Dubai-Muscat Race starts today

by Gulfnews.com on 18 Jan 2008 The Duboats Yacht Racing Team, winner of the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Races, is once again intent on striking a bold vision in this year's Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race which starts today (Friday).

The team will be led by skipper/ navigator, French yachtsman Christophe Vanek, and co skipper Yousef Bin Lahej from the UAE.
The team will be racing a Beneteau First 34.7, awarded the 'Best Sailing Yacht in the Middle East' title at the inaugural Arabian Gulf Yachting Awards 2007 and named AGMC BMW after its sponsors AGMC, the exclusive importer of BMW, BMW Alpina, MINI and Rolls-Royce in Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, and BMW Group Middle East.

Vanek, aged 42, is one of the most talented and experienced sailors in the UAE with several years of marine practice and sailing stature behind him. He has not only three America's Cup campaigns under his belt, he has also won the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race three times in the past, as well as many other races. In addition, Christophe Vanek was named 'Person of the Year” at the inaugural Arabian Gulf Yachting Awards 2007 for his contribution to the sailing in the Middle East.

Bin Lahej, 27, is the only Emirati skipper to enter the race and is undoubtedly the best local sailor in the GCC. He has been with the Duboats team for 2 years now and is the first UAE national to qualify for the Olympic Games. Bin Lahej is also the first UAE national to win an international sailing event, the Al Bareh International Regatta in Bahrain.

Vanek and Bin Lahej joined forces two years ago and have proved to be a winning team ever since. 'We are very excited to participate again in the Dubai-Muscat Sailing Race” says Vanek. “Sharing the skippering role with Yousef is a great experience, especially on such an exciting race,' he added.

The seven-man crew of Duboats AGMC BMW includes many sailors from around the world. Over the past years the Duboats team has established itself as a leading stable in the fast growing yacht racing world and has consistently proved the capabilities and successes of its Beneteau yachts. With such experience and its great combination of skill, youth and talent, the Duboats team has all the ingredients to finish on the podium when the race ends in Muscat.

The Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race is a classic passage event covering 360 nautical miles, taking the boats from the relatively shallow waters of the Arabian Gulf to the deep waters of the Indian Ocean, passing through the famous Straits of Hormuz.

Full story at www.gulfnews.com/sport/Sailing/10182826.html