Now it’s foot to the floor!
Whoa! After seven years of growing recognition EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour just took a huge step up. Organiser Oman Sail has announced an all-new look for the region’s leading racing event, with a switch to the high-performance Diam 24 multihull, and a new course that will explore the length of Oman’s striking coastline. Add in Oman Sail’s newly
extended offers of turnkey entry packages – ashore and afloat – and it’s an event that’s clearly going up a gear. Racing starts on 3 February and concludes on the 17th. A Gulf fixture since 2011, EFG
Sailing Arabia – The Tour needs little introduction, offering top pro- am racing with a mix of in-port and coastal courses. The reboot will offer more of the same magic winter mix with the addition of challenging coastal raids and eight new venues. But for the racers it is the change
from the Farr 30 to the Diam 24 tri that will grab most of the attention. Very fast, straightforward to assemble and sail (did we say very, very fast), the lightweight VPLP one-design tri has proved popular among pro sailors and recreational racers alike with growing fleets and dedicated events including, of course, the Tour de France à la Voile, where it was an instant hit.
62 SEAHORSE
EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour just added a ‘very’ serious new competitive element to the most accessible winter racing anywhere As a one-design tri that rewards
preparation, teamwork and race skills, plus occasionally a little bravery to push that bit harder, it’s anticipated the step-up in performance of the 2018 Tour fleet will appeal to a new group of international racers to add to returning fans of the event. For those kicking their heels
through the long northern winter, the Caribbean has, of course, been the default setting for those averse to frostbite options. With Key West Race Week off the calendar for now, other alternatives might have seemed limited. Might is the operative word here,
as the ‘Tour’, particularly in its new format, has earned the right to serious consideration by those seeking something warmer in February (mid-20s in Oman before you ask). For its part, Oman Sail is now a
well-established and familiar presence in the racing world, with teams competing across a wide variety of international events. Its competence in organising marquee events in the Sultanate has been seen at the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series and the Extreme Sailing Series, as well as recent Laser, Laser Radial and RSX World Championships (and that is just the sailing, they also organise the
A switch to the ‘lively’ Diam 24 tri will bring a whole new complexion to the next EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour. After being chosen for the Tour Voiles the class is growing steadily with local fleets developing in the UK and elsewhere. The Diam is ‘very’ exciting to sail and the new Tour course is tailor made for the speed and demands of pushing this very light VPLP design hard. This is one hell of a way to spend two weeks of winter... and now for little more than one skiing holiday. You know it makes sense!
Al Mouj Muscat Marathon). For all that, EFG Sailing Arabia
– The Tour may still seem a bit left field, even for a team looking for something a little different in unfamiliar – if spectacular – waters. Oman Sail has been a pioneer in a number of respects – not least reconnecting Omanis, including many women, with their maritime past – and is keen to present the challenge of The Tour to as many prospective racers from as many different countries as possible. With that in mind, for the
new-look event Oman Sail is offering a new turnkey package par excellence which extends not only to the race team, the race yacht and technical support, but to family, friends, team supporters and sponsors. The whole event package costs €22,000, with a 25 per cent discount for the first four teams to sign up – so an early-bird rate of €16,500.
One boat, one cheque, one spraytop (each) Included in the one-off fee is free return shipping of a Diam 24 and equipment between Port La Forêt, France, and Oman; all the transport costs (and logistics) of moving the boats between venues once in the Sultanate; the entry fee for three sailors; and their accommodation
LLOYD IMAGES/OMAN SAIL
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