Event
The long game
Saudi Arabia is preparing to host its first ever America’s Cup event as it reconnects with sailing and the sea
The second preliminary regatta of the 37th America’s Cup is set to take place on the Red Sea in Jeddah from 30 November to 3 December 2023. This will be the only venue outside of Spain to host an America’s Cup regatta during the 37th AC cycle. The fleet of AC40s will compete
out of Jeddah Yacht Marina just a few hundred metres away from the racetrack that has hosted the Saudi Arabia Formula One Grand Prix for the past two seasons. Samia Bagdady, CEO of the Saudi
Sailing Federation, was instrumental in bringing the regatta to Jeddah. Aged 36 and one of the first four women ever to head up a national sports federation in Saudi Arabia, Bagdady embodies the rapidly changing social and business culture of the country. A keen kiteboarder, she spent summers on the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, enjoying the water and learning to sail. Having grown up in a mix of
western and middle eastern cultures, Bagdady is pleased to see the rapid cultural and social change taking place in Saudi Arabia. The progression is visible and evident everywhere by the sheer sense of normality across society. In recent years a vast number of reforms have been introduced to improve the lives of the people. There have been significant judicial reforms to further protect human rights and gender equality. Women’s rights have witnessed a quantum leap. One of the mandates of Vision
82 SEAHORSE
2030, a unique transformative economic and social reform that is opening Saudi Arabia up to the world, is increasing the participation of women in the workforce, which has risen from 21 per cent to 33 per cent in its first three years. ‘For anyone who hasn’t been
to Saudi Arabia, I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised how open, friendly and welcoming the people are to visitors, male and female,’ she says. ‘You’ll not see restrictions but instread a fresh energy of hope and excitement. Women are working as equals in the workplace, running businesses and playing sport. There are so many positives and that’s why we’ve become one of the most exciting countries in world sport.’ More boys and girls,men and
women are playingmore sport than ever before. And women’s participation is at the heart of the progress. For instance women and girls’ participation in sport is up 150 per cent since 2016. Over 35 Saudi federations now have a women’s national teamand there are four female presidents of federations including sailing. In the last 18 months a football premier league has been established andmore recently 50,000 girls signed up for the first school football league. ‘This progress is real, transparent
and open for all to see in sport, and beyond. And when I see what’s been possible and the momentum behind other sports in the country, its very inspiring when you consider what
Above: Samia Bagdady, the chief executive of the Saudi Sailing Federation, played a leading role in bringing the America’s Cup’s second preliminary regatta to her home port of Jeddah
might be possible in sailing with the right support and structure.’ ‘Things have changed significantly
in a short few years,more thanmost people realise. The country is really opening up to itself and to the rest of the world.Whether it’s sailing, football, Formula 1,music festivals, art exhibitions, Saudi is a new home to all, simply because the people are no different to anyone else. They want to live happy, healthy, active lives. Its what the people want and what the government is supporting. ‘So international sporting events
are becoming a regular part of the calendar, and the AC40 regatta is a big step towards opening up sailing in the region.’ Bagdady says the regatta will
send an important message both externally to the rest of the world and internally to the people of Saudi Arabia that the nation is ready to re-engage with the sea and sailing more specifically. ‘Sailing is a part of our heritage and a very important part of our history,’ she says. ‘Saudi Arabia is on a peninsula with a coast that stretches about 1,760km along the Red Sea and then 560km on the Arabian Gulf. Before combustion engines, sailing was an essential form of transportation as well as being the way pearl divers and fishermen made their living.’ There was even a competitive
element to sailboat racing in Saudi Arabia that goes back centuries. ‘Jeddah is the closest port to Mecca and the dhows competed against
JEDDAH YACHT CLUB AND MARINA
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