2015 Bullitt GC32 Racing Tour - Steady start for Sultanate of Oman

by Oman Sail on 1 Aug 2015 Oman Sail’s GC32 Sultanate of Oman came up against a well-oiled Swiss machine in Alinghi on the first day of racing in the Bullitt GC32 Racing Tour in Kiel and despite an 11th hour change to his own crew, Leigh McMillan was still able to post six podium places in eight races.

Illness to Sultanate of Oman stalwart Pete Greenhalgh meant some hasty overnight adjustments to McMillan’s tried and trusted crew but luckily, Paul Campbell James, one of the Land Rover BAR America’s Cup sailors who last weekend won the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series in Portsmouth, flew in shortly before racing started to take Greenhalgh’s place.

CJ, as he is known, helmed Sultanate of Oman to victory in the recent JP Morgan Round the Island Race in England after McMillan broke his hand in the Cowes Cup but it has been more than 20 years since the pair raced on the same team.

“Over the years, Pete and I have had a lot of time together on the boat so it took time to get used to being with new crew,” admitted McMillan.

“It is the first time CJ and I have sailed together since we were nippers – we have spent most of our time racing against each other. We have had some good rivalries over the years so it is good to be on the same side of the sheet for a change!

“He is quick around the boat and very good on these foiling machines so we are getting used to the communications and fitting in around each other.”

McMillan was also supported by GC32 regulars Nasser Al Mashari, Ed Smyth and Alister Richardson and as the day progressed, despite strong gusts that exceeded 20 knots, results improved with two second places posted in the last three races to finish the day in third place, one point behind Spindrift and 13 behind leaders Alinghi.

“We were pushing hard all the time but Alinghi are very well oiled – they have their handling sorted so we have a bit of catching up to do,” McMillan said.

“It was challenging out there. The wind shifts and gusts have a massive impact on the decision making. It was a difficult course and I wasn’t making a great job of it so it was a big day of learning.”

Crewmate Nasser was upbeat about prospects for the weekend.

“We won the last couple of starts but didn’t manage to convert those into race wins but we are improving all the time so will have a good reflection on it tonight and come out again tomorrow with some good races.”

Sailing Cup Kiel which is being held on the narrow Kieler Fjord continues through to Sunday August two.