Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Second GCC Beach Games 2015 - A success story

by Icarus Sailing Media on 29 Apr 2015
GCC Beach Games - Second GCC Beach Games 2015 Qatar Olympic Committee
' The second edition of the Gulf Co-operation Council’s Beach Games took place in Doha and the highly esteemed Katara Cultural Village, the host venue for the rowing, sailing and open water swimming contests.

Beach Games is a relatively young concept on the international sporting calendar. It was created by the Olympic Council of Asia in 2008 while the Gulf Co-operation Council Beach Games was first held in Bahrain five years ago. Qatar hosts the second edition aiming to raise the profile of beach sports across the region and to assist in global growth and development of these sports.



The opening day found five teams representing Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, all ready to embark on a fierce rowing battle in Men’s double sculls class.The start saw all the teams going for it, as maximum speed was the key for success. The aim of this game is synchronization as strokes generate power, with consistency and balance all transmitting into boat speed.



The team from Kuwait pulled ahead from the start and crossed the finish line first, deserving their race win celebrations! UAE chased hard, but an unlucky moment left them in second. Bahrain put in a good performance to pick up the bronze. Right after the race all the competitors had the chance to taste Qatar’s hospitality during the medal ceremony. The winners celebrated their victory on the podium under blue skies and the warm applause of all the attendees.

The schedule of the second day includes racing the Men’s single sculls, with a great line-up representing the GCC countries: Qatar, Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.



This physically demanding race was a real workout for the hard working athletes. Power, stamina and the right pace are all required. The outstanding performance of the day was by UAE who crossed the line first in a time of two minutes and 14 seconds. Second place went to Kuwait and third to Qatar. Right after the race it was time for celebrations and podium glory for the winners. Great moments for everyone and especially for the winners as they saw their national flags rise up in Doha’s sky.

The sport of sailing is added to the action and Qatar’s Sailing Club was full of life and activity as more than 50 sailors from 6 GCC nations gathered to participate and to take their chances for the crown.

Day 1 served up three races for all classes against the dramatic backdrop of Doha’s stunning buildings. In the Laser Standard Class, the performance of the day belongs to the Waleed Al-Sharshani from Qatar who run an unbeaten series of three bullets!

There was some great racing action in the Optimist class - as the fleet surged off the start line trying to claim the early lead. All the boats were packed together, ensuring exciting mark roundings, and one on one boat battles.

Doha is taking an active role in the sailing calendar by hosting numerous events and offering exceptional hospitality to all athletes. Due to its supreme weather conditions and excellent organization level, the Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation is seeing a constant development in sailing.

Out on the race course light to medium winds set in to serve another full day with three races.

In the Laser Standard Class Waleed Al-Sharshani from Qatar was determined to continue his run of wins in this competition, and he had another excellent day scoring two bullets and a third, keeping his pole position over Abdulla from Bahrain.



In the Laser Radial class another Qatari sailor has the lead as Faris AL Bakri with solid performance so far rules the waves with Saeed Al Zaidi from the UAE and Dawood Al Sadiq from Bahrain looking for chances to counter-attack.

In Laser 4.7 Khamis Al Wahaibi from Oman keeps the overall lead with Saou Al Naar from Bahrain taking advantage of the lighter winds to outfox Abdulrahman Ajinah from Qatar from the second place.

Another great day’s racing in the Optimist class let the youngsters test their skills. In the game of chasing the favorable side, the team from Oman showed its expertise with Zakarixa Al Wahabi and Marwan Al Jabri taking the two top places overall.

The penultimate day the second edition of the GCC Beach Games signals the final day for the sport of sailing, so all the sailors are focused on putting in a good result in the last three races.

Out on the race track, the Optimist sailors were eager to make the best of the last races so the fleet was tighter than usual. Mahmoud Al Hammadi from the UAE was fast enough to gain two places on the leaderboard to secure the bronze, while two Omani sailors took the tops spots, Zakarixa Al Wahabi (gold) and Marwan Al Jabri (silver).

In the Laser Radial Class in a last minute attempt for glory Dawood Al Sadiq from Bahrain scored a bullet and a second to secure the gold. The silver went to Qatar and Faris Al Bakri who lost the gold in the final race.



In the laser standard, Waleed Al-Sharshani had no problem continuing his good performance to secure the gold medal for the Qatari team.

In the Laser 4.7 gold went to Khamis Al Wahabi from Oman, silver to Saou Al Naar from Bahrain and bronze to Hamza Al Ali from the UAE.

All the winners enjoyed the sound of applause during the medal awards. Big smiles for all the GCC athletes who enjoyed a great competition along with some unique Qatari hospitality.



During the ultimate day of the second GCC Beach Games, the action stays close to the source of life, water, as the racing schedule includes the 10K open water swimming contest.

The 10-kilometer open water marathon was included in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and has seen a tremendous development in the GCC region.

In terms of racing techniques, the competitors employ the crawl stroke. Pacing is critical for performance. Athletes need to assess their strengths in relation to the race distance and to keep their energy mentally and physically till the end. The body is working hard in extraordinary rhythms in a tough environment, which actually dehydrates the athletes. It’s a hard game.

After four laps out on the race track, it was time for a dramatic photo finish with Mohammed Al Habsi from Oman securing the gold by just one second.

But no matter the result all the athletes deserved the warm applause for their attempts after the exhausting race. Thrilling moments for the winners during the medal ceremony who were happy to step up on the podium.

The second GCC Beach Games was a success story due the exceptional organization in all the disciplines of this multi-sport event. The Athletes renewed their friendships and are looking forward to another memorial event. Thanks for watching!'



Vetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTERHenri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER

Related Articles

Oliver Heer confirms 2028 Vendée Globe ambition
The Swiss skipper aims to return for the 2028 edition of the legendary solo race with a newer boat After completing the Vendée Globe 2024 on his first attempt, Oliver Heer, the Swiss-German skipper of Tut gut Sailing, has confirmed his intention to return for the 2028 edition of the legendary solo race.
Posted today at 8:18 am
SailingFast to provide unrivalled event support
During the WASZP Games at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy SailingFast UK is set to land in Weymouth on the 8th of July and will be on-site until the 26th of July to provide the GOLD STANDARD in event support.
Posted today at 7:00 am
2025 29er Europeans at Lake Garda Opening Ceremony
More than 500 sailors paraded through the Riva del Garda's beautiful streets The 2025 29er European Championship officially opened today in stunning Riva del Garda, hosted by Fraglia Vela Riva. More than 500 sailors paraded through the city's beautiful streets in a colorful, high-energy opening ceremony.
Posted on 2 Jul
The power of tech
What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it? What is the cost of safety? How do you measure it? More importantly, how do you appreciate it?
Posted on 2 Jul
Stay, play and save at the 2025 Sydney Boat Show
The ultimate indoor boating experience will take over Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park The ultimate indoor boating experience, Sydney Boat Show, will take over Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park from 14 to 17 August for the first time.
Posted on 2 Jul
Jazz Turner Faces Everything and Rises
Non-stop, solo, unassisted British Isles navigation has captivated sailors & non-sailors alike Jazz Turner's Project FEAR, her non-stop, solo, unassisted navigation of the British Isles in her Albin Vega 27ft yacht has captivated sailors and non-sailors alike.
Posted on 2 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D3
Surprise exits in Marstrand as Quarter-Finalists decided The qualifying round-robin stages at GKSS Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand finished today with the surprise departure of defending champion USA's Chris Poole/ Riptide Racing and Switzerland's Eric Monnin/ Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team from the Open Class.
Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais Day 1
Sled sparkle in Cascais' Atlantic surf to lead After seemingly being starved of boisterous top end conditions for some years now Okura's Sled crew have been relishing a return to big breezes and big waves.
Posted on 2 Jul
Freestyle Pro Tour Paros overall
The Meltemi winds once again set the stage for the final day As the riders gathered at the event site of the 2025 FPT Paros for one last time and the Meltemi winds once again began blowing strong, the stage for the final day of the event was set.
Posted on 2 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race: Offshore classics set to race
IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it IRC Zero has a rich seam of ocean-going history running through it. While French round the world race legend Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (aka VDH) isn't competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race, two of his former steeds will be on the IRC Zero start line.
Posted on 2 Jul