official campaign magazine for oman sail

2N

D

ED

IT

IO

N

-

JA

NU

AR

Y

20

10

RE

IG

NI

TI

NG

M

AR

IT

IM

E

HE

RI

TA

GE

T H E O F F I C I A L C A M P A I G N M A G A Z I N E 2 n d E D I T I O N

R E I G N I T I N G M A R I T I M E H E R I T A G E

www.omansail.com

© In

gm

ar

Jen

se

© M

ark

Cov

ell

© In

gm

ar

Jen

se

© B

.Sti

chel

ba

ut

© J

MLi

ot

Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race

Route Du Rhum

The Clipper Round the World Race

Extreme Sailing Series Asia and Europe

Tour de France à la Voile

Dinghy Programme

© O

ma

n S

ail

6 52 0 1 0 A N D B E Y O N D

Foreword by Her Excellency

Dr. Rajiha bint Abdulameer bin Ali

Minister of Tourism

and Chairman of Oman Sail LLC

AHLAN WA SAHLAN to this latest edition of the Oman Sail

campaign magazine.

The overarching theme of the campaign is reigniting the

Sultanate’s rich and varied maritime heritage. It is a journey

from the past, through the present and into a challenging

future. Above all it is a story of achievement: young Omanis,

male and female are now learning to sail.

Mohsin al Busaidi, an Omani, has become the first Arab

to sail non-stop around the world, starting and finishing in

Muscat.

We have achieved a whole series of first places at

the highest reaches of competitive sailing on the Extreme

40 circuit: 1st in the Round the Island Race in the United

Kingdom, 1st in the iShares Cup in Europe and 1st place in the

first two events of the new Asian Extreme Sailing Series in

Hong Kong and Singapore leading, we hope, to an overall win

to be decided in February in Muscat.

The assembly of a 105-foot giant trimaran in our

southernmost port of Salalah is another massive milestone

for Oman. Named Majan, after the ancient name for Oman,

this trimaran has already conducted her maiden voyage

around the Arabian Gulf and in February sets out to establish

a new route in the Indian Ocean.

The team has also achieved success in dinghies in both

national and international competitions.

Oman Sail is providing professional support to the Jewel

of Muscat, a replica 9th Century hand sewn ship that has

been built in Muscat, clearly demonstrating how the past,

present and future are intertwined throughout the project.

Ahmed Al Maamari and Abdullah Al Busaidi are even now

facing the extreme challenges of the world’s oceans in the

demanding Clipper Round the World Race and will return in

July after 10 months of sailing.

The story so far is of a string of remarkable successes.

The future holds even more exciting challenges to be faced

by Omanis for the Sultanate, none more so than the target of

teaching 30,000 Omanis to sail by the end of 2015.

In these pages we tell a story of achievement and

challenges that have already won international recognition

and respect. I believe that these should be a source of

deep pride for all Omanis and, once again, reflect the wise

leadership and vision of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Please reflect for a moment on the effort, dedication

and courage demonstrated by Omanis illustrated in this

magazine. I trust you will be as impressed as I am in the

ambition and fortitude displayed and share these national

achievements with pride.

2

PRODUCED BY: Oman Sail

PROJECT MANAGER: Ingmar Jense

EDITED BY: OC Events / Editor: Jocelyn Blériot

DESIGNED BY: OC Vision

All rights reserved. Published January 2010

Front Cover picture, above and above left: © Lloyd Images

Back Cover & main pictures this page and left: © Mark Covell

04 REFLECTIONS OF OMAN SAIL

On full screen

06 THE OMAN SAIL STORY SO FAR

08 MOHSIN’S NON-STOP ROUND THE WORLD JOURNEY

10 MUSANDAM’S EPIC ROUND THE WORLD JOURNEY

From the logbook of Mohsin Al Busaidi

14 WINNING THE ISHARES CUP

Oman Sail’s colours fly at the highest international level

18 MAJAN, OMAN SAIL’S NEW FLAGSHIP

Defining Modern Oman

23 PROFILE: MOHAMMED AL GHAILANI

24 MAJAN’S TOUR OF ARABIA…

… and Dubai to Muscat race victory

28 BEHIND THE SCENES

Working onshore to help the team win offshore

OMAN SAILING SCHOOL

30 THE SAILING SCHOOL

32 RECRUITMENT PROCESS

34 FITNESS TRAINING

36 TRY SAILING

38 PROFILE: MUSA’AB AL HADI

39 PROFILE: ALI AMBUSAIDI

40 JEWEL OF MUSCAT

Back to the Future

43 PROFILE: SALEH AL JABRI

44 OMAN’S HISTORY WITH THE SEA

46 INDIAN OCEAN 5 CAPES RACE

Establishing a new racing route

49 POTENTIAL RACE COURSES

The Middle East and Asia have limitless opportunities

50 ATTRACTING SPONSORS

Oman Sail offers a valuable platform for sponsors and partners

52 A TRAVELLER IN OMAN

A sailing journalist discovers Oman’s treasures

56 THE BIG PICTURE

Oman’s splendour caught on camera

64 2010 AND BEYOND

Looking ahead at Oman Sail’s future and objectives

CONTENTS

3C O N T E N T S

Reflections of Oman SailOMAN SAIL LEAVES ITS MARK ON THE WATER AS MAJAN’S BOW IS REFLECTED BY THE SUN ON A CALM DAY

© Mark Covell

5

2009 THE STORY SO FAR…LOOKING BACK ON THE FIRST YEAR OF THE OMAN SAIL CAMPAIGN

February

Musandam reaches the half-way point in her

circumnavigation of the world (Feb 11th) after sailing

11,000 nautical miles (20,300 kms).

January

Mohsin Al Busaidi left Muscat on Musandam in a bid

to become the first Arab to circumnavigate the world

non-stop.

March

Mohsin Al Busaidi becomes the first Arab to

circumnavigate the world non-stop, taking 76 days to

do so.

July

Masirah wins Oman’s first iShares Cup leg in Hyeres,

France.

August

Majan is launched in Salalah- the culmination of

49,500 hours of work and 200,000 working parts.

September

Two Omani sailors, pictured with Sir Robin Knox-

Johnston, leave the UK to sail around the world in the

Clipper Race.

October

Masirah takes overall victory in the iShares Cup and

Jewel of Muscat is launched.

November

Majan completes the Tour of Arabia and Masirah wins

the Hong Kong leg of the Extreme Sailing Series Asia.

December

Musandam wins the inaugural Muscat-Khasab race

and 12 new Omanis join the Oman Sailing School.

Photos without credits: © Lloyd Images

© Mark Covell© Herbert Fernandes

6

April

Majan’s hulls and beams arrive in Salalah for

assembly.

May

22 Omanis complete the selection process to join the

Oman Sailing School.

June

Masirah takes line honours in the JP Morgan Asset

Management Round The Island Race in Cowes, UK.

Two things happened this autumn which convinced

me that the Oman Sail project was going to succeed.

Masirah winning the iShares Cup, in a tightly

fought final, was a great achievement. This made the

headlines and yet again brought publicity and visibility

to the country and Oman Sail. It also proved that a

well planned campaign with a talented and focused

group of professional sailors, working with some

emerging Omani talent, can beat some of the world’s

best sailing teams.

But perhaps the most impressive thing I witnessed

was down at the marina where Oman Sail is based

where a group of teenage girls from Al Zuhoor School

arrived with their head teacher for their regular training

session. Within a short time they were out sailing

under the supervision of their Omani instructors

who had recently arrived back in the country having

qualified for their RYA instructor qualification in the

UK. The girls were a lively group and had great fun if

the peals of laughter were anything to go by!

The vision that Albert Whitley, Mark Turner and

the Minister of Tourism, Dr Dr. Rajiha bint Abdulameer

bin Ali, had when they instigated the project has really

borne fruit. Oman Sail has a presence on the world

stage, Omani sailors have sailed the world’s oceans and

they are set to become local heroes for young Omanis

to emulate. A talent pathway has been set up so that

determined and committed young Omanis can follow

in their footsteps and create a permanent, sustainable

base for the Sport of Sailing in the Sultanate.

THE OMAN SAIL CAMPAIGN AS SEEN BY ROD CARR, CEO OF THE ROYAL YACHTING ASSOCIATION (UK)A LEADING AUTHORITY ON INTERNATIONAL SAILING DEVELOPMENTS

“A talent pathway”

There are plans to replicate the community-

focused sailing school in other venues – both around

Muscat and further afield. When this happens, the

volume of young people and their families being

given a chance to try the sport will explode. This can

only be good for the economy as these new, multi-

purpose, marine facilities will be able to accommodate

events and nautical tourism as well as cater for the

recreational needs of the local population.

The project continues to have close ties with the

UK, currently the world’s most successful Olympic

Sailing nation, in the form of both Mark Turner, who

heads up the world renowned OC Group, and the

Royal Yachting Association, who have developed

probably the best training schemes in the world.

The programmes are being rolled out taking advice

from world class practitioners in their field. However,

the rapid Omanisation of the scheme is a key feature

of its future growth and sustainability and the last

few months have really shown that local sailors are

ready and willing to step up to the plate and take on

significant roles in the programme.

The combination of Oman’s maritime heritage,

sporting ambition and a plan to bring overseas cruising

yachtsmen to sample the delights of the beautiful,

unspoilt coastline which is within a few hours flying

time of Europe, make for a compelling vision – one that

deserves to succeed.

© R

od C

arr

7T H E S T O R Y S O F A R

ON THE 25TH OF MARCH 2009, MOHSIN AL BUSAIDI BECAME THE FIRST ARAB SAILOR TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE WORLD NON-STOP. TODAY, HE IS A ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG OMANIS AND HIS VOYAGE HAS HELPED PUT HIS COUNTRY’S MARITIME PAST UNDER THE SPOTLIGHTS. HE LOOKS BACK ON HIS EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT.

Before the start I felt a lot of pressure as I was going on a mission to represent

my country around the world, with the ambition to become the first Arab to ever

circumnavigate the globe non-stop. It meant a lot for the Sultanate of Oman,

very keen to reignite its glorious maritime heritage: I was at the same time very

honoured and humbled by the mission that I had been entrusted with.

Being the only Omani onboard, there was no one I could share the weight of

the task with, and furthermore, I was worried that I might not be able to fit in with

the European crew because my English level was quite low… and on a personal

note, I am not used to being away from my family and friends. Nevertheless, we all

had only one goal, which was to circumnavigate the globe, and that made things

much easier. We were all 100% focused on our objective and the team spirit proved

very strong. I soon realised that the pressure I felt was mostly self-generated, I did

not want to fail, and was afraid to let my family and my country down.

Having spent my whole life in Oman, I really suffered from the cold weather, it

felt very hostile and there was absolutely no way for me to escape it. Musandam is

a thoroughbred and comfort does not have its place on board a high-performance

racing yacht, so during those long stormy hours spent on deck at night, I often

missed the warmth of the Oman sun. In the Southern Ocean we had to cope with

tough conditions, very strong winds and high, treacherous waves, but we all had

trained hard and knew what we had signed up for. Not once did I feel that the

situation was escaping our control, we managed to sail through whatever was

thrown at us. I did not experience fear, because the burning desire I had to fulfill my

dreams was much stronger than anything else. But it would not be honest to say

that I never felt homesick, I missed listening to the Athan and going to the mosque

to pray, and being a very sociable person, I struggled to be away from my family

and friends.

As the finish line drew nearer, people back home started hinting at the fact

that we were about to get a fantastic welcome, but we had been at sea for 70

days, just the five of us, and it was difficult to even imagine what was awaiting us

in Muscat. When we got there, I simply could not believe that such a huge crowd

could turn up to greet us. It seemed like the whole city had gathered in Port Sultan

Qaboos, shouting ‘Mohsin’ and ‘Oman’ in unison, it was completely unreal, I had

never seen so many people there. It obviously made me feel extremely proud,

but the moment flew by, as I soon found myself in the back of a car on my way

to the hotel to catch up properly with my family. The pride I feel today is a very

long-lasting one, since my voyage has opened the door to many young Omanis to

strive for their goals. I can go to schools and talk about what I did, and inspire the

school kids to be the best they can. My country’s heritage is being revived, and I am

looking forward to passing everything on to the new wave of Omani sailors aboard

Majan, and to contribute to the Oman Sailing School.

Mohsin Al Busaidi

© L

loyd

Im

ag

es

8

MOHSIN’S EPIC ROUND THE WORLD

JOURNEY

9 ’ S E P I C J O U R N E Y

08/01/2009Port Sultan Qaboos, MuscatHer Excellency Dr Rajiha bint Abdulamair bin Ali, The Minister of Tourism, and His Excellency Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy, The Minister of Sports, shook hands with the crew as they left land for the last time until they return to Muscat. As Moshin Al Busaidi pointed out: “I’m very proud of what we have achieved so far and I hope this journey will go well and we succeed in going around the world. Our Omani ancestors didn’t go around the world, but they sailed to many places all over the globe. Oman has given me a lot and I hope I will make my country and family proud of me.” It was then time to leave the

dock, and set off for three months.

• WEEK 1Sailing fast and settling inAfter the first few silent hours sailing with lumps in our throats, as navigator Charles Darbyshire put it, the crew picked up speed and made good progress, crossing the Equator on January the 13th. Musandam sailed fast on her southerly course, straight towards the tricky Doldrums…

• WEEK 2Escaping the Doldrums and diving SouthThe Doldrums, or Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) with their typical light and unpredictable winds, sudden squalls and brutal weather changes, lived up to their reputation. Having covered more than 3,000 miles since the start, the crew began to experience choppy seas and hostile weather, as Charlie noted: “Mohsin and I were on deck and got nailed by some heavy rain and 22 knots of wind. In the rain you need to shut your eyes - it’s so strong.”

• WEEK 3First great cape in the wake of Musandam!Covering almost 500 miles per day - thus making Mohsin the fastest Omani sailor of all time - Musandam left Cape Leeuwin (Australia) in her wake after eighteen days at sea, sailing fast in near gale force winds and feeling the temperature drop significantly. The third week at sea was a challenging one, since Musandam’s starboard rudder was broken in a collision with an object or a large fish. Thankfully the spare blade was soon fitted, and the proud trimaran was back up to speed in no time.

• WEEK 4Blown out of the Cook Strait by storm force winds!After having enjoyed a few days of incredibly ‘benign’ conditions in the Roaring Forties, Musandam was caught by more than fifty knots (100 km/h+) of wind whilst passing through the Cook Strait, the narrow channel that separates New Zealand’s North and South islands. Dropping the mainsail in emergency and holding on for dear life, the crew took the blow without flinching and were glad to report a three-day lead over the virtual eighty-day pace boat. The Pacific Ocean was next…

• WEEK 5 Half a world…Only twenty-four hours away from the halfway mark at the end of week five, Musandam was then sailing in the most remote part of the world, over very bumpy seas and with a storm brewing on her path. As the skipper and his French companion - two very experienced multihull racers - were “driving like maniacs” in their

quest for speed, life on board was nothing but brutal for Mohsin and the rest of the crew, forced to hold on at all times… even when falling asleep! At the navstation, the challenge was to find a way to avoid a very active and dangerous low pressure system.

• WEEK 6Oman’s flag flies proudly at the foot of Cape HornCape Horn and its infamous dark jagged rocks were duly saluted on day 40, after an amazing zone of virtually no wind, which was probably the least expected obstacle in the vicinity of the feared South American cape. For Mohsin, all notion of time seemed to have been abolished when the crew reached that legendary landmark: “three hours on / three hours off watch means that I sleep when I need to, day or night. The interesting thing for me is in Muscat we don’t have much difference in the length of daylight and darkness (twelve hours each), out here it changes all the time with the shortest night so far being six hours - the countdown has started to Muscat and my own bed.”

• WEEK 7Shaky ride but great progressA bumpy week indeed, but one of high speeds and great gains over the virtual eighty-day pace boat, some seven days behind Musandam! Week seven will be remembered as a challenging one tactically speaking, with yet another massive storm to avoid without covering too many miles… All eyes were focused on the last landmark before re-entering the Indian Ocean, the Cape of Good Hope; less than 2000 miles away.

CREWMAN’S LOGSTART DATE

08.01.20O9

UP UNTIL FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, NO ONE HAD EVER COMPLETED A NON-STOP ROUND THE WORLD JOURNEY ONBOARD A RACING MULTIHULL AND STILL TODAY IT REMAINS ONE OF THE HARDEST CHALLENGES A SAILOR CAN EVER DREAM OF TACKLING. MUSANDAM SAILED OVER 24,000 NAUTICAL MILES DURING WHICH THE CREW SAILED DEEP INTO THE HARSH AND HOSTILE SOUTHERN OCEANS AS SHE PASSED THE LEGENDARY CAPES OF CAPE LEEUWIN, CAPE HORN AND THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

WE TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THAT FANTASTIC ACHIEVEMENT WHICH PROPELLED MOHSIN AL BUSAIDI INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS

ALL THE WORLD’S OCEANS

© Lloyd Images

10

25.03.2009FINISH

ROUND-THE WORLD JOURNEY KEY STATISTICS:Start/finish: Muscat, Oman

Distance: 24,287 nautical miles (44,979 kilometres )

Average speed over ground: 13.3 knots

Total journey length: 76 days, 1 hour, 12 minutes, 42 seconds

ELAPSED TIMES:Muscat (08/01/2009 10:30:30) - Cape Leeuwin (26/01/2009 14:00:00)

18 days 3 hrs 29 mins 30 secs - distance sailed 6,035 nautical miles

Cape Leeuwin (26/01/2009 14:00:00) – Cape Horn (17/02/2009 16:05:00)


Cape Horn (17/02/2009 16:05:00) – Cape of Good Hope (28/02/2009 03:03:00)


Cape of Good Hope (28/02/2009 03:03:00) – Muscat (25/03/2009 11:43:12)


THE CREWLoïk Gallon (FR) - skipper

Mohsin Al Busaidi (Oman)

Thierry Duprey Du Vorsent (FR)

Charles Darbyshire (UK)

Nick Houchin (UK)

THE BOATMusandam, formerly B&Q

75-ft trimaran, former holder of the

solo round-the-world record

with Dame Ellen MacArthur

Design: Nigel Irens - Benoît Cabaret

Build: Boatspeed, Australia

Launched in 2004

Musandam’s triumphOn March 25th at 15:43:12 Local Time (11:43:12 GMT) Mohsin made history to

become the first Arab to sail non-stop around the world, as Musandam crossed

the finish line in Muscat in under eighty days. “I am so happy, so proud for my

country,” said the local hero, “it has been the most amazing experience of my

life. Although the voyage has only taken seventy-six days, I have loved sailing

and the sea for a long time”.

This round the world journey has been the key focus for the newly formed

Oman Sail project and we wanted to show quickly what could be achieved to

inspire others. We’ll continue the voyage of our ancestors who sailed the seas

and we’ll build boats and masts, so our children continue the journey after us.”

• WEEK 8A rough welcome back, courtesy of the Indian OceanHaving rounded Good Hope - or the “Cape of Storms”, as it was first named in the 16th century - on Day 52, the crew was anxiously waiting to be able to jibe and head North, towards the Equator and eventually the finish line! But the weather seemed to have decided otherwise, and Musandam was slamming upwind, taking another beating in the Roaring Forties!

• WEEK 9Homeward boundAs temperatures rose and rain showers started to be more frequent, the sailors’ morale improved a lot and as Charlie said, looking forward to the finish line, “We should arrive back in Muscat in reasonably clean clothes (all things are relative).” Yet things were still not simple and the crew had to cope with squalls, tropical rain clouds, choppy seas or spells of calm, and a constantly unsettled feeling that will have put the crew’s nerves on edge. Would the gear withstand the brutal changes and confused sea state?

• WEEK 10 Is Muscat a mirage?“I was hoping I’d be in Omani territorial waters by now, ”Mohsin said on Day 67 (March 15) “We are moving slowly and we’re trying to find a way out of this. The best winds we had so far are about six knots!” Tough times for Musandam, whose 3,000-mile lead over the virtual eighty-day pace boat started to melt under the sun and the absence of wind! Patience was the name of the game, but with less than 1,500 miles to go, being becalmed certainly felt very cruel.

CAPE HORN18th February

MUSCAT

COOK STRAIT

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE28th February

Departed: 8th JanuaryReturned: 25th March

CAPE LEEUWIN26th January

MUSANDAM’S ROUTE

AROUND THE WORLD NON-STOP

76 days, 1 hour, 12 minutes, 42 seconds

11M O H S I N ’ S E P I C R O U N D T H E W O R L D J O U R N E Y

“We’ll continue the voyage of our ancestors who sailed the seas and we’ll build boats and masts, so our children continue the journey after us.”

Mohsin Al Busaidi The first Arab to circumnavigate the world non-stop

12

Photos: © Lloyd Images

13M O H S I N ’ S E P I C J O U R N E Y

FOR ITS THIRD SEASON, THE EXTREME SAILING SERIES OFFERED AN EXCEPTIONAL LINEUP OF SAILING LEGENDS. IN ALL THEY SHARED 50 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

TITLES, 6 OLYMPIC MEDALS AND 11 INTERNATIONAL RECORDS.

OMAN SAIL - WINNERS OFTHE iSHARES CUP 2009

© L

loyd

Ima

ges

14

© L

loyd

Im

ag

es

© OC Events

With two crews flying Oman Sail’s colours among the 10-boat fleet, it

was all set to be a big year for the Sultanate on the international racing

scene but the result exceeded all expectations. By the last race of the

last day at the last venue, it was Masirah who took the overall title of

iShares Cup Champions with Renaissance finishing on the third step of

the podium!

With six high-profile European cities in the summer schedule, the

2009 iShares Cup Extreme Sailing Series featured a crew line-up of

forty sailors that would have intimidated many world-level competitors.

Pete Cumming, skipper of Masirah, was humbled by being with many

of them at the launch event in Paris, “I felt a bit of a misfit looking at

all these other legends on the roll call,” he said. “Now I feel proud to

stand shoulder to shoulder with these guys having competed with

them and beaten them.” Among the French multihull heavyweights

who represented one of the biggest threats was legendary skipper, Mr.

Multihull and Jedi-Master, Loïck Peyron. Peyron was both a stablemate

and a rival on the water at the helm of Renaissance, Oman Sail’s second

Extreme 40 to be entered in the series and casually known as “Oman

Blue” on the race course while Masirah was dubbed “Oman Red”. Peyron

would prove more than willing to share his extensive knowledge during

training in Muscat and Europe, but proved hard to beat around the

course come race day, when he was focused only on winning as many

races as possible!

Having finished in fourth place overall at the end of the 2008

season, Pete Cumming, Chris Draper, Mark Bulkeley and David “Freddie”

Carr knew that consolidating everything they had learnt and maintaining

their flawless crew work was key. As a result the boys put their heads

down and practised relentlessly off Muscat during the winter in the

conditions in which they would ultimately shine. Sailing in an average

of 10 to 12 knots of breeze, they polished their manoeuvres, sharpened

their tactics, practised their starts and worked on the communications

on board. When they won the second event of the season in Hyères,

France, clearly displaying total dominance with eight wins in nineteen

races, it seemed obvious to everyone that they would be a force to be

reckoned with. Fast, aggressive on the start line and able to keep a cool

head under pressure, the Masirah team proved that their hard work had

been worthwhile. In the meantime, Renaissance managed to finish third in

Hyères despite having missed six races following a collision with a boat

that did not have the right of way over them. As the season progressed

Pete and his crew kept on winning with Loïck and his crew never far

behind, picking up seconds and thirds but never achieving the top step.

Misfortune struck in Amsterdam when Masirah was badly hit by a fellow

competitor and had to be craned out of the water with a massive hole in

the port float. “We were just a few hundred metres away from the quay

when we were hit, and it only took a couple of minutes for the assistance

boat to tow us back,” recalls Pete Cumming, “but we were sinking

fast, it was devastating.” Thanks to shore crew expert and boat builder

extraordinaire Ian McCabe (read our feature on page 28), Masirah was

back in the water the following day in time for the races. But having

been granted an average of points based on the first races completed

(ironically the crew had their worst opening day of the season before

being hit), climbing back up the ladder was a tough task but one

which the crew accepted the challenge and sailed a textbook race the

following morning.

The incident naturally came as a shock for the boys, who realised

how quickly a lead can shrink in a highly competitive environment such

as the Extreme Sailing Series. Still in the overall lead when the sun rose

1 5O M A N S A I L ’ S E X T R E M E 4 0 S

©T

h.M

art

inez

/S

ea&

Co/

OC

Eve

nts

ABOUT THE EXTREME SAILING SERIES

Following on from the success of the iShares Cup Series, the

Extreme Sailing Series Asia was developed to take the proven

formula of high-adrenaline sailing close to shore into the cities

of Asia and the Middle East. The Series kicked off in Hong

Kong’s infamous harbour where Masirah took the first win of

the series. Three weeks later the fleet was racing in Singapore

where the Oman Sail teams bookended the podium with a first

from Masirah and a third from The Wave, Muscat. The finale and

decider took place in Muscat

from the 1st-5th February, after

this magazine was published.

in the Spanish sky for the final event in Almeria, Masirah knew that two

other crews could still make it to the top. These included their own

teammates aboard Renaissance and the highly consistent French Gitana

Team, led by former Olympic sailor and multihull expert, Yann Guichard.

With only two points separating the top three boats, the battle was

bound to be as hot as the Andalucian sun and officials from Oman,

Her Excellency Dr. Rajiha Bint Abdulamir Bin Ali, Oman’s Minister of

Tourism, His Excellency Eng. Sultan Hamdoon al Harthi, Head of Muscat

Municipality and the Municipal Council as well as His Excellency,

Oman’s Ambassador to Spain, had flown in to cheer for the Oman

Sail teams. On the water, light winds made for a tactical game, and

great starts were vital to guarantee good results on the short, harbour

front courses. No one could afford to post average scores given the

tight points situation at the top of the leader board and tensions were

running high, especially as there were other teams who wanted to win

the Almeria leg, though they could not compete for the overall win. As

Masirah helmsman Chris Draper stressed, “We are just going to try and

keep out of trouble. It’s hard not to pile the pressure on any more than

it already is, so we will be treating every race in the same way as we

did with the first or second event. Keep calm and stay out of trouble.”

Winning 25% of the races completed by the fleet that final weekend

(four out of sixteen) and focusing on consistency, Pete Cumming’s crew

secured the 2009 title, but in typical Extreme Sailing Series fashion

nothing was to be taken for granted before the final race, during which

the crown could still have gone to Gitana!

An elated Cumming declared, “This weekend has been a dream.

The support we have had from Oman is incredible and we all felt their

presence on the water - the fact Their Excellencies came to support us

in person means the world to us. To put on this performance and to fly

the flag for the Sultanate of Oman is going to be a day that we will not

forget. We have been involved in this project for two years and it has

been 118 races. To win by three points, it can’t get any closer than that!”

With a total of two wins but a couple of very costly back of fleet results,

Renaissance wasn’t able to overtake Gitana in the overall standing, but

nevertheless climbed on the final podium, finishing third for their first

season on the circuit. “It has been an incredible season for the team.

Being part of the Oman Sail team, the spirit, the country and the people

have become our friends. I am really impressed by the way Masirah has

been sailing and they have done a really good job. I can’t be 100% happy

but for an old guy, third place is not too bad! And I can’t forget my crew

- a big thanks to them too.” (Loïck was consistently supported by his

all-star crew of fellow countryman Julien Cressant as well as Australian

Greg Homann and British sailor, Pete Greenhalgh.)

Her Excellency Dr. Rajiha Bint Abdulamir Bin Ali, Oman’s Minister

of Tourism, was incredibly inspired by the performance of both teams.

“I am so proud to have been able to watch Oman Sail’s Masirah winning

the series in front of thousands of spectators in Spain. I dedicate this

victory to the wise leadership of His Majesty and his vision in bringing

this project into fruition. I want to thank all the team in Oman Sail and

in particular the team on Masirah for reaching first place - it was not an

easy victory. I didn’t realise how difficult this was until I came to Spain

to watch Oman Sail racing myself. My congratulations to the team.” His

Excellency Eng. Sultan Hamdoon al Harthi was just as impressed by the

victory that unfolded in front of him, “It is a matter of pride for Oman

that Masirah and Renaissance dominated the iShares Cup, not just in

Spain but also the entire series. To win first and third overall is a result of

an unprecedented performance.”


16

17O M A N S A I L ’ S E X T R E M E 4 0 S

This new Oman Sail flagship is the first member of the new Arabian 100

(A100) one design class that will provide the perfect platform for the

development of high-level sailing campaigns in the region. One-Design

fleets allow for the creation of exciting and public-friendly competitions,

without any complicated handicap systems, generating close-combat racing

whilst remaining in a context of controlled costs. The main objective behind

the creation of that new class is not to take on the ‘classic’ European events,

but to develop a thriving racing scene in the Gulf Region and around the

Indian Ocean.

Proud heir of the Musandam world-record breaking trimaran, Majan is an

already proven concept, developed by multihull experts Nigel Irens (UK) and

Benoît Cabaret (FRA). Oman’s new flagship is the third offspring of a world

famous sisterhood which consists of Francis Joyon’s IDEC, round-the-world

record holder, and Thomas Coville’s Sodeb’O, holder of the solo 24-hours

record. The A100 will however differ from her sisters in terms of deck and

interior layouts, since unlike the French trimarans she has been adapted to

be raced by a full crew.

When working on the blueprint of this new speed machine, the designers

took Dame Ellen MacArthur’s B&Q (now Musandam) as a reference and

adjusted the general balance given the increased proportions: at just over

100 feet (32 metres), the giant is one of the ten longest sailing multihulls

ever built! Relying on a long central hull that extends beyond the lateral

floats, the A100 is safe at high speeds in rough sea conditions - her massive

bow prevents dangerous nose-dives whilst sailing downwind, and thus

allows for high average speeds over long periods of time.

LAUNCHED AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF ASSEMBLY IN OMAN’S SOUTHERN MOST PORT OF SALALAH AND NAMED MAJAN AFTER THE ANCIENT NAME OF THE SULTANATE, OMAN SAIL’S NEW A100 FLAGSHIP IS ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED RACING MULTIHULLS ON THE PLANET.

AROUND THE 3RD MILLENIUM BC, OMAN APPEARS IN VARIOUS DOCUMENTS AS ‘MAJAN’, A LAND WHOSE

SEAFARING PEOPLE CARRIED MAINLY COPPER, WHICH WAS IN GREAT DEMAND AT THE TIME.

18

The sailplan, the ‘engine’ of the boat, has been carefully designed to remain

manageable even in stormy conditions, and the mast is stepped rather far aft

in order to take some pressure off the forward sections (again to prevent nose-

diving). To add clearance, the crossbeams are high above the water, ensuring

the boat will not sustain any damage by repeatedly hitting the crests of waves

- a phenomenon which has been known to become a speed reducing factor for

many ocean-going multihulls.

Capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots (74 km/h), this giant trimaran is

clearly among the fastest ocean racers ever conceived, and as round-the-

world hero Mohsin Al Busaidi commented after the first heavy weather outing:

“The acceleration of Majan is incredible, we moved from 20-30 knots in one

gust of wind. We now look forward to showing the world what she can do!”

Skippered by Paul Stanbridge, who raced around the world and took part in the

America’s Cup, Majan will initially sail with a crew of six. 50% of the sailors

are Omani offshore trainees joined by three international professional crew

providing the one-on-one training that the recruits require at this early stage

of their career.

The first chapter of her journey was a ‘Tour of Arabia’ from Muscat, which

included stops in UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar (read page 24) before she

joined the Dubai-Muscat race back to Muscat in late November.

MAJANDEFINING MODERN OMAN


1 9T H E N E X T S T E P - T H E A 1 0 0

1

4

8

2

5

5

5

9

3

76

10

11

12

KEY

Main Hull

Floats

Crossbeam

Mast

Rudder

Cockpit

Chart Table

Bunk

Galley

Generator

Media Comms

Mainsail

Foresail

1

4

8

2

5

9

3

7

6

10

11

12

13

13

MAJANIN DETAIL

ABOUT THE DESIGNERS

British naval architect Nigel Irens is an

iconic figure in the world of multihulls,

having designed the most emblematic

racers of the last quarter of century.

His boats have won all of the major

international multihull events (Route

du Rhum, The Artemis Transat, outright

round the world record, singlehanded

round the world record…), and Nigel was

the first designer to launch a carbon

racing catamaran exceeding 75 feet in

length - nearly 30 years ago!

French structure specialist Benoît

Cabaret joined forces with Irens in the late

1990s, bringing his expertise in the fields

of computer-generated imagery and

calculation.

20

ATTENTION TO DETAIL COMBINEDWITH HIGH TECH MATERIALS

Often derived from aeronautics, the

technology involved in high-performance

multihull building allows for light yet

strong structures, thanks to the use of

carbon fibre, lightweight metals such

as titanium, and computer-assisted

engineering.

To weather the Southern Ocean’s fiercest

storms, the A100’s structure combines

lightness with speed and strength by

relying on a honeycomb core (weighing

only 2 kilos per square metre) trapped

between two carbon fibre skins, - giving

the configuration its nickname of

“sandwich”.

THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSEMeasures 67m (220ft) from top to bottom

THE A100Has a mast height of 32.5m (107ft)

OLYMPIC DIVING BOARDThe highest diving platform used in the Olympic Games

measures 10m (33ft)

MAJAN IN FIGURESLength: 32 metres (105 ft)

Width: 16.50 metres (54 ft)

Mast height: 32.5 metres (107ft)

Maximum sail area (approx): 550 sq. metres (5,920 sq. ft)

A100 SIZE COMPARISONSPhotos: © Lloyd Images

21M A J A N I N D E T A I L

or the Oman Sail campaign, Majan represented the perfect opportunity to train

selected apprentices, embed them in the technical squad and “showcase” the build

in order to inspire new vocations.

“We had two full time Omani trainees, Mohammed Al Ghainami and Salim

Ambusaidi”, explains Neil Graham who leads the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team

group of specialists in charge of the A100 project. “They were eager to learn, and the

guys spent a lot of time building up their knowledge and skills, they were an integral part

of our team right from the start.” As one of the most advanced ocean racing multihulls

ever built, Majan certainly provided a variety of interesting technical case studies, and

both trainees experienced working in different areas, in order to get a global view of the

skills involved: composite lamination, deck hardware fitting, rigging, electronics… Being

a good shore team member means having an understanding of how all the elements of

the boat work together, even if at some stage each individual will develop his own area

of expertise.

“The builders we had working on Majan had been involved in the construction of

Musandam but also worked for America’s Cup teams, so Mohammed and Salim really

learnt from some of the best guys on the market,” added Neil. “Developing a local team

of skilled specialists has always been at the centre of the Oman Sail campaign: not only

does it make sense because they now have a fairly impressive fleet to maintain with

Majan, the numerous dinghies or the Tour Voile training boats, but it’s also important for

the whole project to provide inspiration, new ideas to the youth of Oman. I have to say

our trainees did not receive any kind of special treatment, they had to go through the

usual learning process, which of course starts with the most menial tasks there are in a

boatyard. They showed determination and great manual capabilities, so they moved on

quickly and I know they will become very valuable assets for their team.

“It was fascinating to share experiences and talk about where our lives had taken

us throughout the years, the locals who worked with us often proved very interesting.

Some have been in the Sultanate’s Navy and travelled the world, others have a great

knowledge of traditional techniques…” It’s certainly the case as far as Saud Abdul Aziz

ASSEMBLED IN SALALAH UNDER THE SHELTER OF A STATE-OF-THE-ART BUILD FACILITY, MAJAN WAS THE FIRST EVER HIGH-TECHNOLOGY SAILING CRAFT TO BE LAUNCHED IN THE SULTANATE OF OMAN.

Shaping the future

Dawood Al Balushi, a senior rigger who’s sailed around the planet on Sahab Oman but

had never worked on a racing boat before flying to France to learn a new skill at the

North Sails loft (read our article page 28). No doubt the Oman Sailing School and the

sailing team will benefit from the competence these “experts in the making” will bring,

especially since all this local talent will be put to work in purpose-built workshops and a

sail loft, with two objectives in mind: being able to run the structure autonomously and

to train young Omanis in the process, by enrolling them in real-life operations.

© Kat Birtwistle

© Herbert Fernandes

22

Born and raised in Sur, a three-hour drive

south-east of Muscat, Mohammed is a

true success story for Oman Sail and his

example rings true with the cornerstone

ideals of the project. His family is one

of many in Sur who have strong ties to

the sea, and especially dhow sailing. In

young men like Mohammed lies the key to

reigniting Oman’s rich and varied maritime

heritage and entwining those values back

into those of modern Oman.

Mohammed’s grandfather, Bin

Najim, is the reason that he joined

Oman Sail and why he has his father’s

support in following this path, wherever

it may lead. His grandfather was one of

many seafarers who plied their trade on

traditional dhows that took the monsoon

winds between Sur and the distant shores

of Africa, or further down the coats of

the Arabian Peninsula. A visit to Sur’s

maritime museum today would bring you

closer to Mohammed’s ancestry as the

dhow that is on display in the museum is

the actual one that his grandfather sailed

back from Yemen to Oman. As he grew

up in Sur, the young sailor often talked to

his father and grandfather about seafaring

and heard stories of the sea, something

which continued with his father as he grew

older. After graduating from high school

in Sur, Mohammed headed to the capital

city to do a course in engineering at Sultan

Qaboos University. After graduation,

he spent a year working for the Public

Authority in Sur Industrial Estate (part of

the Ministry of Commerce and Industry)

before joining an Italian engineering firm

based in Muscat.

Mohammed recalls a day when he

and his father were talking and a modern

26-YEAR-OLD MOHAMMED BIN NAJIM AL GHAILANI CUTS A GRACIOUS STRIDE AS

HE ARRIVES FOR WORK EVERYDAY AT THE OMAN SAILING SCHOOL.

speedboat went past to take people

fishing, diving or on a picnic in one of

Oman’s secluded bays. He turned to his

father and said, ‘I would like a boat like

that one day.’ His father looked at him

and said, ‘It is better to sail on the water

on a sailing boat like your grandfather,

than on a boat like this.’ A few weeks later

Mohammed was driving along the coast

from Muscat’s old area of Mutrah when

he saw a 26’ (8m) sailing boat with a ‘For

Sale’ sign on it. He recalled the words of

his father, immediately called the owner

and started negotiations. Unfortunately

he was unsuccessful in his bid, but he

had made the decision to buy a sailing

boat and continued his search, eventually

venturing to the Marina in which Oman

Sail is based. He asked one of the boat-

boys there where he could buy a sailing

boat and was directed to the Oman Sailing

School, which until then was unknown

to him. Online, he discovered the whole

programme and learnt that there was

currently an Omani (Mohsin Al Busaidi)

sailing around the world. His eye was

immediately drawn to the ‘Join The Team’

section of the site, and he immediately

applied and was accepted for the trials.

Mohammed’s determination and

ability secured him a sought after spot

in phase two of the of the selection

process and realised that he had to

make a decision about his future and

whether he wanted to continue this or

simply pat himself on the back and return

to the safety of his job and a future in

engineering. ‘It was a tough decision,’

Mohammed recalls, ‘I had a very good

job in the engineering firm and they had

invested in me and I was on a good salary.

But I loved the sailing we had done in

the recruitment process and the project

itself was incredible with the goals it had

set for the future.’ He was facing a very

serious dilemma so he turned to the only

person who could help with his decision,

his father. Although he understood the

position his son was in, he was steadfast

in urging him to follow his heart and

continue with Oman Sail. ‘You won’t regret

it,’ he said and, with that, Mohammed

decided that he would push on with Oman

Sail and make the best of the opportunity.

In June, Mohammed was accepted

as a full time trainee in the Oman Sail

programme and his apprenticeship began

in earnest with over a month in the UK

learning how to sail under the tutelage

of professional instructors and mentored

by Ali Ambusaidi, one of Oman Sail’s

Omani instructors. ‘When I saw Mohsin

go around the world I knew then and there

that that is what I wanted to do. Even after

sailing the dinghies in the UK and Oman

I was steadfast in knowing what I wanted

to do. During my review I told my coaches

that I wanted to go offshore and they

agreed that I was suited for it.’

On returning from the UK he took

a short break before joining the crew on

Musandam, the 75’ (23m) trimaran that

took Mohsin Al Busaidi around the world,

and sailed to Salalah and back. Once he

had done this he was chosen to join the

crew on Majan, Oman Sail’s flagship A100

trimaran, on the Tour of Arabia that took

them from Salalah to Kuwait and on to

Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai

before returning to Muscat.

Mohammed took to offshore sailing

very easily and finds himself at home and

very comfortable onboard the spartan

racing machines of Musandam and Majan.

‘I prefer to be on Majan than on shore

in a hotel. I am enjoying life on board

and savour the challenge and learning.’

Once the Tour of Arabia is completed

Mohammed is hoping to qualify amongst

his colleagues for the ‘Indian Ocean 5

Capes Race’ challenge and, after that,

the ‘Around Oman’ race. He has already

passed several challenges, one of the

biggest of which is not having been

seasick!

The Offshore Sailor


PROFILE: MOHAMMED BIN NAJIM AL GHAILANI

23M O H A M M E D B I N N A J I M A L G H A I L A N I

> > >> > >

AS A PRELUDE TO EMBARKING ON THE EPIC INDIAN OCEAN 5 CAPES RACE, AS ONE OF MAJAN’S VALIANT CREW, SEASONED MONOHULL SAILOR MARK COVELL DESCRIBES & PHOTOGRAPHS HIS FIRST EXPERIENCE OF LIFE ABOARD A RACE-BRED MULTIHULL.

find myself on another journey, I’m sat on a train to London Waterloo, it’s cold,

wet, windy and grey. As I look out of the misted window at the wet fields and

winterized leafless trees I think of how different my experience has been over

the last month. The inaugural Tour of Arabia was a journey, a journey of discovery,

testing, teaching, and learning.

I was to be the eyes and ears of the tour, helping document the rhythm of

life onboard. On the learning road myself, I consider my new role as gamekeeper

turned poacher. I’m lucky enough to come from a professional sailing career

spanning two decades taking in Olympics, America’s Cup and Volvo. I do less

trimming, pumping and hiking and now I’m more concerned with clicking, shooting

and writing.

The mission was simple. Hook up with an international squad of young

professional sailors. Sail their new trimaran, Majan south from Kuwait, treading

a modern route via Bahrain, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and eventually home to

Muscat. It was to be known as the Tour of Arabia, with the view to one day race

these waters.

The young sailors were already working confidently under the sturdy

skipper-ship of Paul Standbridge, a wily old sea dog with more rights than most

to sport a gold ring in his left ear – a privilege traditionally reserved to those who

had rounded Cape Horn. The left ear was the one which had faced the Horn in a

typical eastbound passage, having survived the rounding also granted the right to

dine with one foot on the table; a sailor who had also rounded the Cape of Good

Hope could place both feet on the table. A sailor who had sailed around Cape

Horn was also able to brag by showing off his tattoo of a full-rigged ship. Paul

Standbridge has the full house, bearded, brigantine and all. His team, both sailing

and shore crew, would follow him to the edge of the world. His appointment as

skipper was perfect, as one of the aims of the Tour was to gain more time on the

water for the young Omani recruits. Time on the water is what Paul lives for, and

passing his wealth of knowledge on seemed to be his new pastime. It would be a

fantastic opportunity for the five keen Omani recruits to taste the sea salt, sailing,

navigating, living and working onboard.

The Tour of Arabia was also a chance to showcase the beautiful new A100

Majan and to gauge the general interest for sailing and racing in the region. Majan

is 105 foot of pent up, slingshot power, with clean sharp lines designed to eat sea

miles for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Her long low slung streamline hulls look

more like three venomous serpents hunting in unison, swallowing white waves as

they dart forward.

My thoughts, that had been drifting back to those memories, were

immediately brought back to home port: “That’s an impressive looking boat,” said

a tall, spectacled, worldly looking man to my left, glancing down at the picture of

Majan on my laptop. Striking up a conversation I boasted,

“Yes and it’s fast too, capable of forty knots, it sails at one and a half times the

wind. It would go pretty fast today!” I said looking out the window at the blustery

gale force winds.

“I’ve just come back from sailing her down the length of the Arabian Gulf,”

I said without trying to sound too tanned. He looked interested; he continued,

“I’ve spent some time in the Gulf working as a geologist surveying the

seabed for a major oil company. All the time I worked there I longed to sail in

those beautiful waters, they are fantastic.” > > >

25C L O S E E N C O U N T E R

moss we rolled onto Bahrain.

I have sailed in many places and sailed round many obstacles, day and night,

including fast moving ships, rocky islands and shifting sandbanks. Sailing in the

Gulf has got to take the award for the best lit obstacles ever. At night you can see

the burn-off from the oilrigs so brightly that I had to put my shades on. Sailing a

state of the art trimaran past old traditional working wooden Dhows trawling the

seabed, past huge modern steel tankers fuelling the world, past frightened fish

jumping, swimming for their lives and past new concrete cities growing before

your eyes. I wondered what other parts of the world were growing so fast. I half

expected the legendary Sindbad the Sailor to power past in his new A100 and

challenge us to a race.

We arrived into Bahrain on the morning of the 12th November to the sad

news the King’s uncle had passed away, and the country was in mourning.

In respect to the Bahraini Royal family we canceled all our PR engagements,

promising we would be back one day to showcase Majan to the newly formed

Bahraini sailing team. After a short welcoming stop we pushed on to our next port

of call, Doha in Qatar.

We let go of our lines and headed out to open water with a very light

southerly breeze promising a shifty beat to Doha. It was very obvious from their

actions that the three Omani sailors on board had worked it out. Teamwork was

the way forward. Mohsin Al Buisadi, with his sailing experience solid and confident

and assured, led the group. Mohsin had become the first ever Arab to sail non-

stop around the world this year (read our feature on page 8).

Nawaf, the fisherman, was quick and nimble round the deck with good

winch skills. His father was a sailor and obviously passed on his awareness and

understanding of the sea. However Nawaf was hampered by his lack of English.

You have to remember that when an Omani recruit steps up to join Oman Sail he

enters a world of spoken English. English is the international language of sailing

and to make it in that sport you do need to have a working knowledge of the

idiom. Enter Haitham, his English is very good. So Moshin and Nawaf get tips from

Haitham on that front. They in return teach Haitham all they know about sailing

We chatted for a while, enthusing about the place and all it has to offer but we

kept coming back to the lack of sailing. My new friend seemed to hit it on the head.

“The region is still so very young, sailing like we know it in Europe is still building.”

It sounded ridiculous to state that Arabia, a place with such a rich maritime

history of fishing and trading on the sea should be described as young. The plain

facts are that the newfound prosperity in the area has only begun to spread to

newer interest in the last ten to fifteen years. The Dubai to Muscat race has been

running for 19 years but it took 2009 to attract international acclaimed crews and

record entries.

Golf, Formula 1, Tennis and Horseracing have led the sporting way. However

the winds of change are beginning to blow. From a vivid circuit of traditional Dhow

racing to a very healthy F1 powerboat racing presence, the Gulf is starting to look

to the sea again. In 1998 the World Championships of sailing were held in Dubai.

Two teams for the last America’s Cup held their winter training in the Gulf. Alinghi

did most of the testing of their giant catamaran in waters off Ras Al Khaimah. We

are seeing more and more sailing coming to the region from RC44 world circuit to

the new hydro foiling Moth worlds. Academies are springing up in Bahrain, Qatar,

Dubai and of course Oman. The World is waking up to the Arabian waters.

“Tickets please.” The words of the bearded guard snapped me back to the

journey in hand. I handed my grubby ticket over for the ceremonial clipping of

the dog-eared corner. With the dank UK winter still trying to flood the fields, it

wasn’t long before I was drifting back to the warm waters of Kuwait and leg one

of the tour.

The first thing that we discovered was that the Gulf is a challenging place

to sail. All sailors know that we need to perform in a wide range of conditions,

that’s what makes sailing so engaging. The first day was unfortunately lacking

that important ingredient, WIND. When you step up to the plate to compete as a

sailor you are asking Mother Nature to bring it on. Bring rain, bring sunshine, bring

storms, bring waves the size of a house but just occasionally she brings a millpond.

I think that’s why they made mother nature a woman, so she could change her

mind at the last minute. Anyway with the forward motion of a stone gathering no

CLOSE

ENCOUNTER

26

and the workings of the winches and boat. They have worked it out! Together they

are strong. When I told Haitham what I was writing about. He replied, “Yes, in

Arabic we say, you can’t clap loud with only one hand.”

This next leg to Doha, leg 2 was looking like another slow one, with the light

headwinds coming and going. Paul spent time on the helm showing Haitham how

to see the wind’s fingerprints on the water like pale blue patterned rugs. Then

when the rugs turned into wall-to-wall carpet, he tried to feel the breeze building

on his face. Paul showed him how to convert that sensation into a better feeling on

the helm. Raising his senses and teaching him that sailing isn’t just about electric

dials and red course compass numbers. It’s about sense, balance and gut feelings.

The clever watch system meant that the hours passed quickly. The four-hour

stints were staggered between the crews so eventually every teammate got to

spend time on deck with each other on the rolling watch. Food was simple. Every

man boils some water for himself on the amazing Jetboil which seems to boil

water faster than you can open the lid of your chosen pot noodle. Within minutes

you have a hot meal fit for a broke students Sunday roast. As the legs were short

there was plenty of fresh fruit and even some fresh milk for your tea. This was

absolute luxury and I couldn’t get over the fact there wasn’t a Jersey cow on the

foredeck called Daisy.

We got to Doha early in the morning and had to hold ourselves in our own

spiralling holding pattern off shore. After some confusion on where to go for

customs clearance we docked at the foot of the city. It felt like we had been invited

up to the main steps of the palace to have tea with the king. The impressive new

cityscape rose up from our pontoon. We had a fantastic reception welcomed by

local press and VIP’s. Our stay in Doha was excellent, there was plenty of interest

in Majan and Paul even ran into an old friend from his round the world days to

swing the lantern with.

After a brief flyby of Abu Dhabi we headed down to Dubai to prepare for the

Dubai to Muscat race. There was a real buzz building around the race, with talk

of big entries and high profile competitors plus Majan smashing the record to bits

- you gotta love pre race chat! Chat or not it was ours to lose. In Paul’s pre race

briefing he packed no punches. “You bring no clothes over what’s on your back; all

spares, tools, fenders off the boat. Only freeze-dried food, rationed water, we are

in full race mode. We make use of every zephyr that comes our way.” Paul’s tone

had changed, no longer the smiling oracle willing to spend all the time in the world

to explain things. This was competitive Paul, he knew that we were on the line to

be watched and judged, a sort of end of term exam. For the Omani recruits it was

time to shine, show what they had learnt and turn classroom into class act.

The forecast was for everything, from light sea breezes to nothing at night

to 20 knots on the finish line. Prepared for all comers we had a good start and

teetered out onto the course. I describe it this way as it was like walking out onto

a melting ice sheet not knowing where the cracks were. The waters were flat, with

a light onshore wind, with big shifts and patches of almost nothing. It can take a

giant trimaran over 3 minutes to tack, so we often had to sail on very bad headings

and glide through no wind holes. Our closest competitor was a nimble TP52 that

we could already see was hopping from one shift to another, delicately picking her

way through the 30°C “ice field”. If the wind stayed light the race had the potential

of being a David versus Goliath fight, and we all know how that one turned out.

We were willing for the wind to pick up, as we would then be off like a bucket

of prawns on a hot day in the sun. The race proved to be really tactical, with

difficult decisions. Stick to the shore for the night breeze or sail the shorter route

but run the risk of no wind? I won’t go into the many twists and turns of the three-

day race, suffice to say that we made the most of every puff, drifted better than

most, kept clear of ice and fishing buoys and crossed the finish line off Bander Al

Rowdha, Muscat, Oman at 18:44 49sec on the 28th November 2009 taking line

honours and winning our class. Our objectives had been met, we were home.

The train drew to an abrupt stop.

“London Waterloo, change here for all stations, please remember to collect

all bags and belongings, thank you for traveling with us today.” The metallic voice

of the station announcement brought me crashing back to the trip in hand. My

journey had finished but thinking fondly of my time on Oman Sail’s Majan, theirs

was only beginning.

Sailing in the Gulf has got to take the award for the best lit obstacles ever. At night you can

see the burn-off from the oilrigs so brightly that I had to put my shades on..”

Photos: © Mark Covell© Mark Lloyd

27C L O S E E N C O U N T E R

Photos, clockwise from top:

1. The Try Sailing programme is managed by Omanis from the Oman Sailing

School. (© Ingmar Jense)

2. All aspects of running the campaigns are backed up by Oman Sail staff to

ensure the sail teams are at their best.

3. Ian McCabe works through the night to ensure Masirah is back on the water

in Amsterdam.

4. Precise engineering and maintenance is an absolute necessity

on racing yachts.

5. Saud Al Balushi and Said Al Hattali have been trained in the art

of sailmaking and repair as well as rigging and shore support.

(© Ingmar Jense)

ABSOLUTELY VITAL WHEN IT COMES TO THE SAILING TEAM’S EFFICIENCY ARE THE SHORE CREW BEHIND THE SCENES. AS DISCREET AS THEY ARE ESSENTIAL, ITS MEMBERS FORM THE BACKBONE OF THE STRUCTURE, THE “BACKSTAGE ARMY” THAT PAVE THE WAY FOR SUCCESS.

Photos 2,3 & 4: © Lloyd Images

28

“If my job has been well done, everyone will forget

about it, that’s the objective: to send the boys out

on the water with a boat whose potential can be

exploited without a second though. That means

they can overlook some of the technicalities and

use the boat as a tool, knowing it’s reliable. My

role is to make everything transparent, and to have

a solution ready should something go wrong.” Ian

McCabe, boat builder of the Oman Sail Extreme

40 teams, gave us his vision of the job during the

penultimate round of the 2009 iShares Cup in

Amsterdam, in which his skills have been - quite

literally - displayed under the spotlight! Used to

working in the privacy of the boat shed, Ian had

to deal with the aftermath of two collisions, the

second of which left Masirah taking on water, a

gaping hole visible in her port float.

Under such circumstances, and given the

pressure the Oman Sail Extreme 40 was under

in the race to overall victory, pulling out of the

event was absolutely inconceivable; repairs had

to be carried out on the spot - as quickly as

possible, despite the lack of proper facilities. A

real challenge, as the boat builder commented: “It

was a big repair, even if I had been in a workshop it

would have been a big repair, so to do it overnight

on the side of a dock in the middle of Amsterdam

with residents about fifty feet away... I had a

curfew, I couldn’t actually do any grinding or use

any power tools from ten at night till seven in the

morning. It’s interesting to do stuff like this in the

middle of the city, working out of the back of a

van!” Without the talent and dedication of Ian, the

Masirah crew would have been left stranded on

the dock, and they certainly did not forget to pay

tribute to their saviour when enjoying their victory.

Of course, things are not always as

spectacular, but shore crew members always

know that their work is what will keep the sailors

afloat once they’re out there - there is a definite

sense of pride mixed with responsibility that

“goes with the job”, and makes it at the same

time rewarding and humbling. As French sailor

Alain Colas put it as he was preparing to set off

on his own around the planet in 1973: “I will keep

a strong memory of the girl who sewed my storm

sail, that sail of the last chance, the one that you

use when no other can hold, when all you can do

is to continue to fight the storm. I have a clear

memory of that solemn girl, hunched over my fate.

Daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter

of fishermen, it was her heritage she was sewing

in that sail. Whether she did it properly, a little bit

better, or whether she, as she did, put her own

soul into each stitch would not change anything

to her pay packet. It was her respect for the sea

she was stitching in the cloth, or maybe the wish,

forever tainted with worry, of her mothers and

her ancestors to see their sailors come home.” As

emphatic as it may seem some forty years after it

was written, that text nevertheless constitutes the

best possible image of the utter importance of the

BEHIND THE SCENES…A SEA OF OPPORTUNITIES

‘LEARNING HOW TO MAINTAIN, AND EVEN DESIGN, SUCH HI-TECH SAILS HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE. I LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING THE BOATS AROUND AS A FULL TIME MEMBER OF THE SHORE TEAM.’

work carried out by those who stay ashore.

Will soon-to-be sails experts Saud Al Balushi and

Said Al Hattali, the two Omani trainees who have

spent two months working in the French division

of North Sails, feel the same dedication when

their time comes to get involved in one of the

Sultanate’s international campaign? “They are two

very enthusiastic characters, eager to learn and

showing a real commitment,” says Bruno Dubois,

head of North Sails in Brittany, who welcomed

the apprentices. “Given the size of the Oman Sail

project and the number of boats involved, it really

made sense for the team to integrate its own sail

loft,” added Bruno, who incidentally is also a very

experienced offshore racer. “The idea is to pass

on our knowledge and help set up a sails repair

facility, both for the smaller crafts of the Sailing

School and the team’s flagship, the new Majan

A100 trimaran, whose massive sails have to be

shipped to Europe each time some work needs to

be carried out on them.

“It did not make sense in the long run

and gaining specific expertise is at the core of

the project. Both Saïd and Saud had previous

experience in the field, having worked on the sails

and the rigging of traditional Omani boats; they

came to our loft with their heritage and we built

up on it, taking them to the next level in terms of

technique and materials. One has to bear in mind

that a boat like Majan uses the highest level of

technology available in the market today, so very

specific skills have to be developed. The Oman

Sail loft should be fully operational by February

2010, and the objective is for that structure to

be autonomous and capable of taking care of

the whole fleet, from Optimists to ocean-going

trimarans and Extreme 40s. Being involved

in that new development is very motivating,

because Saïd and Saud will inspire other young

Omanis to take up that job I love so much,”

concluded Bruno.

Yet if all shore-based jobs within a sailing

team naturally revolve around the boats, not all of

them necessarily imply a strong technical factor,

as a well-oiled structure also relies on efficient

organizers, planners and logistics experts. Just

consider the Extreme 40 Sailing Series: in 2009,

the Oman Sail Team had to make sure its two

catamarans and all the spare parts - which

amount to two containers of a total weight of

around sixteen tons - reached each one of the

six European venues on time for the events. The

crews also have to be taken care of, and making

travel arrangements, finding accommodation and

being able to solve any problem locally is a job

in itself, requiring a rational and organised mind,

capable of anticipating every possible mishap.

As sailors can often be heard saying,

“Reaching the start line in time and fully prepared

is the first challenge,” and a huge part of the

success of that crucial first stage is down to the

“shadow workers”!

Saud Al Balushi

29B E H I N D T H E S C E N E S

Although the structure’s setting, in portacabins stacked on

top of each other at the far end of the marina, may be humble,

the goals they have set and achieved for themselves are

anything but.

2009 started with seven Omani sailors who were

stretched between Extreme 40’s in Europe, training for the

Clipper Race, circumnavigating the world non-stop and learning

to be instructors. As a result, there was little opportunity to

do anything else. Thus the first recruitment drive for more

young, fit and committed Omanis began in earnest. The media

team placed adverts in papers and magazines, radio stations

announced the recruitment drive and the message was spread

by word of mouth. Within two weeks, a total of six hundred

FEW SAILING SCHOOLS IN THE WORLD WOULD HAVE SET TARGETS AS HIGH AS THOSE OF THE OMAN SAILING SCHOOL.

LIVING ANDBREATHING

O M A N S A I L I N G S C H O O L

© Richard Langdon

30

Sailing School was a revolving door of highly trained and

motivated young Omanis as they headed for distant corners

of the world or the Gulf for big boat racing or out into the local

waters for training on dinghies. Complementing all these sailors

were the shore based Omanis who fixed and maintained the

boats with their unique skills or the sail making team who

stitched torn sails ready for racing.

At the end of 2009 a second recruitment drive took place

and an unprecedented eight hundred CV’s were received from a

wide cross-section of ages and professions. A similar selection

process took place and as a result, the year ended with twelve

new proud, if not slightly nervous, faces joining the Sailing School

as the previous intake progressed from trainees to sailors, a very

gratifying day for the Oman Sail Sailing School and especially for

Oman itself.

2010 AND BEYOND SEES THE SAILING SCHOOL CONCENTRATE ON THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL NEW MEMBERS AND CONSOLIDATING THE PROGRESS MADE IN 2009• Four of the sailors who were chosen for the offshore stream will

see themselves on Majan or Musandam as they compete in the

Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race.

• Twelve dinghy sailors will be training for the Asia Beach

Games in the short term with Olympic dreams as the end

goal for them.

• Two sailors will continue to sail around the world in the

Clipper Race.

• Five sailors will compete in the month long Tour de France A La

Voile (The Sailing Tour of France) with the hope of hosting an

Oman version of the same race in the future.

• Nine instructors will impart their knowledge and train more

instructors for the Oman Sailing Schools which will open along

the coast of Oman; seven by the end of 2015 are planned.

• One sailor will be competing in the Extreme Sailing Series

Europe on the Extreme 40s.

• Two sail makers will prepare a loft in Muscat to maintain and

repair sails for the Oman Sail fleet.

• Two boat-builders will be on hand to support any of the teams

with their skills developed from building Majan, working on

Musandam and maintaining the dinghies and support boats in

the Sailing School.

Omanis had applied to be one of the few given the chance to

compete in the national team and eventually raise the Omani

flag above their heads. These six hundred were whittled down

through a process of elimination that included mental, physical

and personality tests. On the final weekend, the remaining forty

hopefuls were taken to a secluded beach where they were put

through their paces on sailing boats, mental tests and physical

trials. From here, a final twenty two were selected to be Oman

Sail trainees and prove themselves as sailors.

With the new intake of Omanis, Head Coach Mark ‘Corky’

Rhodes was joined by Neil Coxon as Director of Training and

George Rice as Training Operations Manager. With the original

Omani instructors, Ali Ambusaidi and Saleh Al Jabri, a strong

team was in place to ensure that the new trainees were given

the best training possible and that their foundations in the sport

would be as strong as possible.

After a month of intense training in the UK, the new trainees

returned to Oman where they had a brief break before returning

to the Sailing School where their strengths were analysed

and their sailing paths were agreed upon. With opportunities

on giant world class racing trimarans, exciting Extreme 40s,

the competitiveness of Lasers and Hobie 16s and becoming

instructors there was something for everyone and soon the

Photos: © Lloyd Images©

In

gm

ar

Jen

se

3 1O M A N S A I L I N G S C H O O L - L I V I N G A N D B R E A T H I N G

BILLBOARDS WENT UP, ADVERTS WERE PLACED AND FLYERS WERE DISTRIBUTED. WITHIN THREE WEEKS THE THIRD RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR YOUNG OMANIS TO JOIN OMAN SAIL WAS LEADING TO A MASSIVE INFLUX OF CV’S BEING SENT IN.

32

By the time the deadline for applications closed, the number

of hopefuls had risen to almost one thousand and the

daunting task of choosing a handful of new recruits loomed.

From these CV’s, the training and coaching staff whittled

away those who weren’t suited down to the first batch of

one hundred and sixty young, enthusiastic and fit Omanis.

Although the criteria were very definite and developed over

the two previous selections, it was still a very difficult task

to get to this number as the applicants’potential is huge and

their commitment unshakeable. The one hundred and sixty

shortlisted for phase one were invited to one of Muscat’s

stadiums for a physical test to gauge their fitness and a face-

to-face session to assess their attitude and personalities.

Again, there were strict criteria and the questions asked

were specifically chosen to elicit strong answers that would

give the Sailing School team interviewing them a clear idea

of their potential.

During this first phase a system of accountability was

put in place wherein each applicant was measured on their

promptness, how much they encouraged their partners and

how they fared in the physical tests. All current members of

the Sailing School took part in these tests to display the level

of dedication and commitment required from the applicants

if they were successful. Out of these, the forty with the most

potential were then invited to the second phase, a selection

weekend which would put them all through their paces and let

the best rise to the top. The weekend saw the forty hopefuls

split into two groups as the Sailing School instructors, trainers

and coaches put them through a series of physical and mental

tests on Yiti beach, a few miles south of Muscat. The tests they

had to undertake included team building, problem solving and

sailing exercises. Whilst these were going on they were being

constantly assessed on physical and mental prowess as well as

their attitude and ability to gel with others.

The Oman Sailing School Director of Training, Neil Coxon,

who previously managed the world’s largest sailing centre for

8 years, was astounded by the level of sailing displayed by the

first-time sailors, ‘I have spent many years around absolute

beginners to sailing and I was constantly impressed by how

quickly these guys picked up the basics and went sailing. I’m

looking forward to seeing great things in the years to come

from them.’

On returning to Muscat after the weekend, their assessment

forms were studied and a final selection of 12 Omanis were

chosen to represent Oman as instructors and sailors.


LEVEL OFDEDICATION


33O M A N S A I L I N G S C H O O L - R E C R U I T M E N T

From the very outset of a career with Oman Sail, all team

members are made abundantly aware of the need for

training; in fact it plays a big role in their initial selection.

An average day for a school sailor starts at 5.50am

when he joins his team mates at the Sultan Qaboos stadium

for circuit training four days a week (Monday is a theory

and maintenance day). For the rest of the week over twenty

committed sailors do circuits, group sessions, aerobic

training and swimming, depending on the schedule. By

7.30am they have packed up and are heading back to the

Sailing School for breakfast and the rest of their day on the

water or in the classroom.

Outside this schedule the trainees are encouraged to

maintain their fitness levels through cycling, running, hiking -

anything which will keep them on the top of their game. The

breakdown of key areas for sailing are CV (Cardio-Vascular),

weight training, core stability, swimming (CV, Core and low

impact as well as creating more confidence in the water),

and interval training to mimic the demands of racing with

the explosive sections of the race course requiring full

amounts of physical power. These are often followed by

short, slower sections before another high activity section,

especially on high performance dinghies, sports boats and

for grinders on big boats.

The physical training is worth nothing if it is not

supported by a diet that complements the body’s needs.

Explanations and tutorials are given on food combinations

and what should be eaten, depending on whether they

are warming up for exercise, during an event, or winding

down from a period of high activity. Oman has a culture

of congregating around food and much of it is less than

conducive to energetic action, such as heavy rice dishes and

glutinous sweets - good stored carbs for periods of fasting is

the traditional fare.

Breaking some of the sailors out of this habit, especially

when family gatherings are at the core of Omani culture is

hard, but the benefits of eating and drinking correctly are

showing themselves in practice. The benefit of rest is also

stressed as the body needs to adapt, refuel and recover to

work effectively in the long run.

Majid Al Ghainami is one of the sailors who was chosen

to compete in Lasers for the upcoming Asia Beach Games

and has been working hard on getting to a competitive weight

while maintaining the right balance of bulk and muscle.

“I have always been interested in nutrition and treating

my body with respect. The training we do at Oman Sail is

incredibly tough but everyday I feel I can push myself a bit

harder and a bit longer when I’m out racing the Laser. I like

training, you enter the stadium and work out and you feel

your body working and feel like you really did something. I go

to bed exhausted but the next day I always wake up wanting

to go back in and do it all again.”

TO COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ANY SPORT, ATHLETES MUST BE AT PEAK FITNESS. SAILING IS NO EXCEPTION.

POWERTRAINING



34

3 5O M A N S A I L I N G S C H O O L - T R A I N I N G

TRYSAILING


36

BY 2015, THE OMAN SAILING SCHOOL PLANS TO HAVE HAD 30,000 OMANIS EXPERIENCE

SAILING

From the outset, the programme received official support with the Ministry of

Education endorsing the programme and personally advising heads of schools in

the Muscat area on how to be involved.

The aims of the Try Sailing course are to encourage children and young adults

to experience sailing and to gain practical experience of teamwork and problem

solving. Through a series of six sessions, students will gain technical expertise as

well as develop leadership skills that will boost

self-confidence at the same time as gaining life

lessons while learning a new and exciting sport.

This six-week course of one session per week

at the Oman Sailing School is to give the students

their foundation knowledge in sailing. Students

will know the basic parts of the boat and will be

able to sail with little or no guidance from the

instructors in gentle winds.

Transferable Skills the students will learn:

Teamwork: Each boat will have 2 children sailing,

so this encourages them to work together. On

and off the water the children will have to work

efficiently as a team in order to complete tasks such as rigging the boats before

they go sailing.

Leadership: When the child is steering the boat, they are in control of their actions.

During the sessions, students will get the opportunity to be the lead boat when

completing exercises on the water.

Problem Solving: Every session will pose different challenges for the children

both on and off the water. Our instructors will

encourage the children to solve these issues and

provide guidance along the way.

Although the programme is currently

attended by visiting schools; other establishments

such as colleges, universities, language schools

and societies are also welcome to be included in

the programme and tailor-made courses can be

designed to suit individual group needs.

As part of the plans to increase the longevity

of what the students have learned, Neil Coxon,

Director of Training, has implemented two

additional facets to the programme.

March 2010 will see the inaugural Schools Regatta in which all the schools who

have taken part in Try Sailing, put their best five sailors forward to compete against

the other schools.

A community club will also be established that will give students the

opportunity to continue their sailing outside the

school curriculum. The club will be open during

weekends and they will be able to bring family

members with them to share the experience.

19% of all Omani students who have come to

the Try Sailing programme have been female.

Principal of the Zahara School for Girls, Sakina

Al Harthy, who is also sailing with the students,

praises the life skills the students are learning.

“We were delighted when Oman Sail invited

us to come sailing. The girls have gained so much

from taking part in this activity. Sailing has taught

them leadership skills, as they are sailing their own

boat under the close supervision of the instructors. Their problem solving skills have

improved, as the instructors encourage students to analyse their performance as they

sail, whilst providing constant guidance and encouragement. Finally the girls work

much better in a team, as when launching and landing the boats, it is essential they

work together.”



37O M A N S A I L I N G S C H O O L - T R Y S A I L I N G

PROFILE: MUSAAB AL HADI

MUSAAB AL HADI IS A SMOOTH OPERATOR, NOT JUST THE WAY HE LOOKS AND THE

WAY HE WALKS, BUT ALSO THE WAY HE SAILS A BOAT AND CARRIES OUT

MANOEUVRES.

The Racer

In the words of the Training Director of

the Oman Sailing School, Neil Coxon,

‘Musaab is one of the most natural sailors

I have ever seen. After many years and

seeing many kids step into a boat, I am

confident that Musaab will be one of the

young stars of Oman in the near future.’

Although only 20 years old, he

projects a very mature personality just as

so many young Omani men do. Also in

keeping with his peers, he has a strong tie

to the sea that played a pivotal role in his

childhood and everything that surrounded

it. Born and raised in Sidab, on one of

the bays near His Majesty the Sultan

of Oman’s Palace and the gates of the

old city, his father was a fisherman who

worked hard before and after the country’s

renaissance in the early 1970s. After

school and at weekends Musaab would

help his father with the family business,

whether it was out fishing in his father’s

fishing boat or on the shore helping to

mend nets and pots. His coaches at the

Oman Sailing School put much of his

natural balance and aptitude on the Laser

down to all the time he spent on the water

as a child.

It was a chance mention by a friend

that brought Musaab to the Oman

Sailing School. He had often seen the

original Oman Sail sailors such as Ali

Ambusaidi, Saleh Al Jabri and Abdullah

Al Busaidi sailing whilst out fishing and

had mentioned to a friend how much fun

it looked. It was that same friend that

told him, only two months later, that

Oman Sail was looking for new sailors to

join the team. As someone who revels

in challenges and has the courage to

succeed, the prospect of the adventures

that Oman Sail was offering was

overwhelming. Although he was studying

computer technology in University, he

signed up for selection immediately and

literally sailed through to the final group.

When Musaab first started at the

Oman Sailing School he was taken by the

Hobie 16 catamarans with their bright

sails and turn of speed so asked to train

on them with the end goal of competing

in the Asia Beach Games. After a while

he discovered that crewed boats were not

the way forward for him and he asked if

he could try out the single-handed Laser

instead, also an Asia Beach Games class.

He immediately knew he had found the

right boat for him and since then has

only focused on mastering what is one of

the most popular classes of sailing boat

around the world and a firm fixture on the

Olympic sailing scene. The lure of going

offshore on one of the massive trimarans

or going round the world in the Clipper

Race were never options for Musaab,

it was the Laser and the technical

challenges it offers which appealed

to him.

Although a little light for the Laser

at 65kg’s, he feels that this will play to

his advantage in the consistently light

airs of Oman and the Gulf where he

will be doing much of his sailing in the

lead up to the Asia Beach Games. He

recalls the words of His Majesty’s speech

(see page 60) whenever he steps into

his boat and his dream to fulfill those

words are his inspiration. He sees the

Asia Beach Games as his chance to

bring recognition to Oman and hopes

his country will succeed in sailing as

well as the other sports that are being

competed in. Physically he is preparing

by spending time in the gym working on

the different disciplines needed to sail a

Laser. He has also been allocated his ‘race

boat’ by Oman Sail for which he takes

full responsibility in terms of keeping it

in winning form and ensuring that there

will be no gear failure whilst racing. In the

intense conditions of Oman where UV is

strong and the sun shines 365 days a year,

he must be constantly alert to wear and

tear over and above the average sailor.

After the Asia Beach Games Musaab

hopes to dedicate his time to training

young sailors on Lasers and hopefully

finding someone who is of a high enough

standard to represent Oman at the

Olympic Games in 2016. At 20 he feels

he is young enough to train for them

himself, but he prefers the chance to use

the knowledge he has gained from top

international coaching and recycling it

back into the Oman Sailing School, all

whilst still sailing professionally for his

country!

With a new group of young Omani

sailors joining the School in January,

Musaab already wants to share some

of what he has learned. If asked, he will

urge them to be ready for the physical

training, the intense concentration

needed to win, the courage to step

outside their comfort zone and the

endurance to see it through and benefit

from what they are being taught.

© Lloyd Images

© Ingmar Jense

38

PROFILE: ALI AMBUSAIDI The Instructor

Originally from Nizwa, in Oman’s interior,

he is a married man and father to three

children; two boys and a girl. He endured

a childhood typical of the times with the

family moving from their home in Nizwa

to the cooler climes of Tanzania during

the summer.

His father was a general trader

who bought and sold goods from both

countries such as clothing, foodstuffs,

household items and anything else for

which there was a need. Due to the

nature of the business and the hard-times

they lived in, Ali left school early to work

for his father. Soon afterwards he chose

to enlist in the Air Force as an Adventure

Training Officer where he studied when

he could and was awarded his Grade 12

diploma. Ali remained in the Air Force

for the next twenty-two years where he

continued to support his parents as well

as start his own family.

When Oman Sail was being formed, a

letter was written to all squadron leaders

inviting any of their officers to apply for

Oman Sail and make a career in sailing.

Ali had been sailing before as part of

his job and had enjoyed it so much the

opportunity was one he could not ignore.

With his background and approachable

personality he was immediately groomed

as an instructor and now plays a vital role

in the school, training the new recruits as

well as the schoolchildren who come to

do the Try Sailing programme.

Ali is extremely proud of being a

sailing instructor and is aware of the

pivotal role he plays in the development

of the sailors who are going offshore

racing on the Extreme 40s or any other

aspect of the Oman Sail programme.

‘Without the instructors continually

pushing the sailors they will never get

better,’ says Ali, ‘even the offshore sailors

need the foundation of an instructor

in the school.’ Ali also stresses the

importance of teaching young Omani

sailors about their heritage and making

sure they respect it. He feels that the

best advice he can give students is that

their innate skill has been inherited from

their grandfathers, and their grandfathers

before them, and that spirit is in them -

they must find it and realise it.

Ali’s ultimate ambition is to be the

first Omani solo offshore sailor, as that

fits in with his grounding and love of

adventure. Realistically the next five years

will see him develop as an instructor and

work hard training the schoolchildren

and the Omani sailors joining the school

and helping them achieve their targets,

whether those ambitions lie on dinghies

for the Olympics or going around the

world on Majan. He is also hoping to be

an integral part of the new schools that

will open, in particular the one in Salalah.

In the meantime he continues to

bring out the smiles and ambitions

of schoolchildren and the best of the

abilities of the Omani sailors.

THE RUGGED LOOKS OF ALI AMBUSAIDI, OR ‘AMBO’ AS HE IS AFFECTIONATELY

KNOWN, TELL THE STORY OF ONE OF THE MOST PERSONABLE CHARACTERS IN THE OMAN SAILING SCHOOL AS WELL AS ONE

OF THE MOST RESPECTED BY ALL THE NEW YOUNG RECRUITS WHO HAVE JOINED

OVER THE LAST YEAR.

© Lloyd Images

© Ingmar Jense

39A L I A M B U S A I D I

he Jewel of Muscat’s reconstruction represents a major feat of maritime

engineering, taking her blueprint from a 9th-century wreck of a ship that was

discovered in 1998 in Indonesian waters, which was originally carrying more

than 60,000 pieces of Chinese ceramics, silver and gold artifacts, spices and other

commodities, now known as the Tang Treasure.

Tom Vosmer, Construction Director for the project is one of the pioneering

forces behind the entire plan. “This project presents a unique opportunity for Oman

to showcase itself to the world as a modern nation that protects and invests in its

traditional heritage. The project can be a foundation for a revival of the traditional boat-

building industry in Oman, and a chance to inspire and educate young Omanis, provide

jobs and create a vision of what Oman and Omanis can accomplish. In short, the

project should be viewed beyond just the production of a 9th-century ship that sails to

Singapore, but as a focus on something for which Oman can be justifiably proud, which

can form part of the nucleus of a larger program and vision for the revival of Oman’s

maritime eminence.”

The Jewel of Muscat will set sail from Muscat in February 2010 and travel along the

same trade routes across the Indian Ocean as the ancient merchants of the 9th century.

She is expected to reach Singapore by July 2010 after stopping in India, Sri Lanka and

Malaysia before reaching her final destination of Singapore. Once in Singapore she

will be officially handed over as a gift from the Government of Oman to the people of

Singapore and housed in a museum along with the treasure from the original wreck.

Purpose of the project …

The Jewel of Muscat Project is a joint initiative between Oman and Singapore involving

the reconstruction of a 9th-century sewn-plank ship on the beach of Qantab village, just

outside Muscat. The 18-metre-long hand-built hull was launched into the Gulf of Oman,

and she will set sail on an epic voyage that will finish in Singapore; one of Oman’s oldest

trading partners.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Of historical significance …

The team on the ship will use 9th-century navigation techniques, including kamal, a

small piece of wood connected to a piece of string that is used to calculate latitude.

Observation of the sky and sea colour, marine and bird life, and wind direction will also

be used as navigational aids. Modern instruments will be also used for safety and to

ascertain the accuracy of traditional navigation techniques.

Building a milestone …

The construction of the Jewel of Muscat was done exclusively by hand using natural

products and tools. The hull planks, which fit together perfectly to ensure they are

watertight, were sewn together with coconut fibre, without nails to seal the joints and

seams. The wood is protected by fish oil and traditional antifouling of goat fat mixed

with lime was used below the waterline. The sails are made from palm leaves. The boat

builders who worked on the ship were chosen for their experience and skill, and the


> > >

HE MUCH-ANTICIPATED JEWEL OF MUSCAT PROJECT IS AN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INITIATIVE THAT INVOLVES THE RECONSTRUCTION OF A 9TH CENTURY SHIP AND SAILING IT FROM OMAN TO SINGAPORE, AND HIGHLIGHTS OMAN’S RENOWNED MARITIME HERITAGE. By Sudipta Dasgupta

40

© Ingmar Jense

41J E W E L O F M U S C A T - R E L I V I N G H I S T O R Y

team comprised a number of different nationalities,

each working in harmony to build this historically

significant vessel.

Ancient impressions …

The Jewel of Muscat is a fantastic and inspiring project. It

brings the maritime heritage of Oman into the modern

day and reflects the hard work that Omani forefathers

undertook to make Oman the great country it is today.

Saleh Said Al Jabri, formerly second in command

of Shabab Oman (Oman’s sail training ship) and an

instructor with Oman Sail, has been selected as

the Captain of the Jewel of Muscat on her voyage to

Singapore. Saleh, who brings a wealth of experience to

his position through his experience of sailing, shares with

us the importance of the Jewel of Muscat.

It gives me great pride to be part of a project that was

entrusted by His Majesty. I am honoured to be selected

as the Captain of the Jewel of Muscat and nothing will

make me more proud than steering her along the old

trading routes from Muscat to Singapore via India and

Malaysia, just as our forefathers did before us.

Moment of pride …

Since I was chosen to sail the Jewel of Muscat safely

and protect this gift from His Majesty all the way to

Singapore, I have mixed emotions running through my

mind. I hope the spirit of the project will carry on after

the ship has berthed in Singapore and is on display. This

should be a part of the big picture of Oman’s Renaissance

and the catalyst to seeing more Omani craftsmen

building and racing traditional ships in the future.

The big challenge …

The wind will be one of the toughest aspects to

predict as the Jewel of Muscat depends entirely on it!

Communication will also be difficult with an international

crew, many of whom will only get to know each other

over the course of the journey. The only concession

to comfort is the addition of a deck so we have some

shade and protection from the elements. There is no air

conditioning, toilet or even stove on board.

An epic start …

The project began in Oman in mid June 2008 with the

development of a model and the search for materials

used on the original wreck, which were identified through

scientific analysis. Afzelia Africana was sourced from

Ghana for the planking, teak from Burma and India for the

through beams, rudder and masts, poona from India for

the spars and sidr from Oman for the frames.

Education is of paramount importance …

The education aspect is of prime importance and

students from a number of schools, academies,

universities and colleges have made regular visits to the

site to witness the construction of this magnificent ship,

and to see her in the water and sailing. Visitors learn

about ancient ship building methods without the use of

nails or screws.

A visual treat …

One of the primary purposes of this project is to increase

awareness of our country’s rich maritime cultural heritage

in all Omanis, bringing it alive in front of their eyes. I want

everyone to see this magnificent ship before she sets sail,

as after that she will no longer be seen in Omani waters.

We will undergo extensive sea trials before we set sail

for Singapore to check how the ship behaves in different

weather conditions. The journey to Singapore is about

4-5 months during which my crew and the ship are of

utmost importance to me, more than my own life!

Future perfect …

After I have completed the voyage to Singapore, I want

to visit education establishments to talk about the

importance of the project. I want to make sure that young

Omanis are encouraged enough to go out sailing for their

country’s benefit.

This article first appeared in Crème de la Crème magazine.

Photos: © Lloyd Images & Ingmar Jense

42

Located just outside the walls of old

Muscat and only minutes away from the

palace of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos

Bin Said, Haramel still retains old world

charm and values. Every morning young

men go out after daybreak prayers with

their fathers, grandfathers and sometimes

even their great-grandfathers to catch

fish using nothing more complex than

handlines, a hook and some bait.

This is still the way of life for many

Omanis and even the ones who work in

the banks, ministries and multinational

corporations are only a generation away

from early starts and the smell of the sea.

For many such as Saleh, who will soon

celebrate his fortieth birthday, the sea has

never been far away, to the extent that

when he was seven he started going to

school by boat in the neighbouring bay of

Sidab. It was during these commutes to

school that he began a lifelong love of the

sea and at the same time he started to go

on fishing trips with his father.

After school Saleh joined the Royal

Navy of Oman, in the footsteps of his

brother who was already a Naval sailor. In

those days the Royal Navy of Oman was

based in old Muscat harbour so it was

close to home. He was encouraged by

his parents and grandparents to follow a

career in the Navy and maintain his links

with the sea.

In 1987 Saleh joined the Navy training

ship, Shabab Oman, and discovered his

true vocation in life; sailing. Shabab Oman

is a barquentine training ship built in

Scotland as a schooner in 1971 and bought

by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos in 1977.

Meaning ‘Youth of Oman’, Shabab Oman

was taken around the world as a training

vessel for up to twenty-four Omani youths

and Saleh was the Training Officer from

1987 to 2007. Whilst onboard Shabab

Oman, he visited forty countries and

crossed the Atlantic twice.

This has given him the insight and

respect into different cultures that he

imparts daily to the Oman Sailing School

students. Saleh currently maintains the

rank of Lieutenant in the Royal Navy of

Oman and became a part of Oman Sail

as part of a secondment process when

Oman Sail was formed.

Since the beginning of his career

with Oman Sail, Saleh has been one of

the key members and has become an

internationally recognized instructor. He

has been an integral part of developing,

inspiring and training the new wave of

young Omanis who have joined the ranks

of Oman Sail and has become a constant

source of knowledge for them. With his

experience in the Navy, on Shabab Oman

and as an instructor, he has not only

taught them the ins and outs of how

to sail, but has also instilled in them a

respect for their maritime heritage and a

passion for maintaining it.

In the middle of 2009 Saleh was

asked to be the captain of the Jewel of

Muscat on her journey from Muscat to

Singapore via India and Malacca. To be

asked to do so was a proud moment

for Saleh and he has embraced the

prospect heartily. He sees the voyage as a

culmination of his life’s work thus far, after

thirty years at sea and more than 125,000

nautical miles under his feet.

A voyage of this length and

importance takes careful preparation and

detailed training, while the mental and

physical demands of the voyage will be

constant companions. Saleh will call upon

his inner strength and resolve; he has

however total trust in his faith to be his

steadfast ally and source of courage.

After the Jewel of Muscat has safely

berthed in Singapore, Saleh does not

believe his journey will have ended.

He sees it as the most important

voyage of his career and the overriding

responsibility will affect him in a positive

way. He hopes to be able to spend as

long as possible working with Oman Sail

and visiting schools, academies, colleges

and anywhere else he can talk about his

journey, how it affected him and how it

can inspire everyone else, especially the

young Omanis.

He will encourage the youth not

to back away from life’s challenges

but to embrace them and use them to

their advantage. There is no doubt that

Saleh will make a fine ambassador for

all Omanis, not just the young, and that

his name, along with his peers, will be

remembered in the pages of Oman’s long

and proud history.

The Captain


PROFILE: SALEH AL JABRI

SALEH AL JABRI WAS BORN, AND SPENT HIS YOUNGER YEARS, JUST TEN METRES

AWAY FROM THE WATERFRONT IN THE PICTURESQUE BAY OF HARAMEL.

43T H E C A P T A I N O F T H E J E W E L

The Sultanate of Oman has a long, diverse and far-reaching

maritime history. The earliest evidence of their coastal trade dates

back to the Bronze Age, and a Sumerian text mentions that the

great king Sargon of Akkad boasted that ships from Majan

(of which Oman was a part), amongst those from other countries,

tied up at his wharves. By the mid-eighth century their ships and

merchants had reached the distant ports of China, spreading

Islam through the Far East on their way, bringing about that

exchange between cultures that furthers mankind’s knowledge

and development. Papermaking was introduced to the Arab world

from China at this time. Omanis have traded with the East Coast of

Africa for over two millennia, but it was in the course of the latter

part of the last millennium that they became famous, not just as

intrepid sailors and ship builders, but as a people at the heart

of the Indian Ocean trade. In the nineteenth century the Omani

navy, which consisted of modern European-designed warships,

helped ensure the safety of the expanding monsoon trade between

India, Africa and the Middle East. By 1840, Oman’s first envoy to

the United States of America had arrived in New York. This is the

extraordinary story of Oman, a largely desert country whose sea

captains and sailors came to dominate the Indian Ocean and its

monsoonal trade links. This same seafaring spirit is very much

alive today as its young men embrace the new challenges of

modern competitive sailing.

With over 1700 kilometres of coastline, which offers some

outstanding natural harbours, and a pivotal location on the edge

of the Indian Ocean, it is not hard to see why the early Omanis

turned to the sea and the lands beyond in their pursuit of trade. In

many ways their expertise as ship builders, sailors and navigators

helped shape their national character. Oman’s principal harbours

and ports were found all along its coast from Khasab with its

numerous khors and inlets on the Musandam peninsula, to Sohar,

Muttrah, Muscat, Qalhat, and Sumharam in Dhofar. Places like

Ras al Hadd, Bandar Jissah and Bandar Khayran, though of less

value as trading ports, being locked in by mountains or desert,

were nonetheless excellent staging posts for littoral sailors and

vital havens in times of turbulent weather. In a gradual process

over countless generations, Omanis’ shipbuilding and navigational

skills, combined with their deep understanding of the region’s

seasonal conditions, currents and winds, were honed to a fine art

as Omani seafarers became masters in the exploitation of the

monsoon winds that linked India, East Africa and Arabia.

The natural harbour of Sumharam was once unquestionably

the most important port on the whole of the Arabian coast and

its wealth and fame was based almost entirely on one product —

frankincense. Frankincense is the harvested and dried resin of the

Boswellia sacra. The tree is hardy and stunted, has minimal foliage

and sheds its thin bark in strips that flutter and rattle in the winds

of the Negd desert and slopes of the Dhofar jebel. Frankincense

(Liban in Arabic) was once more valuable than gold because of its

use in ceremonial rituals in places of worship as far flung as Rome,

Egypt, the Holy Land and all points east, even as far as China.

Oman A HISTORY WITH THE SEA BY MIKE WILSON

© Kat Birtwistle

44

The famed and remarkable Queen of Saba

(Sheba) and her contemporary, King Solomon

of Jerusalem, consolidated the land routes and

the protection of the frankincense trade across

Arabia to the Holy Land in about 900 BC, while

it is thought the rest was exported by sea. From

100 BC to AD 400, Sumharam was partly

controlled by the kings of Shabwa.

During the eighth century Omani sailors

had reached many of the ports of China. In this

gradual process of extending their maritime

activities further eastwards, it was inevitable

that they should establish small trading

missions with an Omani representative in the

principal ports of the Far East. Legend has it

that arguably the most famous sailor of all

time, Sindbad, who many believe hailed from

Oman’s Batinah port of Sohar, sailed to China.

A wealth of Arabian seafaring folklore combine

in the stories of Sindbad’s bizarre adventures

during his seven famous voyages but none of

his tales mentions China as a destination, rather

his shipwrecks threw him up on the shores

of locations that were every bit as fictional as

Gulliver’s Lilliput.

The trade with India and Africa

A small but highly profitable Omani export to

India from the twelfth century onwards was

in thoroughbred Arab horses. Sometimes

they numbered as few as thirty a year, and

this at a time when huge herds of horses

numbering tens of thousands were being

driven south from the central Asian plains to

the same markets. Thousands were lost during

this lengthy and difficult journey. The horses

from the steppes and plains were used as

mounts for the common cavalry, while Arab

thoroughbreds were the pride of maharajas and

kings. If trade to distant lands was a stimulus

to the development and refinement of Oman’s

ocean-going mercantile fleet, it was not the

only factor. In the wake of expanding trade

came a parallel need to develop an effective

navy to protect both trade and the country’s

sovereign integrity. Oman had been the victim

of foreign invasion by sea on a number of

occasions — there were three waves of lasting

and deep incursions by the Persians, and in the

sixteenth century, the Portuguese seized and

occupied key ports and towns on the coast and

interior. Given the subsequent havoc wreaked

by Portuguese conquests in the region, it is

ironic that Vasco da Gama was reputed to have

been guided around the Cape of Good Hope

and beyond by the famous Omani seaman

and navigator, Ahmed bin Majid. Each of these

occupations were eventually repulsed, but

the Omanis realised that as a largely coastal

nation, their long term safety from seaborne

invasion could only be secured if they were to

have a strong navy capable of meeting that

threat. Having expelled the Portuguese from

their homeland, Omanis also ousted them from

their settlements in Zanzibar, Lamu, Pemba

and Mombasa in East Africa and much of the

area then became part of Oman. It would be a

mistake to think that Oman’s dominance of East

Africa was confined to its coasts. Omani traders

had spread and established themselves deep

within Central Africa. An excellent example of

this was illustrated when the explorer Henry

Morton Stanley, of Dr. Livingstone fame, made

the arduous and incredibly dangerous first

European east-west crossing of Africa. As he

acknowledged himself, he could only do so

with an intimate team of the toughest and

most intrepid men, men who had knowledge

of routes into the interior, and established

relationships with the tribes along the way

before they finally reached unknown territory.

His brave and loyal chief lieutenants were four

Omanis who were recruited in Zanzibar. In

spite of an appalling death toll from months

of continuous attacks by hostile tribes, to say

nothing of disease and atttacks by wild animals,

all four survived and returned to Zanzibar from

the mouth of the Congo by ship.

A long-lasting and far-reaching seafaring

tradition

The Sultan who was paramount in expanding

the country’s formidable merchant fleet and

navy of the nineteenth century was Sayyid

Said bin Sultan, whose long and inspired

reign ran from 1804-1856. His tomb lies deep

within the walls of the fortress at Al Hazm

near Rustaq. He was clearly a ruler with many

statesman-like qualities, but also a tough,

practical leader with a formidable personality.

In a joint operation with the British against

pirates, he was in the thick of the fighting.

When he received a musket ball through his

wrist, his antagonist was so close that Sayyid

Said was also badly burnt by the gunpowder.

Parts of the Gulf and both barren shores of the

Strait of Hormuz were dominated by his naval

bases. From Mogadishu to Mombasa it was the

same, and Sayyid Said often travelled with his

powerful navy as it patrolled between its bases

throughout the Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

In 1834 Sayyid Said presented the massive

seventy-four gun ship of the line, Liverpool to

King William IV of the United Kingdom as a

gift. An American merchant visiting Zanzibar

in the 1830s described Sayyid Said’s arrival

© Harvey PincisAn illustration of some of the trade routes navigated by traders

An Omani ship shelters for the summer in the Rufiji Delta

there on board a warship of sixty-four guns,

accompanied by three frigates and many

other smaller battlecraft. With them was an

army of five thousand Omani fighting men on

board over a hundred transport boats. Oman’s

importance as the paramount regional naval

and mercantile power is demonstrated by

its foreign relations of the time. In 1840 Hajji

Ahmed bin Nu‘man Al Ka‘abi arrived in New

York on board the merchant ship Sultana, as

an envoy to the United States of America.

Although of European design, the Sultana was

built in the Mazagon Dockyard in Bombay in

1833. She arrived in New York having taken only

eighty-seven days from Zanzibar, a particularly

fast passage.

These first visitors to New York, with their

flowing robes, turbans, khanjars and kitarahs

(daggers and curved swords), caused a huge

stir everywhere they went. They were followed

by crowds and stared at, until American

hospitality stepped in and moved the Sultana

to the naval dockyard, where their guests

could be suitably looked after. Sayyid Said‘s

gifts to President Jefferson included two Arab

thoroughbreds, a gold-mounted sword, jewels,

and perfumes. In return he was presented with

a pleasure barge, rifles and revolvers. However

this was a trading as well as a diplomatic

mission, as Sayyid Said wished to buy modern

weapons for his struggle against the Portuguese

in Mozambique.

For this purpose the Sultana also carried a

cargo that included 1,000 sacks of the finest

Omani dates, carpets from Iran, coffee from

Yemen, spices from the East, and hides and

ivory from Africa that were all sold to make the

necessary purchases.This year, Jewel of Muscat,

a reconstruction of a ninth-century Arab sailing

ship, built in Oman, will embark on an historic

voyage from Oman to Singapore in the same

spirit as the Omanis sailed 2,000 years ago.

45O M A N - A H I S T O R Y W I T H T H E S E A

FROM THE WARMTH OF THE DOLDRUMS TO THE FREEZING STORM FORCE

CONDITIONS OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN

INDIAN OCEAN

5 CAPESRACE

46

CAPE RAS AL HADD

CAPE COMORIN

CAPE PIAI

MALDIVES

CAPE LEEUWIN

P E R T HCAPE AGULHAS

MUSCAT

I N D I A N O C E A N

C A P E T O W N

S I N G A P O R E

CAPAPAPPE PE PE PIAIIAIAIA

MALDIVES

CAPCAPPE LE LE EEUEEUEE WINWIN

P E RP E R T HT

II N DD I AA N OO C EC E A NA N

S I N G A PP O R E

This epic race will take competitors from the tropical waters of Oman past Ras al Hadd (literally

‘Cape’ in Arabic) down to the tip of South Africa before crossing the frozen and treacherous

Southern Ocean and into the warmth of Cape Leeuwin and Australia’s west coast. From here

the boats sail north to Cape Piai in the Malacca Straits opposite Singapore and up to Cape

Comorin at the southern tip of India before returning the welcoming shores of Oman and the

starting point of the journey in Muscat.

The journey, with stopovers in The Maldives, Cape Town, Fremantle and Singapore, is expected

to take up to 3 months and will rival many of the established race courses for attracting a global

audience and following the boats as they overcome nature’s elements.

Total distance:

15,000 nautical miles (27,780 kilometres)

INDIAN OCEAN 5 CAPES RACE

© Lloyd Images

The Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race shows massive

potential for one-design fleet racing.

47I N D I A N O C E A N 5 C A P E S R A C E

FIVE VERY DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND CHALLENGES FOR THE CREWSThe 5 Capes In Detail

RAS AL HADD - Literally meaning ‘the cape’

in Arabic, it is the easternmost point of the

Arabian Peninsula and Oman is very proud

that this is the point where the suns first rays

touch land on rising. It is an unspoilt part of the

world and one of the largest nesting sites for

endangered Green turtles, with over 20,000

females returning annually to lay their eggs.

The waters around this area are popular for

snorkelling, diving and fishing as it marks the

convergence point of many currents resulting

in an abundance of sea life. For the Omani

crews on board both Majan and Musandam this

will be their last sight of home until their return

journey up the Arabian Sea.

CAPE AGULHAS - Cape Agulhas is 170

kilometres from Cape Town and marks the

dividing line between the Atlantic and Indian

Oceans. Cape Agulhas is renowned by sailors as

one of the most challenging convergence points

of any oceans in the world. Agulhas features a

gently curving coastline and rocky beach that

makes it different from most of the other major

capes which are barren rocky outcrops.

CAPE LEEUWIN - A welcome sight for any sailor,

despite its stark location and rough conditions,

Cape Leeuwin marks the end of the Southern

Ocean and the start of the Indian Ocean. The

most south-westerly point of the Australian

mainland, the cape is marked by a solitary

lighthouse. From Cape Leeuwin the crews of

Majan and Musandam will sail north to the

coastal city of Fremantle, where they will enjoy a

short stopover before sailing to Cape Piai.

CAPE PIAI - Marking the southernmost point

of the Malaysian peninsula, Cape Piai , or

Tanjung Piai in the local Malaysian dialect, is

also the southernmost point of mainland Asia.

Surrounded by mangrove forests and featuring

popular seafood restaurants on rickety wooden

jetties, the cape sits directly opposite the

Asian financial powerhouse of Singapore.

CAPE COMORIN - Also on a southernmost

tip, this time of India, Cape Comorin is the

final cape of the race and is referred to as

Kanyakumari locally. Cape Comorin sits on the

confluence point of the Arabian Sea, the Indian

Ocean and the Gulf of Mannar and is a centre

for pearl fishing.

Ras Al Hadd

Cape Agulhas

Cape Leeuwin

© Malekhanif

© Greg O’Beirne

Cape Piai

Cape Comorin

48

KUWAIT CITY

MANAMA, BAHRAIN

DOHA, QATAR

MUSCAT, OMANABU DHABI, UAE

DUBAI, UAE

SALALAH

SOHAR

MUSCAT

SUR

MUSANDAM

HONG KONG

SANYA

NHA TRANG

TUMPAT

TERENGGANU

SINGAPORE

QINGDAO

SHANGHAI

TAIPEI

DALIAN

YOKOHAMA

JEJU ISLAND

POTENTIAL RACE COURSES

CAPE HORN

MUSCAT

COOK STRAITCAPE OF GOOD HOPE CAPE LEEUWIN

ASIA CIRCUITEstablished by Dame Ellen MacArthur in 2006, this route starting in Yokohama and ending

in Singapore is one of the most engaging. Challenges come from sea conditions and winds,

but also shipping, currents and navigational hazards.

Total distance:


ROUND OMANThis challenging coastal sprint from Oman’s most northern

point, Musandam, past the capital city of Muscat and down

to the southernmost city of Salalah offers a challenging set

of conditions. From multihulls to monohulls, this race would

give a range of wind directions and strengths and make it an

attractive addition to the international race calendar.

Total distance:

835 nautical miles (1,546 kilometres)

TOUR OF ARABIAEstablished as a route in 2009 by Majan,

the Tour of Arabia has high potential as an

internationally recognised race with a high

level of participation from Gulf based teams

as well as those from further afield. The

format is perfectly suited to being adaptable

with long and short passage races as well as

inshore racing and display sailing.

Plans are well advanced in the

development of running this race on 30 foot

racing monohulls, country against country

along this route.

Total distance:


NDal

us

tth

n

e o

d

le

m

ity

ff

oh

en

a

n

n

m

on

RAI

MA

n

m

E LE

SC

u

o

AND

OHA

h

g

r

OKO

ISLA

l sprint f

am, past

e southe

of c

SLAN

AROUND THE WORLD NON-STOPThe ultimate achievement for any offshore sailing

programme, racing round the world non-stop in identical

A100’s or alone to beat the time set by Musandam in 2009

could be a possibility. As far as catching the attention of

the world, there is no bigger achievement.

Total distance:


49P O T E N T I A L R A C E C O U R S E S

IN THE FIRST 18 MONTHS, OMAN SAIL DEVELOPED OMANI TALENT,

WON INTERNATIONAL EVENTS, HAD AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF

MEDIA COVERAGE, AND ATTRACTED WORLD CLASS SPONSORS.

THE PARTNERS INVESTED FOR VARIOUS REASONS, BUT ALL HAVE

BENEFITTED FROM BEING PART OF A WINNING TEAM.

OMAN SAIL IS

ATTRACTINGSPONSORS

OMAN SAIL - ATTRACTING SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

5 0

© Lloyd Images

“What use a memory of past glories, without a plan of action to give it meaning? What

use a cultural treasure, without a determination to enrich others? The Oman Sail project

encapsulates all the current reality and future aspirations of Oman’s progress; and, in

doing so, showcases Oman in the most positive fashion on an international stage. For

Renaissance, sponsorship is not just about the wonderful billboards of sails in full wind

with ever-increasing international exposure. That is fantastic for Oman and for Oman

Sail’s sponsors. Sponsoring something that is focused on promoting Oman and developing

Omani human potential is totally relevant to Renaissance’s values and is at the heart of our

corporate social responsibility programme.”

Renaissance Services co-sponsored the Extreme 40 Renaissance which came

third in the iShares Cup 2009. They are also sponsoring Ahmed Al Maamari and

Abdullah Al Busaidi in their quest to sail round the world in the Clipper Race 09-10 .

Steven Thomas, CEO, Renaissance Services, co-sponsors of the Extreme 40 Renaissance

in the iShares Cup 2009:

oday’s sponsorship or partnership landscape is a rich tapestry of old

and new. Old in the sense that some opportunities offer the traditional

fixed menu of rights and assets, whilst the more successful and innovative

rights-holders (such as Oman Sail) are spearheading a new wave of sponsor

management.

Sponsorship is content for marketing activity; it gives partners an

opportunity to grow their business within targeted audiences and offers them

connectivity with the customer. If sponsorship is rendered properly, it is a direct

dialogue with communities and consumers: an obvious and distinct advantage

over advertising which is a one-way conversation with no emotional resonance.

With a world class race fleet, comprehensive international race calendar

and some of the best sailors in the world competing and training with young

Omanis on the world stage, Oman Sail extends this world class approach with a

highly experienced commercial team drawing talent from around the world. An

organisation that has positioned itself to deliver results.

Oman Sail won the iShares Cup last year, In parallel, it is ramping up its

commitment to offshore racing with the recent launch of Majan the Arabian 100

trimaran. Majan herself has taken part in several events since she was launched,

most notably the Tour of Arabia and the Dubai-Muscat Race. In 2010 she will

establish an innovative new race, the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race in February,

“Sponsorship is a vital part of our program. Last year our partners were

predominately supporting us on a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) basis.

CSR partners are very important, however we are now signing agreements in

which we are contracted to deliver a commercial return, which is a stepped

change. We ensure we understand what our partners need, and can adapt our

plans to deliver, we measure the results and feedback. Our interesting unique

offering to sponsors is we are spanning the spectrum of the sport from beginners

to elite, we may race across the globe but our home is in a commercially

interesting part of the world” David Graham, CEO, Oman Sail

and take part in the Route du Rhum with Sidney Gavignet helming at the end of

the year. Interwoven into all these is a significant focus on developing the next

generation of Omani athletes that will take on the challenges of competing on an

international stage for their country.

Oman Sail has a very active sailing school in Muscat and will be launching

sailing schools along the coast of Oman making sailing accessible to all Omanis,

removing any barriers currently holding young people back from participating in

the sport. Once they have learnt the skills, a community sailing club makes boats

available for them to continue the sport which will ensure retention and long

term development.

Through participation there are huge spin-off benefits to the community;

including (but not limited to) a development of life skills such as teamwork,

leadership, discipline, endeavour and a reduction in obesity in young people- all

sought after values within commercial and social environments. Another core

component to Oman Sail s activities is within the national school curriculum. In

2009 Oman Sail began offering free sailing lessons to schools within the Muscat

area, the take-up has been impressive and now there are hundreds of students in

boats learning to sail. As part of the curriculum, children gain an understanding

of the cultural heritage of Oman and how important their country s maritime

history is to their identity.

Oman Sail s multi-layered approach within the Omani community offers

corporate organisations an opportunity to partner with a unique project that

has an unconditional commitment to Oman, its youth and their education. It

reaches out beyond the traditional boundaries of a sport , it has real traction with

the local communities, is making waves globally and is now a very interesting

marketing tool for organisations.

5 1A T T R A C T I N G S P O N S O R S & P A R T N E R S

A SAILING JOURNALIST IS LURED INTO A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE AND SENT OFF TO EXPERIENCE OMAN AS AN INDEPENDENT TRAVELLER. LOUAY HABIB TAKES A SNAPSHOT OF OMAN’S COAST AND INTERIOR.

A Traveller in Oman

Bandar Khayran at sunset52

© Johan Palsson

The impressive chandelier of the Grand Mosque

tark beauty and vastly contrasting landscapes typify

Oman; arid desert, secret oases, awe-inspiring

mountains and a bountiful shoreline. These diverse

features create habitats for a wealth of wildlife, fauna,

flora and ecosystems unique to Oman.

On land, plants, insects and animals of a stunning

diversity thrive. In the ocean, coral reefs that churn the

turquoise sea into surf break onto white sandy beaches.

Whales and dolphins are a common sight and the sea is

teeming with tropical fish. Turtles nest in numbers matched

by no other country on the planet. Alongside this natural

wealth is the Omani culture as rich as the sea, mountain and

desert environments put together.

The coastline of Oman extends to over 1,700 kilometres,

most of which borders the Indian Ocean. Until recently,

much of Oman was undiscovered by tourists but the ports

of Oman have been a destination for sea-faring traders since

the dawn of time. Today, the coastline remains unspoilt,

hardly touched by the ravages of industry. Oman offers

some of the cleanest, most stunning beaches a visitor could

hope to see. Weekend picnics and barbecues are popular

amongst the locals but Oman is purposely not a mass

tourist location. Many coves are perfect for snorkeling or

beachcombing and with gentle shelves, are safe for children.

FASCINATING MUSCAT

Muscat is the capital and by far the largest city in Oman.

There are over a million inhabitants and a metropolitan area

of 1,500 square kilometers. Muscat has an international

airport with direct flights to destinations all over the world

including many direct flights to Europe, The Gulf and Asia

courtesy of the national carrier, Oman Air.

The capital has all of the usual facilities of a large city;

international banks, leading hotels and retail shopping

along old streets and modern shopping malls but the city

retains much of its old world charm and has some fabulous

buildings and public areas.

The Grand Mosque is the most impressive building

in the capital and is the third largest mosque in the world.

It covers 40,000 square metres but the landscaped site

is ten times the size of the building, equivalent to 40

football pitches. The Grand Mosque can accommodate

up to 20,000 worshippers at one time, male and female.

The interior is panelled with white and grey marble and

ceramic floral patterns adorn its arches in a variety of

classical Persian designs. The ceilings are inspired by the

ancient Omani forts and the mihrab (a niche in the wall of

a mosque that indicates the qibla; that is, the direction of

the Kaaba in Mecca) in the main prayer hall, is framed by

Quranic verses and gilded ceramic details. The colossal

dome comprises a series of ornate, engraved stained glass

triangles within a framework of marble columns, and an

impressive gold plated crystal chandelier hangs down a

full 14 metres. It is made of Swarovski crystals and lit by

1,200 dimmable lightbulbs. A major feature of the main

prayer hall is the hand-made Persian carpet consisting of

1,700,000 knots, weighing 21 tonnes and made in a single

piece, measuring 70 x 60 metres, it took 4 years and 600

weavers to complete.

Muscat has a huge variety of museums. To discover the

rich cultural heritage of Oman the Bait al Zubair museum

is a must; it houses one of the finest collections of artefacts

from all over the Sultanate such as Omani weaponry,

jewelry, costumes and domestic utensils chronicling the

history of Oman. There is also a stunning collection of

photography depicting Oman at the start of the 20th

century.

Old Muscat is located on the waterfront and the

Corniche along the natural harbour is a place for Omanis to

take an evening stroll with family and friends. It has recently

been renovated to provide excellent facilities including picnic

areas and children’s playgrounds and is an excellent location

to while away the hours. Just outside the Old Town is the

Sultan’s Palace, the Al Alam Royal Palace, which stands at

the head of the natural deep water harbour and is guarded

on either side by the twin forts of Mirani and Jelali. Set in

beautifully manicured landscaped gardens, the palace is

often used by the Sultan to welcome foreign dignitaries.

Built in 1972, the palace boasts blue pillars, wrapped in

wrought iron with extensive gold leaf work. This was one of

Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s first projects and the vivid design

and floral gardens are a statement that echoes the colourful

nature of the Omani people.

Further along the coast from the palace are some of the

most spectacular sailing grounds for cruising yachts. The

shoreline is defined by steep cliffs and there are a myriad

of secluded bays with remote sandy beaches that can only

be reached by sea. Sea life is in abundance making this area

ideal for fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving.

FISHERMAN’S SUR

Sur is the capital city of the Sharkiya Region located on the

Indian Ocean about 220 km southeast of the Omani capital

Muscat. The city has a natural harbour offering protection

from the Indian Ocean and has been a fishing port for

centuries. Sur has a vibrant fish market and a reputation as

a major dhow building centre, the traditional boats that have

been used in the region since the 6th century.

From Muscat there are two good roads to Sur, the

shortest route is the new coastal road via Quriyat, the

road surface is of the highest quality with plenty of service

stations and much of the highway is dual carriageway.

It is tempting to drive straight to Sur but there are some

great sites along the way. Several wadis (dry river beds)

are within minutes from the main coast road that are

surrounded by greenery, especially date palms. These are

well worth the effort to find, typically a wadi is located

in a mountain gorge, a scene reminiscent of a biblical

location with a calm serenity to match. Flowers and fauna

are in abundance as are wild life. Cool water permeates

from the mountain and the surrounding cliffs offer almost

permanent shade from the sun’s rays. These effects create

a totally different ecosystem to the surrounding arid and

desolate rocky slopes.

Most of the shore line along the coastal route to Sur is

untouched, there are some remote sandy beaches and rocky

overhangs and it is well worth breaking up the journey to Sur

by taking a cooling dip in the Indian Ocean. At Bimah there

is a sinkhole, a depression in the land usually formed by a

cave roof collapsing due to erosion. There are stone stairs

down to the water for a swim in a rare natural anomaly.

Sur is a working city in every sense of the word; there

are few shops or businesses catering for tourists but there

are several hotels which cater for visitors. The Sur Beach

Hotel offers ocean views with a good restaurant, room

service and internet but above all, the staff are extremely

© L

loyd

Im

ag

es

53A T R A V E L L E R I N O M A N

helpful and friendly. The fish market is a hub

of activity; fisherman bring their catch to the

market at sunrise and sell it to the traders

at a wholesale price. The fish are then sold

on to the people of Sur and the surrounding

villages. It is a fascinating place filled with a

huge variety of fish from sharks to sardines

and everything inbetween. To the back of the

market are the fishmongers who prepare the

fish for a small charge.

However the fish market is not just a

place to trade as Saeed, a young Omani from

Sur, explains; “The fish market is where we

meet and talk about life, we share information

with each other and it is often customary for

fishermen who have a good catch to share

with friends. At another time, the favour is

returned, this is the way of the Omani; we

look after each other. We do not have many

visitors to Sur but they are welcome, if you

don’t know the way or how to get something,

all you have to do is ask someone, they will

be glad to help you.”

For hundreds of years, boat builders

from Sur have passed on their skills from

generation to generation and along the banks

of the entrance to the harbour where wooden

dhows are crafted. The ramshackle boat

yards give a fascinating insight into this art.

Lumber yards are full of African teak logs

and machinery for shaping the wood from

days gone by. The craftsmen’s only guide

is a sketch drawn in the sand and age-old

methods are used including fish oil for

waterproofing the hull. Dhows from Sur have

sailed to far-flung places including Africa and

China; the sturdy craft are built for the harsh

conditions of long ocean passages.

There are 14 conservation areas in the

Sultanate of Oman, making it a unique

eco-tourism location. A trip to Sur cannot

be complete without visiting the turtle

sanctuary at Ras al Jinz, about 45 minutes

drive south east of the town. Ras al Jinz is

one of the best places in the world to see

green turtles, which enjoy a protected area

nearly 100 miles (73 km) long. Trips have to

be pre-booked and take place either at night

or very early in the morning. The guides

are exceptionally knowledgeable about the

amazing lifestyle of this wonderful animal.

Over 30,000 turtles lay their eggs on

the beach where they were born. The turtles

must be over 35 years of age to breed and

only one in a thousand of the infants is

destined to survive to adulthood. There

were once millions of Green Turtles but

hunting and destruction of their habitat has

decimated their numbers, the sanctuary at

Ras al Jinz plays a vital role as 90% of the

Green Turtles left in the world breed from

these shores. Watching the turtles struggle

for existence on a warm moonlit night is a

moving experience.

OASIS CITY OF NIZWA

Nizwa is located in the heart of Oman about

165 km from Muscat and was the capital

of Oman in the 6th century and still retains

some fascinating historical buildings. The

imposing fort built in the mid 17th century

by Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya’ribi and the

ancient old town being prime examples. It is

famous for its bustling souq where exquisite

copper and silver jewellery and other craft

items are available for sale. Just outside the

Photos: © Johan PalssonThe desert meets the sea for hundreds of kilometres along the coast

Sign on a traditional Dhow

builders workshop

© Louay Habib

Links to a long maritime heritage are evident the length of Oman’s coast

Local Omani children from Sur have a quick smile for visitors

54

town centre an immense palm oasis stretches

for eight kilometres along the course of

two wadis. A short drive from Nizwa is the

old village of Tanuf, known for its seasonal

waterfalls that make it a very popular picnic

destination for the locals and a vital source of

drinking water.

On the road from Nizwa back to Muscat

is the town of Ibra. Called the gateway to

the East, it was the route of caravans taking

trade from Africa to the East. Ibra is famous

for its fine horses, a wonderful souq and

5,000 year old beehive tombs. But without

doubt the most magical aspect of this area

are the Jabal Al Akhdar range, literally

meaning ‘green mountain’ it is one of the

most spectacular areas in Oman. The highest

point, Jabal Shams, ‘mountain of the sun’, is

around 9,800 feet (3,000 m) high. It is the

highest point in the whole of eastern Arabia

and is aptly named as the sun’s rays dance

on its craggy slopes but has experienced

snowfall during some colder winters in recent

years. The main route is stunning enough,

huge escarpments dominate the skyline often

shrouded in mist due to their altitude, but

there are also several roads leading directly

into these mountains. Generally these side

roads are very good but there are some

adrenalin pumping climbs and descents

revealing some truly breathtaking scenery.

Hidden away amongst these mountain

passes are remote towns, often near a wadi

and festooned with palm trees. Life in the

mountain villages is incredibly simple but the

locals greet visitors with warmth and they are

more than happy to assist travelers who get

lost in the labyrinth of small alleys.

On the 23rd July 1970, His Majesty,

Sultan Qaboos bin Said began his reign and

the new ruler had a vision for Oman. For

decades before there was little progress

by modern standards. The education and

infrastructure were poor at best and in his

infamous Renaissance address he announced

that that was to change;

“My people, my brothers, yesterday it

was complete darkness and with the help of

God, tomorrow will be a new dawn on Oman

and its people.”

He was good to his word and today Oman

has one of the best education systems in

the region and a huge amount of investment

has gone into building the infrastructure

of the country, making the diverse land of

Oman more prosperous for the Omanis and

accessible to visitors. Oman has been voted

among the world’s top ten travel destinations

in the world by many publications, websites

and travel programmes.

Lonely Planet has picked Oman as a

destination for people who want a more

‘off the beaten track’ experience and Vogue

magazine rated it as a location because it is

less touristic than other Arabic countries.

But perhaps the best feature of this

fascinating country is its people, they have

a proud heritage dating back thousands of

years but they are incredibly tolerant, they

value family life and the welfare of their

friends. The Omani way is to welcome

visitors; it is a fundamental part of their

traditional way of life.

Camels are a regular sight all over Oman

The people of Nizwa are welcoming to all tourists

Bibi Mariam’s tomb near Qalhat, on the coast road to Sur

The bays of Bander Khayran offer

secluded moorings.

55A T R A V E L L E R I N O M A N

The big picture

FROM DESERT TO SEA, THE SULTANATE OF OMAN’S VISUAL TREASURES ARE REVEALED IN STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHS

56

From top, clockwise:

1. Stunning views are around every

corner, even in the most rugged

areas of the country.

© Ministry of Tourism

2. A new day dawns over the inlets of

the Musandam peninsula.


3. Reminders of Oman’s heritage and

history are found behind every door

© Issa Saleh Al Kindy

4. Shadowed serenity in the arched

hallways of the Grand Mosque.

© Lloyd Images

57O M A N - T H E B I G P I C T U R E

Opposite page, from top left, clockwise:

1. The waters around Oman offer a wide

range of catches for sport fishermen.

© Lloyd Images

2. Getting close to camels is a highlight of

many excursions in Oman.

© Steve Graham

3. A local fisherman in Sur proudly displays

his catch to potential customers.

© Lloyd Images

4. Muscat is formed by it’s backdrop of jebels

(mountains).

© Lloyd Images

5. Architecture rooted in thousands of years

of heritage give mosques across Oman

individual character.

© Lloyd Images

This page, clockwise:

1. A fisherman in the Muscat fish-souq

(market) prepares fish for sale.

© Lloyd Images

2. Fishermen constantly buzz the shore

bringing in catches.

© Lloyd Images

3. Traditional building along the waterfront of

Muscat’s old harbour.

© Lloyd Images


From top left, clockwise:

1. Ras Al Jinz is the easternmost point of

Oman and a nesting site for Green Turtles.


2. The entrance to the Old Town area of

Muscat is marked by a reconstruction of

the original gates

© Lloyd Images

3. The luxurious Al Bustan Palace Hotel is an

icon of Oman


4. Prayer beads are a well thought-out

purchase for Omani men.

© Lloyd Images

5. Authentic Omani silver can be bought in

the souqs (markets).

© Lloyd Images

6. Local souqs offer a range of products.

© Lloyd Images

7. Enjoying Kahwa (Traditional coffee) is still a

way of life for Omanis.

© Steve Graham


Sunrise at the top of Oman on

Jebel Shams, 2,900 metres

© Steve Graham

Standing above the clouds, and

feeling on top of the world, is

easily done in Salalah.

© Oman Sail

The waterfront of Port Sultan Qaboos

comes alive in the evenings

© Lloyd Images


The Oman Sail project is designed specifically to

contribute to the national objectives as set out by His

Majesty in the quote above. In a world of diminishing

resources our focus is on an ecologically responsible

sport, within which we will:

• Develop a National Dinghy Sailing Squad with the

aim of winning medals on the international stage.

• Undertake major ocean voyages in Oman’s boats

crewed by Omanis.

• Compete in world-renowned events in Omani boats

crewed by Omanis.

• Remain focused on Omanisation (Our organisation

is currently 67% Omani).

• Create world-class events to demonstrate the

Sultanate’s re-emergence in the field of maritime

endeavour.

• Continue to create role models to inspire the Omani

youth and project the values of the Sultanate.

• Create employment for the youth of Oman (both

directly and indirectly).

• Ensure that professional training and skills are

acquired which will allow the Sultanate’s developing

marine leisure industry to be both sustainable and

reputable.

• Create an elite National Sailing Squad which will be

formed from an all inclusive programme that spans

the Sultanate.

The personal development of individuals is key; self

discipline, striving for success, working as a team,

pride in their nation, and developing self reliance will

contribute to the Sultanate as a whole. In the future

the most important aspect is to create the solid

foundation of the sport and allowing professional

skills to be made available to Omanis by Omanis.

The next five years of Oman Sail have been

meticulously planned to ensure that goals are met

and the cornerstones of Oman Sail’s existence are

met, if not surpassed.

CROSSING OCEANS

Assembled in Salalah in the summer of 2009, the

Arabian 100 is one of the largest race yachts to be

built that year and includes leading edge technology

and the communication capabilities for the crew to

broadcast live TV from anywhere in the world. By

2015 Oman Sail’s aim is to host a privately owned

fleet of these boats in Muscat as part of an Indian

Ocean race circuit.

The boat is designed to sail with a minimum

50% Omani crew.


Majan will trace out this new course taking the big

dive south for a giant tour of the Indian Ocean Capes

facing the challenges of all the combined might of the

Southern and Indian Ocean. See also page 46.

Route du Rhum

The Route du Rhum is a transatlantic single-handed

yacht race, which takes places every 4 years in

November. The course is between Saint Malo,

Brittany, France and Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe.

There is a maximum of 60 boats competing in 4

categories, one of which, ORMA, is for multihulls and

the category in which Majan would compete.

OFFSHORE

As the main training element of the Omani offshore

racing crew, this programme is about giving

trainees extended time on the water and includes

participation in events such as:

The Clipper Round the World Race. This biennial

race gives the opportunity to join and complete a lap

of the planet. The race takes 9 months to complete

and is an excellent way to learn how to live and work

as part of an international offshore crew.

Tour de France à la Voile. This is one of Europe’s

most respected team sailing challenges.

During this gruelling month-long annual event

the crews will be competing against a mix of

professionals and amateurs and will give first-hand

experience of intensive level racing in a matched

fleet of boats. This is a race format Oman Sail will

be looking to replicate for visiting teams around the

coast of Oman by 2011.

ELITE INSHORE

Racing Extreme 40s is the most exciting discipline

of the sport at the moment. It attracts top class

sailors, global media and hundreds of thousands of

spectators.

It has already proved to be an excellent means of

projecting the image of the Sultanate worldwide by

“RELEASE THE OMANI CITIZEN’S CREATIVE ENERGIES, BRING OUT HIS LATENT POTENTIALS, DEVELOP HIS TALENTS AND SKILLS AND ENABLE HIM

TO MAKE A GREATER CONTRIBUTION. IN DOING SO, HE WILL BE INSPIRED BY HIS GLORIOUS HISTORY AND HIS LEGACY”

AND BEYOND

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said2010

2010 TIMELINEJANUARY

12 new recruits officially join Oman Sail as full

time trainees

FEBRUARYExtreme Sailing Series Asia final in Oman and

the start of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race

Departure of the Jewel of Muscat

MARCHInaugural School’s Regatta held by the Oman

Sailing School

APRILOman Sail relocate their head office to

The Wave, Muscat

MAYExtreme Sailing Series Europe starts with

Masirah and The Wave, Muscat taking part

JUNEOman takes part in the Tour de France à la Voile

JULYTwo Omani sailors return from sailing round the

world in Clipper Race

OCTOBERMajan takes part in the Route du Rhum race

NOVEMBERExtreme Sailing Series Asia 2010 starts

DECEMBEROman Sail competes in the Laser and Hobie 16

classes in the Asian Beach Games, Muscat

increasing awareness of the Sultanate. We will have

at least one Omani competing within this top level

arena throughout Europe, Asia and Arabia.

DINGHY

All famous yachtsmen and yachtswomen start their

sailing careers in dinghies.

Every sailing nation that breeds successful sailors

has a nationwide inclusive (but not elitist) dinghy

programme – so will Oman.

To develop the best Omani racing sailors

capable of competing at the highest international

standard, Oman Sail will both race and organise a

variety of inshore events. On behalf of the Ministry

of Sports Affairs, Oman Sail will be running national

dinghy events and training crews in preparation for

competing in the Muscat Asian Beach Games in

November 2010.

64

© In

gm

ar

Jen

se

© M

ark

Cov

ell

© In

gm

ar

Jen

se

© B

.Sti

chel

ba

ut

© J

MLi

ot


Route Du Rhum

The Clipper Round the World Race

Extreme Sailing Series Asia and Europe

Tour de France à la Voile

Dinghy Programme

© O

ma

n S

ail

6 52 0 1 0 A N D B E Y O N D

Foreword by Her Excellency

Dr. Rajiha bint Abdulameer bin Ali

Minister of Tourism

and Chairman of Oman Sail LLC

AHLAN WA SAHLAN to this latest edition of the Oman Sail

campaign magazine.

The overarching theme of the campaign is reigniting the

Sultanate’s rich and varied maritime heritage. It is a journey

from the past, through the present and into a challenging

future. Above all it is a story of achievement: young Omanis,

male and female are now learning to sail.

Mohsin al Busaidi, an Omani, has become the first Arab

to sail non-stop around the world, starting and finishing in

Muscat.

We have achieved a whole series of first places at

the highest reaches of competitive sailing on the Extreme

40 circuit: 1st in the Round the Island Race in the United

Kingdom, 1st in the iShares Cup in Europe and 1st place in the

first two events of the new Asian Extreme Sailing Series in

Hong Kong and Singapore leading, we hope, to an overall win

to be decided in February in Muscat.

The assembly of a 105-foot giant trimaran in our

southernmost port of Salalah is another massive milestone

for Oman. Named Majan, after the ancient name for Oman,

this trimaran has already conducted her maiden voyage

around the Arabian Gulf and in February sets out to establish

a new route in the Indian Ocean.

The team has also achieved success in dinghies in both

national and international competitions.

Oman Sail is providing professional support to the Jewel

of Muscat, a replica 9th Century hand sewn ship that has

been built in Muscat, clearly demonstrating how the past,

present and future are intertwined throughout the project.

Ahmed Al Maamari and Abdullah Al Busaidi are even now

facing the extreme challenges of the world’s oceans in the

demanding Clipper Round the World Race and will return in

July after 10 months of sailing.

The story so far is of a string of remarkable successes.

The future holds even more exciting challenges to be faced

by Omanis for the Sultanate, none more so than the target of

teaching 30,000 Omanis to sail by the end of 2015.

In these pages we tell a story of achievement and

challenges that have already won international recognition

and respect. I believe that these should be a source of

deep pride for all Omanis and, once again, reflect the wise

leadership and vision of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Please reflect for a moment on the effort, dedication

and courage demonstrated by Omanis illustrated in this

magazine. I trust you will be as impressed as I am in the

ambition and fortitude displayed and share these national

achievements with pride.

2

2N

D

ED

IT

IO

N

-

JA

NU

AR

Y

20

10

RE

IG

NI

TI

NG

M

AR

IT

IM

E

HE

RI

TA

GE

T H E O F F I C I A L C A M P A I G N M A G A Z I N E 2 n d E D I T I O N

R E I G N I T I N G M A R I T I M E H E R I T A G E

www.omansail.com

official campaign magazine for oman sail

Documents