Region’s best talents to vie for top places at Mussanah Race Week
Entry levels last year were at an all-time high as international athletes competing in the Laser Worlds attended Musannah Race Week but this year the emphasis returns to the region’s local talent
MUSCAT: Musannah Race Week 2014 is set to start at Al Musannah Sports City tomorrow. The event will give sailors from around the world an opportunity to lay down some important markers to boost their campaigns and careers.
Entry levels last year were at an all-time high as international athletes competing in the Laser Worlds attended Musannah Race Week to undertake warm weather training and familiarisation but this year the emphasis returns to the region’s local talent with almost 120 competitors entered.
Competition in the Optimist fleet will be especially intense with 50 junior racing sailors battling for honours including members of Oman’s Optimist Team Racing.
Around 12 Hobie 16 sailors, 20 Laser Radials and 20 Q’bas, the allpurpose dinghy from RS, will also take to the race track in the very same Al Musannah waters where Laser legend Robert Scheidt won his 9th Laser World Championship title last December.
Musannah Race Week, which was started by Oman Sail in 2011, has become increasingly popular for its rarity value in offering comprehensive clinics with distinguished Olympic coaches and in providing superb facilities at the purpose-built Al Musannah Sports City located on the South Batinah coast of Oman.
This highly acclaimed venue was specially designed to host Olympic standard events. It was completed in 2010 and given a full workout last year with three backto-back Laser World Championships involving 400 athletes from 50 countries plus hundreds of additional guests including coaches, families and race officials.
This year, British Olympic coach Chris Atkins heads up a list of worldrenowned coaches with experience across the full spectrum of classes, roles and events but specialising mainly in Optimists. In 2011-12, he was employed by Volvo Ocean Race as lead coach and umpire instructor for the Race Youth Academy and was also a member of the International Jury for the Race.
Mike Hart, also from Britain, is the Royal Yachting Association’s coaching development officer and the squad coach for OC Sport’s Artemis Figaro Academy. Like Atkins, Hart can turn his hand to anything and in the past has been Flying 15 World Champion, a multiple National Champion and Great Britain’s team coach in the Commodores Cup.
Winner of the prestigious RollsRoyce Development Male Coach of the Year Award and international youth coach Leonardo Espindola dos Santos from Brazil, who is regarded as one of the best youth coaches in the world, will also be running his coaching clinics.
At the clinics, the Musannah Race Week sailors representing 20 nations will gain invaluable race training tips as well as learn strategy and technique during a series of lectures. Group coaching clinics are held for two days prior to racing with up to 30-40 sailors attending the most popular clinics, which this year revolve around the Optimists, Lasers and Laser Radials.
“Coaching clinics were central to our planning when we first set the wheels in motion for Musannah Race Week because we knew what a draw they would be to all the competitors whether they were new to racing or seasoned sailors,” said Oman Sail CEO Da- vid Graham. “We have managed to attract some of the best coaches in the world which has earned the event a great deal of kudos among international sailors who have travelled from all corners to incorporate Oman into their training and racing programmes.
“As we saw during the six weeks of the Laser World Championships, Oman offers top class conditions which not only test the very best sailors but serve as a warm invitation to those who are less confident.
“Our aim at Oman Sail has always been to get as many people as possible enjoying these conditions and taking full advantage of the glo- rious sailing waters that surround the Sultanate.
“We wish everyone taking part this week fair winds, good sport and the best of luck.”
While athletes enjoy two days of coaching in the Optimist, Laser Standard and Laser Radial classes, the Hobie 16 competitors take to the water for a series of six races starting March 11.
Nine races are scheduled for the Laser Standard, Laser Radial and Optimist classes over three days from March 13 while the Q’ba fleet has four races from March 14-15.
The prize-giving ceremony will bring the fourth Musannah Race Week to a close on March 15.