EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour – Challenging racing in shifty wind

by Oman Sail on 17 Feb 2016 French sailing star Sidney Gavignet today responded to the early challenge from young rival Marcel Herrera as EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour saw its second round of thrilling inshore racing unfold in front of Abu Dhabi’s majestic Emirates Palace Hotel.

Riled by the domination of Herrera's British Team Averda in the opening Dubai In-Port Race Series on Monday and leg one from Dubai to Abu Dhabi that finished overnight, Gavignet's EFG Bank Monaco clawed back vital points with a solid performance in the Abu Dhabi In-Port Race series.

EFG Bank Monaco made their intentions clear as soon as the first of the day's four races started, leading from start to finish.

They followed up with a runner-up place in race two behind Omani team Al Mouj, Muscat.

With four races being held the race committee ruled that crews would be able to discount their worst result of the day – a sixth in the case of EFG Bank Monaco.

They rallied for the final race of the day, posting another second place finish to take second place overall in the Abu Dhabi In-Port Race series behind Nicolas Lunven's Omani crew Al Mouj, Muscat.

Crucially EFG Bank Monaco's results – better than the 4, 4, 5, 6 that Team Averda scored – move them into first place on the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour overall leaderboard.

“Today saw great racing in a very challenging, shifty wind,” said Gavignet, who has won the previous two editions of EFG SATT.

“It shows again how compact this fleet is, and how any mistake can be costly. On EFG Bank Monaco we had good team work which allowed Fabien Delahay, our tactician/navigator, to get the best out of the conditions.

“It is important to always be improving in this event, and this is certainly our case. We are still at the beginning of the race. It is important to be consistent all the way without making a big mistake that would be hard to recover from.”

German-born Herrera, whose British crew is made up of students from the University of Plymouth, said he had not intended on letting Gavignet back into contention for a third title.

“The overall standings just got a bit tighter which is great for the event but not as good for us,” he said.

“We're expecting light upwind conditions for the next leg so it's going to be a real challenge.”

The teams have precious little time to rest and recuperate before they embark on their second offshore challenge – a gruelling 160nm leg from Abu Dhabi to Qatari capital Doha starting tomorrow (Thursday).

Leg one from Dubai to Abu Dhabi saw the teams race 61nm in light northerly winds on Tuesday.

Team Averda claimed victory in the leg, adding to the win in the Dubai In-Port Race series.

EFG Bank Monaco were just minutes behind them after a hard-fought battle with the Brits, while Team Zain scored a third on the opening leg.

Leg two will be the biggest test yet for the nine crews as they do battle across the Arabian Gulf.

With winds forecast to be light – around 10 knots from the north east – it is expected the stage will take around 36 hours to complete.

Results of the Abu Dhabi In-Port Race series:

Al Mouj, Muscat (OMA/Nicolas Lunven)
EFG Bank Monaco (MON/Sidney Gavignet)
Team Zain (KWT/Cedric Pouligny)
Team Bienne Voile (SUI/Lorenz Mueller)
Team Averda (GBR/Marcel Herrera)
TU Delft Challenge (NED/Wouter Sonnema)
Renaissance Services (OMA/Fahad Al Hasni)
Oman Airports-Al Thuraya Women's Team (OMA/Dee Caffari)
Team Mangold (GER/Martin Felgenhauer)

Results of Leg one Dubai-Abu Dhabi:

Team Averda (GBR/Marcel Herrera)
EFG Bank Monaco (MON/Sidney Gavignet)
Team Zain (KWT/Cedric Pouligny)
Renaissance Services (OMA/Fahad Al Hasni)
TU Delft Challenge (NED/Wouter Sonnema)
Al Mouj, Muscat (OMA/Nicolas Lunven)
Team Bienne Voile (SUI/Lorenz Mueller)
Oman Airports-Al Thuraya Women's Team (OMA/Dee Caffari)
Team Mangold (GER/Martin Felgenhauer)

Overall standings:

EFG Bank Monaco (MON/Sidney Gavignet)
Team Averda (GBR/Marcel Herrera)
Team Zain (KWT/Cedric Pouligny)
Al Mouj, Muscat (OMA/Nicolas Lunven)
TU Delft Challenge (NED/Wouter Sonnema)
Renaissance Services (OMA/Fahad Al Hasni)
Team Bienne Voile (SUI/Lorenz Mueller)
Oman Airports-Al Thuraya Women's Team (OMA/Dee Caffari)
Team Mangold (GER/Martin Felgenhauer)