The first day of Musssanah Race Week concludes with participants having spent the day with their coaches to learn practical and theoretical elements of sailing to win.
It was an early start for the 165 sailors and six coaches yesterday (12 March) as the first day or Mussanah Race Week started under blue skies. Oman Sail’s Mussanah Marina was buzzing with excitement as the sailors of all levels and all nationalities signed up for the Hobie 16 catamaran or one-man Laser class sessions.
The sessions were held in classrooms overlooking the marina and were structured to account for al level of sailors. With first-hand accounts from the professional coaches, the sailors started to learn their winning ways before a lunch break and more sessions in the afternoon.
Nick Thompson is one of the Laser coaches who has come to Oman from Britain, bringing with him expertise from winning medals as well as world championships in what is arguably one of the hardest sailing classes in the world. ‘For Oman Sail to organize events such as this in Oman, a country with almost 3,000 km’s of stunning coastline, is a fantastic thing that can only lead to bigger and better things. Mussanah Race Week positions Oman among the countries where sailing is a part of life. The Omani sailors I have been coaching this week are very close to the sea, you can hear and see the respect they have for it. This week will play a big role in training and developing not only the sailors from Oman, but also those who have come from further afield. Learning how to optimize boat handling and engaging tactics will give each and every one of them a better chance of success in major events such as the Olympics.’
One of the Hobie 16 coaches is the Dutch sailor, Coen de Koning, who matches Nick Thompson in expertise and skill, shown in the number of medals and world championships he already has. ‘It is well known that the best way of giving people success is by giving them the tools to succeed. During Mussanah Race Week we give the sailors the tools of skills and tactics that will give them the added advantage on the racecourse. The theoretical lessons we are giving them today and tomorrow will combine with the practical lessons they learn on the water at the end of the week. From here they can develop into successful sailors, hopefully with the chance to have a successful career in sailboat racing. I have been overwhelmed with the level of interaction I have seen and the enthusiasm to learn from each and every one of them.”
Long time partners of Oman Sail and supporters of the national sailing team, Thales, have continued their support of Mussanah Race Week through evolving the caliber of coaches and giving all sailors the opportunity to develop their skills and discipline. Thales is also committed to the progress of young Omanis in the sailing discipline and contributing to providing the highest standard of training and coaching that adds great value to the youth of the country.
Tomorrow (14 March) sees the first day of racing and the opportunity for everyone to test out what they have learned from the coaches.
Mussanah Race Week has grown exponentially since the inaugural event in 2011. Not only has the numbers of sailors more than doubled, but the dinghy classes chosen for the race have also doubled this year where 145 boats of 8 dinghy classes will be split into a Red Fleet racing from 1000-1300 and a Blue Fleet from 1300-1600 during a period of three days from 14-16 March 2012. The growth in number of participants is a true testimony for the organizers efforts in developing the Sultanate’s first international dinghy regatta.
