ADOR stars snatch win in testing San Fernando Race
by ADOR Media on 25 Apr 2011
Abu Dhabi’s Adil got off to a winning start in the testing San Fernando Race Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (ADOR)
Sailing on board the TP52 ‘Freefire’, owned by Hong Kong businessman Sam Chan, the guest crew – led by Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s skipper, Ian Walker – put in an impressive performance to take line honours after a compelling wire-to-wire race, finishing in 61 hours 53 minutes – nearly an hour ahead of the chasing pack - but, due to some unusually light weather conditions, around 11 hours outside the race record.
And with just six months to go until the start of the 39,000 nautical mile, nine-month round the world Volvo Ocean Race, the San Fernando test was a timely boost for Adil and Butti, as they ready to make history as the first Emiratis to compete in this the VOR.
'To win was such an amazing feeling. This was a difficult race and we had to deal with wind issues so that was good practice. As our first competitive outing as Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team members, it was good to be able to cap it with a victory,' said 22-year-old Adil, who represented the UAE in both the Olympic and Asian Games.
And 26-year-old Butti, who was making his competitive racing debut in the Category 1 Offshore event, believes the experience of working as a team under race conditions was a big boost to their overall training preparations.
'I am so happy; I can’t wait to get back to my family and tell them all about it,' said Butti. 'I felt I managed myself a lot better and was more prepared to deal with fatigue and hunger than in previous sailing trips. Also, the fact that we were sailing with some of our team members as well as crew new to us, really helped me understand better how a team has to work together to win.'
Adil and Butti, who took on helm and trimming duties for the race with fellow Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing teammate, Paul Wilcox of South Africa, got to experience a wide range of conditions throughout the four-day event.
On day one, the 10 to 12 knot due easterly that had been recorded earlier in the day quickly built into a 20 knot breeze, which turned into a testing force six gale throughout the night. As a new day dawned, conditions in the South China Sea softened to 12 knots before dropping away completely on day three, making it increasingly difficult for the Freefire to maintain its lead, before a late gust helped Walker lead his team across the San Fernando finish line.
And with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing having to navigate a similar sprint during the Volvo Ocean Race third leg to Sanya from the UAE capital in 2012, Walker believes the entire experience could be significant to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)-backed team’s success next year.
'It was a race of two halves, upwind and very lumpy to start with, which was tough on the crew as I had them on the rail all the time. The second half was sailed in much easier conditions and overall the race was a very productive and useful experience for us,' said the double Olympic medallist.
'Adil and Butti shared trimming and other crewing roles to help broaden their experiences. They seemed to enjoy the challenge and were well received by everyone in the Philippines. This race was a great test for them and will be a watershed moment in long training process to get them ready for the Volvo Ocean Race.'
Following on from their San Fernando Race experience, Adil and Butti will complete the final stages of their training in the UK in May, when they return to industry-leading UK Sailing Academy in Southampton for offshore, navigational and race training skill workshops. They will join a residential course that is predominantly water-based coupled with the theory of navigation, preparation and safety and compete in a number of off-shore races in the English Channel.
The programme, which combines instructor training and race experience, will be critical in the progression of the history-making duo.
In addition to entering a world-class team into the Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12, Abu Dhabi is fully committed to its New Year 2012 hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race prior to the yachting fleet embarking on its third leg to Sanya, China. The emirate will be the first Middle East stopover in the event’s 37-year history.
ADTA, which was behind the emirate's successful bid to become a 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race home port and the event’s first Official Destination Partner, believes the Abu Dhabi stop-over will be a race highlight giving visitors a unique opportunity to connect with its centuries-old maritime heritage. It is also looking to its race involvement to position the emirate, which boasts a 400 kilometre coastline and over 200 natural islands, as a preferred winter sailing destination.
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