW Oracle training off San Diego – Image
trimaran.
BMW-Oracle and Gilles Martin-Raget
»
JANUARY 2009 : MULTIHULL REVIEW 39
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