Oman Sail youth teams are preparing to test their developing skills at international regattas in Bahrain and France this month. A 14-strong team of young Optimist and Laser 4.7 sailors will go into action at the Al Bareh International Regatta, which kicks off 18th June. For the 10 Optimist sailors taking part, all aged under 11, the Bahrain event will mark their first ever competitive racing outing. Meanwhile a second team of more experienced Optimist racers will be flying the flag for Oman at the Optimist European Championship, which starts on June 22nd at Crozon-Morgat in Brittany western France.

“The two regattas will provide different challenges for each of our teams, but both will gain great experience from taking part,” said Mohsin Al Busaidi, Oman Sail’s Youth Sailing Development Manager.

“All of those racing in Bahrain were chosen on their performances in our programme of ranking race events, and for the five girls and five boys in our Optimist team this will be their first ever regatta as a team.”

The Optimist Under-11 squad consists of Isra Al Bulushi, Mohammed Al Jabri, Jenan Al Sinani, Jore Al Mukhaini, Saja Al Mukhaini, Eyad Al-Wahaibi, Hasan Al Wahaibi, Aws Al-Busaidi, Sura Al-Busaidi and Saud Al Shaqsi. Racing alongside them in the Laser 4.7 fleet are Al-Moatasem Al Farsi, Ali Al Saadi, Albaraa Al Nofli and Abdul Malik Al Hinai.

Both squads in the Youth Team will be supported in Bahrain by Oman Sail coaches and Team Leader Ghalib Al Ma’mri. The European Championship team, meanwhile, will face almost 300 leading Optimist sailors representing 50 countries from around the world later this month. The three sailors on the team represent three of Oman Sail’s four sailing schools, with Al Hassan Al Jabri from Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, Hatem Al Araimi from Sur, and Nibras Al Awaisi from the Mussanah school. Supported by coach Sulaiman Al Wahaibi and team leader Abdul Aziz Al Shidi, they face five days of racing starting, following the opening ceremony, on Monday 24th June. The Al Bareh International Regatta runs from 18th to 22rd June at the Bahrain Maritime Sports Association Club House.