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20.11.11

Young champions emerge at Oman Sail Inter-School Sailing Championship

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Under clear blue skies on the glittering waters of the Sea of Oman with perfect wind conditions to fill their sails, some of the youngest sailors in Oman competed yesterday at the Mussanah Sports City in the Inter-School Sailing Championship.

Participants represented 13 schools including From Muscat: Al Bustan, Al Zahra, Al Saidiya, Rashid bin Al Nadher, Yeti, Royal Guard of Oman Technical College.
And from Mussanah: Dora Al Hashmiya, Kaab bin Soor, Asaad bin Zarara, A’Salt bin Malik, Al Khaleel bin Ahmed Al Farahidi, Al Noman bin Bashir and Said bin Mahraz schools.
Top overall honours went to Al Bustan school, a girl’s school who racked up the most points in all the races with their students Maryam Al Jabri and Um Khalthom Al Jabri coming in first and second respectively in the girls category - third place went to Samar Al Busaidi of Al Zahra. For the boys the first place went to Omar Al Harthy of Royal Guard of Oman Technical College while Meshal Darwish of came in second and Bashar Al Jabri of Rashid bin Al Nadher came in third.

The trophies and medals were presented by the guest of honour, H E Madiha Al Shibania, Minister of Education and the ceremony was graced by the presence of
H E Maitha Al Mahrooqi, Undersecretary of Tourism and H E Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Mamari, Wali of Al Mussanah.

Commenting on the successful participation by the girls, Sakina Al Harthy, the principal of Al Zahra school said “The girls have really taken well to the sport. Sailing is not only a sport of fun but we have seen a significant development in our students learning skills and abilities. Sailing helps build their character and teaches them a lot about teamwork and problem solving. I always encourage the students and even the tutors in our school to learn sailing and today we can all see how much the girls have improved the sailing skills and have become a serious challenge for the boys” Al Harthy was also honoured during the ceremony for her support and crucial role in activating the female students’ participation in the Community Sailing Program.

In his speech at the prize giving ceremony, David Graham, Oman Sail’s CEO said, “Oman Sail’s core objective is to contribute to the development of young Omanis by inspiring, training and mentoring young Omani boys and girls both individually and as teams, both on and off the water.” With reference to Oman Sail’s highly successful training programme which aims to teach 30,000 Omanis to sail by the year 2015, David said, “Some of them used their newly acquired skills racing on the water today and what marvellous sight it was.”

While the sailing action was taking place on the water, on shore over 100 children took part in Oman Sail’s ‘Sail with Colours’ contest creating vibrant designs for the sail of an RS Q’BA boat.
The contest was launched in October and spectators at today’s championships were invited to create their designs while their schoolmates are battling it out on the water.
The grand prize of the colouring contese is winning an RS Q’BA boat and a qualification from Oman Sail in sailing. The contest is open until December 16 and entries can be submitted through Oman Sail’s Facebook page.

Results
Top male sailors:
1st place: Omar Al Harthy – From Royal Guard of Oman Technical College, 28 points
2nd place: Meshal Darwish – From A’Salt bin Malik school, 28 points
3rd place: Bashar Al Jabri – from Rashid bin Al Nadher school , 33 points

Top female sailors:
1st place: Maryam Al Jabri – From Bustan School, 54 points
2nd place : Um Khalthom Al Jabri – From Bustan School, 56
3rd place: Samar Al Busaidi – From Al Bustan School, 57

Championship Trophy: Al Bustan School