Volvo Ocean Race - No looking back for Abu Dhabi's Khalid

by Volvo Ocean Race on 1 Oct 2011 Volvo Ocean Race starts from Alicante, Spain next month. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s youngest sailor Adil Khalid will leave his wife and three-month-old son to become the first Emirati to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race, but he says his wife doesn’t mind.

'She’s happy, everyone dreams about having a husband who is a sailor or football player or a famous guy in the country,’’ he said.

The 22-year-old Laser class Olympian has been busy learning the ropes of a Volvo Open 70 since Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing launched Azzam in July.

Sea sickness, an aversion to freeze-dried food and a rigorous training regime have made the transition anything but smooth, but Khalid’s innate determination is pulling him through.

'For the guys on board they have been through this sort of thing before but for me it is totally new,’’ he said on arrival in Alicante, Spain today.

'You need to keep pushing yourself physically and saying to yourself ‘I have to do it, I’m here, I cannot look back, I should keep going for it because I’ve done it before and I can do it now.'

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing skipper Ian Walker said Khalid and Emirati reserve member Butti Ahmed Al Muhairi were developing well, with the pair finding their sea legs and improving their English.

Improving the men’s offshore sailing ability has been the top priority, with Walker alternating the pair on board Azzam during training to ensure they are both prepared to step up at any moment.

'We’re very conscious that we need to keep bringing both of them along because it’s a long race and both of them might be needed. Both of them have their own attributes so we’ll see who makes the cut,’’ he said.

'They’re not going to be like someone who has been yacht racing for 20 years, but then you wouldn’t expect them to be. So long as they’re learning fast, putting a lot of effort in, then they’ll be valuable members of the team.’’

Al Muhairi, 27, said training every day at the team's base in Cascais, Portugal during past weeks had helped him ease in to life on board a Volvo Open 70.

He said he was now managing to keep sea sickness at bay, but was still struggling with having his sleep interrupted by sail changes, tacks and gybe.

However, he is hopeful he will still succeed in achieving his dream to sail a Volvo Ocean Race.
'It’s fun to sail with the most professional people in the world,’’ he said. 'I hope I’m going to be there at some point, that’s my dream.’’

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing have joined Team Telefónica, Team Sanya, Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand and Groupama sailing team in Alicante. Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg Propulsion is expected by the end of the week, ahead of the first In-Port Race on October Volvo Ocean Race website