Sail the Gulf Day 5 - Pressure on for podium challengers + Video

by Icarus Sailing Media on 9 Feb 2015 On the ultimate day of Sail the Gulf Regatta 2015 in Doha, Qatar the pressure was on for the podium challengers. Determination and focus were etched all over sailors’ faces as they checked equipment ahead of launching and heading out to the race track on medal deciding day. Who would stand on the podium at the close of play?

A steady 13 knot breeze from the southwest powered the fleet as they went in to do battle in the final 3 scheduled races. Challenging conditions, as the breeze steadily dropped, and sailors had to hunt out the puffs and pressure. Finishing orders changed and the leaderboard shuffled up.

In the Optimist class, there was an intense battle between India’s Chitresh Tatha and the United Arab Emirates’ Saif Al-mansoury. As the only sailor in with a chance of catching Tatha, Al-Mansoury did everything possible to close the points difference. With wins in the bag from the first 2 races, he held a 1 point advantage over Tatha going into the final race. But, a fourth place finish was simply not enough, compared to Tatha’s second place. So, Gold to India, Silver to the United Arab Emirates and bronze to India’s Navyn Prabhakar.

A tight finish unfolded in the Laser 4.7 too. Only 3 points separated first to third place. The United Aram Emirates Hamza Al Ali held tight onto his lead that he had claimed from day 1, leaving Bahrain’s Saoud Al Naar in second and Qatar’s Abdurrahman Al Jinah in third.

In the 470, an easy win for Pakistan’s Muhammad Akram Tariq and crew Khalid Hussain. The pair won every race of the day in a show of perfect form when the pressure is on. Gold to Pakistan, India’s Praveen Prabhakar and Vishnu Sujeesh in second, with Duarte Monteiro and Adeel Khan in third.

In the Laser Radial, a steady day for the United Arab Emirates’ Saeed Al Zaidi, who safely sealed gold. He left Ebrahim Showaiter from Bahrain and Pakistan’s Najeeb Ullah fighting for silver and bronze. The battle ended in tiebreak, with silver going to Showaiter as he racked up more race wins.

Oman dominated in the Laser Standard class, claiming gold and bronze, with Ahmed Al Balushi and Hussain Al Jabri respectively. Home grown talent, Waleed Al Sharshani was just one point off the gold spot, but had to be content with silver.

Finally, in the Hobie Cat 16 India’s Chinna Reddy and Yakobu Kalaga were in a league of their own. Notching up 8 wins from 9 races, they were unbeatable. Silver to Kuwait’s Nayef Al Hada and Mahammed Bastiki and bronze to Qatar’s Hassan Al Baker and Mohamed Ahmed Ismail.

The awards ceremony took place in the luxurious Grand Hyatt Hotel. Winners received their medals in an exotic and very stylish festival setting - matching the superb atmosphere and hospitality everyone has enjoyed from start to finish at this year’s Sail the Gulf Regatta.

Another showcase year for this excellent event has successfully come to an end here in Doha. Thanks for watching.'