Tenzor Team claims victory in Leg 1 of J/70 Middle East Cup 2026/2027
by Olga Zvyagina 14 Sep 08:24 PDT
10-13 September 2026
The opening event of the brand-new J/70 Middle East Cup 2026/2027 Series supported by SARF was successfully held in RYC Marina of Ras Al Kaimah, UAE from 10 to 13 of September and characterized by hot conditions and light to moderate breezes of around 8-10 knots, putting the crews to the test throughout the racing.
The first racing day saw two races in light winds of about 5 knots. Litmus7 skippered by Abhimanyu Panwar and Tenzor Team led by Andrei Pushkin engaged in a tight battle at the top, with the Indian crew holding the early advantage. Special Tack Force, helmed by Dmitry Berezin, consistently showed in the top three.
The second racing day provided more intensity on the water, with stable 8-10 knot breeze allowing four races to be sailed. Tenzor Team moved confidently into the lead, winning all four races. The fight between Litmus7 and Special Tack Force remained close, with the crews alternating positions in the top three and separated by just one point after six races.
Final race day offered moderate wind conditions and Tenzor Team ultimately dominated on the race course, taking nine wins from the ten races sailed and finishing nine points clear of the runners-up.
Litmus7 Team with talented Indian crew helmed by Abhimanyu Panwar kept position and finished second. The final step of the podium went to Special Tack Force led by Dmitry Berezin who fought till the end with only 3 points behind the closest rival.
Fourth and fifth places went to the two teams representing the United Arab Emirates. Just outside the podium, UAE Girls finished fourth, helmed by Dhuha Albeshr. Fifth place went to UAE Boys, led by Sultan Alowais.
For experienced in Olympic classes sailors from the UAE the J/70 keelboats was a new experience in both technique and teamwork. They adapted well and stayed close to the leading trio. In one race, the women's team finished third, a result that proved highly inspiring.
Daniil Odintsov, tactician, Tenzor Team: "Totally for regatta we sailed ten races, with two discards. It was interesting to watch the fight for second place because the teams were very close, with tight mark roundings and plenty of situations. In the end, the Indian team won that small duel. Overall, the regatta was held in very good conditions — two days of good working breeze and short, dynamic races. Every evening there was a on shore program and an excellent prize-giving, with officials from the UAE Sailing Federation attending. Everyone was happy, exchanged small gifts, caps and T-shirts. The atmosphere between participants was very friendly as well as with race officials. Huge thanks to the organizers. I hope more teams will join the next stage and that the Series will grow. We are looking forward to the next stage and other stages in other cities and countries of Middle East".
Abhimanyu Panwar, helmsman, Litmus7 Team: "Yes, it is the first time we were racing at this venue and it is a first for me to race in the UAE. The Marina is great and in coming time it will be one of the best places to sail. The weather was hot, so that is a challenge, but overall a great venue to race. It was a great racing experience. The conditions were good and challenging for us. The competition with rivals was nervous; it was very close racing, especially with the Tenzor team and with Special Tack Force. We learned a lot from them. The UAE teams gave us good racing spirit and made it interesting to race in one fleet".
Mohamed Alobeidli, Secretary General, UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation: "We were really privileged to host this event in the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah. It's definitely a good addition to our efforts in expanding the different sailing classes within the UAE ecosystem. It's nice to have the keelboat experience for our UAE nationals. We look forward to having more athletes join the upcoming rounds and we wish all the success for this competition."
The J/70 Middle East Cup represents an important strategic expansion of the international network of yacht clubs within the Tenzor Sailing Club organization. Alongside providing high-level competition, the project aims to promote the development of sailing throughout the Middle East and serve as a springboard for further international J/70 championships in the region.
The next event will once again take place in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, with Stage 2 scheduled for October 8-11, 2026.
Overall Results:
1. Tenzor Team 8pts
2. Litmus7 Team 17pts
3. Special Tack Force 20pts
4. UAE Girls 30pts
5. UAE Boys 38pts