Line honours for Hannes Waimer's Atari 7 in the Dubai to Muscat Race

Line honours for Hannes Waimer's Atari 7 in the Dubai to Muscat Race © Ulas Atay / Globalist

Line honours for Hannes Waimer's Atari 7 in the Dubai to Muscat Race © Ulas Atay / Globalist

Line honours for Hannes Waimer's Atari 7 in the Dubai to Muscat Race © Ulas Atay / Globalist

While the title winner of the Dubai to Muscat Yacht race is still very much in contention, Line Honours was firmly taken by Premier Composite Technologies' Hannes Waimer, as Atari 7 was first to cross the finish line under Code zero and full main at 12:37pm, in a NE wind of 5 knots.

Hannes said "We have a core team I have been sailing with for 20 years, including on both previous Muscat races. Sadly, my brother Max was not able to join us, but it was his great idea to take the Code zero from our Farr 400. Although slightly small for our Landmark 43, it was this sail that achieved us Line Honours, having used it probably 35% of the time. The remaining factors were good weather routing and great drivers. We were also very lucky. There is always an element of luck with the wind. The team worked very hard and they are great people. Third time line honours so we are very happy, this being the second time in Atari 7." "Next we plan to take a shower. We intend to keep the boat here for a couple of weeks to enjoy the beautiful sailing waters of Muscat".

The journey for Atari 7 and the remaining boats has seen a variety of winds, from 35 knots to 0, and all have been challenged.

Hannes Waimer and the Landmark 43 retain the Line Honours title from the Dubai To Muscat 2015. Chasing Atari 7 down the Pindar Volvo 60, skippered by Tom Way, has struggled with the shifting and very light winds, and was the second boat to cross the finish line at 18.05.32. Tom Way, skipper, said as they arrived "It was a fantastic experience, a great eye opener for what is available for sailing in this part of the world. Highlight of the race was the crew, taking a group of individuals that had never sailed together and finished with a coherent team, and despite the wind (or lack of) we were able to show we could do the same as all the boats that have sailed together for years. Our low point of the race was the wind hole we sat in for twenty four hours, knowing that other boats were sailing around us." Said Karolina Adamczyk, Pindar guest crew from London; "Having done the Pacific race of the Clipper, this was completely different. Beautiful weather, but really the best thing was the crew."

The bulk of the fleet remain relatively tight, with Faith, a Beneteau 44.7 skippered by Francis Carr coming in third ahead of Oman Sails' Omani crewed Mumm 30, skippered by Fahad Al Hasni.

During the course of the race Water Fairy, Red Pepper, and El Saraya were forced to retire due to equipment failures, Seabiscuit and Mamite chose to retire due to the lack of wind.

The majority of the pack had, through the night, been pushed back up the course by tide and lack of wind, before seeing a return of winds in the region of 5 knots, enabling them make headway once again.

Speaking with some of the crew, including reporter Richard Boullemeir, on board Magic for ARN; "Although there is the frustration, they also have had the opportunity to see shooting stars, dolphins, sea snakes. Plus, it's a great opportunity to get jobs done on the boat."

The remaining boats are headed into Al Mouj and very much still racing, the race still very much yet to be decided under IRC rules.

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