‘Beijaflore’ dominate on first day of 2018 Sailing Arabia - The Tour

MUSCAT: With exhilarating stadium racing in breezy conditions, showcasing the action that is in store over the next two weeks, the new-look EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour (SATT) got underway in Salalah on Sunday.

The regatta, now in its eighth year, has been given a refresh for 2018 to feature eight international crews blasting up the stunning coastline of Oman in super-fast Diam 24 trimaran multihulls.

The teams, boasting some of the world’s most talented sailors, will face a mixture of high-octane in-port races and longer ‘coastal raids’ of up to 40 miles as EFG Sailing Arabia — The Tour visits six captivating venues.

Abdullah bin Aqeel bin Ahmad Al Ibrahim, the Acting Deputy Governor of Dhofar, was the guest of honour at a special opening ceremony in Salalah on Sunday marking the start of Arabia’s premier regatta.

Oman Sail CEO David Graham told a packed audience gathered at the luxurious Fanar Hotel that this edition of EFG Sailing Arabia — The Tour was a new beginning for the event. “This year marks a historic moment for the EFG Sailing Arabia — The Tour,” he said. “For the first time in the event’s history we have invited local and international sailors to experience the beauty of the Sultanate through an exclusively Omani event.

“Oman is blessed with fantastic sailing conditions and the Tour is an incredible opportunity to showcase the natural beauty of the country and explore the diverse landscape at each stop along the coastline. EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour is now a firm fixture on the international sailing calendar and we are delighted to be launching the eighth edition today.”

With 20 knots of wind blowing, race director Guillaume Rottee staged four exciting stadium races just metres off the beach, much to the delight of the crowds that turned out to watch. The spectators were rewarded with some sensational racing as the teams, including Thierry Douillard’s reigning champions EFG Bank Monaco, battled to control their Diam 24 racing machines. Full story @ timesofoman.com/sports