(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Despite making their debut in the SB20 Grand Slam class experienced Omani sailor Fahad al Hasni along with Sami al Shukaili came up with an impressive show to finish overall sixth in the four-day race at the Cowes Week sailing extravaganza in the UK on Tuesday.
Oman Sail entered two boats in the class with Yasser al Rahbi and Abdulrehman al Mashari in the other one-design keelboat class that featured a fleet of 30 boats.
Hasni skipper of Oman Sail 1 displayed no nerves on his debut and along with Shukaili came up with a strong display in the six races that were organised over three days.
The last day's action was cancelled on Tuesday as there was no breeze in the Solent - the strait that separates the Isle of Wight from mainland England.
Oman Sail 1 was also awarded a special prize for finishing as the best foreign team in the entire event. Rahbi and Mashari in Oman Sail 2 could only manage an overall 16th-place finish.
Adrian Peach's Uber emerged winner of the Cowes Grand Slam winner scoring one win and three third places to take an eight-point advantage.
The overall second was Baloo skippered by Dave Atkinson while third was 3-Some skippered by Duncan Pryde.
The SB20 Grand Slam not only had Tour de France a la Voile style coloured spinnakers for the leaders in each category but also a 'Lanterne Rouge' to reward commitment and dedication by the last team to complete all races which went to Doolalli a youth team from Abingdon UK.
Hasni competing in his maiden SB20 race said 'I enjoyed it a lot. It has been a very good experience.'
The SB20 class will return to Cowes for a world championship in 2017 to be hosted by Royal Yacht Squadron where a fleet of 100-plus boats is expected.
Since 1826 the Cowes Week has played a key part in the British sporting summer calendar and is one of the UK's longest running sporting events.
It now stages up to 40 daily races for around 1000 boats and is one of the largest sailing regatta of its kind in the world with nearly 8500 competitors that include Olympic and world-class professionals.
Oman's participation in the Cowes Week continues with Omani woman Ibtisam al Salmi leading a team in J80 class and France's Sidney Gavignet leading Musandam-Oman Sail in the ninth edition of Artemis Challenge.
The race starting on Thursday will feature 16 teams competing around the Isle of Wight.
French rugby star Serge Betsen and British explorer Ben Saunders will join Gavignet as guest sailors.
Betsen who won 63 caps for France from 1997-2007 is a sailing novice but is likely to prove inspirational to the young Omani crew on board.
Like Betsen Saunders the popular polar explorer and a record-breaking long-distance skier has a bit of experience racing on high-speed trimarans.
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