Muscat, The Young Omani sailors have shown
their emerging skills and abilities racing against world-class
competition at two international championship regattas, producing their
best ever results at each event.
In an intensive period of back-to-back events a four-strong Oman
Sail youth team raced at the 2018 Optimist Asian and Oceanic
Championship held in Myanmar in mid-November, quickly followed by
last week’s Optimist African Championship.
At the most recent event in Maputo Bay, Mozambique, the team’s
strength in depth was evident as all four Omani sailors finishing in the
top third of the 66-strong fleet, while Mohammed Al Qasmi claimed a
place on the championship podium.
He took a race win and two other top-three places to finish third
overall. Nibras Al Awaisi ended the regatta 11th, with Saleem Al Alawi
17th and Jihad Al Hasani 22nd.
Earlier in Myanmar, the team also demonstrated a great
determination, competing against 125 sailors from 15 other nations at
the major regional event held at the Ngwe Saung Yacht Club.
In producing their best ever results at the annual championship
three of the squad qualified to race in the top Gold Fleet, while the
whole team beat Japan in the Team Racing event before going out to
world team race champions Thailand.
Al Qasmi led the way, finishing an impressive 11th in the 65-strong
Gold Fleet after posting five top-10 finishes, one a second place.
Al Alawi finished 29th and Al Hasani 31st in the same fleet, while Al
Awaisi took 28th place in the 64-strong Silver Fleet, signing off with a
win in the final race.
With every event our young sailors show they are learning and
gaining experience, said Mohsin Al Busaidi, Oman Sail’s Youth Sailing
Development Manager.
At the same time they are able to produce better and better results
that show that their hard work, as well as the commitment and
dedication of their coaches, has been worthwhile.
World-class racing sailors do not appear overnight, but the Optimist
youth team have shown they are on the right course for success. In an
intensive season they are getting faster and faster, and they are getting
smarter as well with their tactics and preparation.
The Asian event concluded with the flag ceremony, where the host
team from Myanmar passed the flag to Oman, next year’s host nation.
The 2019 Optimist Asian and Oceanic Championship to start at
Mussanah Sport City in late September, for the first time in the
Sultanate.
Source: Oman News Agency