Sailing Arabia 2015 unveils new 'reversed' route with UAE stopovers

by Sport360 on 26 Jan 2015 An all new format and route is set to provide the teams of 'EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour' (SATT) a fresh challenge in 2015 as the appeal of the Gulf region’s leading offshore race is set to grow further. The event takes place 15-28 February, with practice races taking place from 8 February.

SATT 2015 will see a radical change to the 700nm route around the Arabian Peninsula as the introduction of training sessions and a new starting point create a more demanding challenge for sailors in the form of strong and sustained headwinds in the early stages. UAE sailing enthusiasts and those new to the sport alike can play witness to the excitement first hand on February 19 when the boats arrive into Al Hamra Marina and Yacht Club, Ras Al Khaimah before heading to Dubai where teams will take part in a thrilling in-port race.

Schedule:
- Leg 1 – 15 February, Muscat-Sohar
- Leg 2 – 17 February, Sohar – Ras Al Khaimah
- Leg 3 – 19 February, Ras Al Khaimah - Dubai
- Leg 4 – 23 February, Dubai - Abu Dhabi
- Leg 5 – 24 February, Abu Dhabi – Doha
- Leg 6 – 26 February, Doha - Manama

Since EFG SATT first launched in 2011, the fleet has crossed the start line in the Bahraini capital, Manama and finished in Oman’s capital city of Muscat, but now the route has been reversed. The One Design fleet of Farr 30s will start their campaigns at the premier waterfront development, The Wave, Muscat.

The second leg, which at 172 miles is the equivalent of 40 hours of sailing, is the longest of the event, taking the fleet around the Musandam Peninsula to Ras Al Khaimah before the boats head off on short hops to Dubai where the first of two inshore race days will be staged, then to Abu Dhabi.

The Four Seasons Marina at Doha will host the next stopover and also roll out the red carpet for guests attending the second inshore racing day on 26 February. In total, seven stopovers will showcase some of the best venues and facilities in the region.

The fleet is expected to arrive at the finish in Bahrain fourteen days after setting off, at the Amwaj Marina in Manama, Bahrain’s newest marina, where a grand prize giving ceremony will be staged to bring the 2015 event to a worthy close and the winning team will collect their trophy.

In 2014, it was Sidney Gavignet’s EFG Bank (Monaco) who took the title and his return to defend his crown is highly anticipated in 2015.

Over the next few weeks, organisers Oman Sail will reveal the line-up for the 2015 event, but already SATT has seen more entries than ever and a larger contingent from the Gulf region, and is set to attract even more sports enthusiasts than last year when new audience records were set.

'Sailing Arabia - The Tour has grown in stature over the past five years because it is a well-run event set amongst beautiful scenery that offers sailors, both professional and amateur from all over the world, the chance to train and compete in fantastic conditions during the winter,' said Oman Sail CEO David Graham.

'It has always been our aim to rekindle our mutual Gulf maritime heritage by offering a first class winter racing venue for sailors and provide an outstanding platform to grow regional talent to raise the standard of our home-grown sailors. EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour ticks all the boxes in helping us achieve our aim.'

http://sport360.com/article/watersports/31892/sailing-arabia-2015-unveils-new-reversed-challenging-route-uae-stopovers