Sail the Gulf Regatta Day 4

by Icarus Sailing on 7 Feb 2015 On the penultimate day of Sail the Gulf Regatta a super day of breeze was forecast for both race courses, so sailors were anticipating a full day of racing action in stunning conditions.

Before racing, sailors took time for a spot of sight-seeing. A fascinating city, thought-provoking and more than a little unusual, Doha combines desert landscapes with an evolving futuristic skyline. And, more money than anywhere in the world. Doha is a city on the move, determined to become a tourist hub. Home to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Doha’s pace of change is also reflected in sports.

Back on the racecourse and with the breeze up, the conditions stretched the sailors, pushing them to their limits. The pace of racing stepped up, not just due to the weather, but as sailors homed on in on consolidating their scorelines, and the Race Committee packed the races in to get back on schedule. The choppy sea gave a chance to the heavier and more experienced athletes to shine and climb up the leaderboard, as the weather conditions gave them the upper hand.

Endurance and a skillful performance are key for optimum results. India’s Chitresh Tatha has scored three wins from six races in the Optimist – a notably consistent and super talented young sailor. Today, Saif Al-Mansoury from the United Arab Emirates lost some ground in his pursuit for gold, but, with just a five point gap to Tatha, is ready to attack tomorrow. A great day for Qatar’s Abdulrhman A-Nasr who scored a second in the opening race, evidence of his potential, and proving that he and his team are on course to become the region’s future sailing stars.

In the Laser Radial, Pakistan’s Najeeb Ullah took back to back wins. His best day so far, to claim the lead over the UAE’s Saeed Al–Zaidi who sits just one point behind.

In the Laser 4.7, the UAE’s Hamza Al Ali led the fleet in the opening legs, but both he and Saoud Al Naar from Bahrain had difficulty with the wind. But he still leads overall.

In the 470, the battle for the gold is well and truly on. Six races down and a tiebreak at the top again. India’s Praveen Prabhakar and Vishnu Sujeesh are on an equal 10 points with Duarte Monteiro and Adeel Khan. Sitting just one point behind are Pakistan’s Muhammad Akram Tariq and Khalid Hussain. All too close to call.

Saturday’s final day of racing has come all too quickly. The results of the remaining races will shape the podium standings. Join us again for the exciting finale!'