Women’s sailing in Oman received one of the highest acknowledgements in the sport last night when 31 year old coach Nashwa Al Kindi was presented with the prestigious International Sailing Federation (ISAF) President Development Award for outstanding achievement in the development of sailing.
It is one of a number of key awards that will be made during the annual ISAF conference which is being held for the first time in Oman this year.
Presented personally by ISAF president Carlo Croce, the award was made at a special presentation ceremony during the Asian Sailing Federation Annual General Meeting taking place at the Al Bandar Hotel, Qalhat.
Al Kindi, who only learnt to sail two years ago when she joined the Oman Sail Women’s Programme in 2012, was also the recipient of the Rolls-Royce Development Female Coach of the Year award at Oman’s first ever Sailor of the Year Awards earlier this year.
Regarded as one of the most promising and high achieving sailors who has shown the most progress she was one of 30 women from an original group of 75 to successfully complete the six month Women’s Sail training programme and the first Omani woman to complete an Oman Sail Senior Instructors course.
As a senior sailing instructor at The Wave, Muscat sailing school she ran and supervised the selection programme for a second group of Omani female instructors for the new Oman Sailing school opening in the Sur region early next year.
Hailed as a inspirational ambassador of women’s sailing and the development of women in sport, Al Kindi, was also praised for her exceptional presentation at a recent ISAF coaching symposium on “Women in Sport.”
ISAF president Carlo Croce praised Al Kindi’s achievements saying, “It’s amazing to see that Oman is already producing sailors and coaches like Nashwa. It’s really moving to see what such a young girl from here (Oman) has done. She shows that everyone has a chance. I’m happy to see what she has achieved.”
Rashid Al Kindi, chairman of the Oman Sailing Committee, National team manager and deputy head of the organizing committee described Al Kindi as a teacher that had the ability to pass on vital skills that enable youngsters to achieve their highest ambitions in the sport.
“It is a selfless and important role that helps direct Oman’s youth onto a pathway to excellence. We congratulate Nashwa for setting such an excellent example with her personal drive for self improvement in sailing and instructing and for delivering such a consistently high standard.”
The groundbreaking Women’s Sailing Programme is a first for the Gulf States and forms part of Oman Sail’s vision to endorse the unique and exclusive role of women in the social development of Oman while developing and creating Omani sportswomen that also have the skills to be employed.
Al Kindi believes that empowering the current generation of women means empowering future generations but also creating a comfortable environment for girls to be retained in sport and employed in the marine leisure industry.
She says the development and aspirations of the Oman Sail Women’s Programme has aligned itself with the powerful values of teamwork and community, confidence and determination and building a legacy for future generations.
“My message is that all women can do anything that they want to do. They must just go for it,” says Al Kindi.
A seven member Women’s Race Team is currently developing their sailing skills in Lasers, alongside the youth programme. Members of the team were winners of the 2012 Muscat regatta, and finished 7th overall in the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2013 (SATT).
The women’s team represented Oman for the first time in Europe this year, competing in the J80 circuit this summer and at the J80 worlds in Marseille, France.
One of the team Raiya Al Habsi went on to make history when she became the first Omani woman to compete in the UK’s world famous Fastnet Race aboard Oman’s flagship MOD 70 multihull Oman-Air Musandam in August.
Al Habsi’s many achievements have resulted in her being nominated for the prestigious 2013 Rolex Sailor of the Year Award – another first for women in the Arab world.
An all women’s team is also currently racing in the key regional Muscat to Khasab regatta this week.
Future goals include having female instructors in every Oman Sailing school, to win SATT 2017 and inspire more women to join the pathway to excellence and build female role models.
