Dream opportunity for young Omani sailors

2/16/2016 4:37:48 AM

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily)

Oman's top young sailors are all set for a day to remember when they compete in a special race as part of the America's Cup World Series event in Muscat from February 26-28 and then get a chance to chat with the America's Cup skippers.

Part of a joint venture between Oman Sail and the America's Cup Endeavour programme aimed at inspiring young sailors the once-in-a-lifetime experience will leave members of Oman's national youth squad with a clear understanding of the America's Cup sailing's equivalent of the football World Cup and what it takes to compete at the highest level.

But it is not just about showing them the AC45 foiling boats which happen to be among the fastest racing boats on the planet or introducing them to the amazing sailors who fly them round the courses.

It is more about giving them an opportunity to show off their own skills and impress a crowd of big guns in the sailing world.

The group of 20 children comprising 14 of Oman's best young Optimist sailors and six older sailors specialising in 29ers and Lasers will arrive at Oman Sail's Al Mouj Sailing School and rig their boats before heading off to the technical area where the America's Cup AC45 foiling catamarans are docked.

After a tour of the boats the young sailors will return to their own boats and go racing. And when the winners are decided they will be transferred back to the race village to meet the six America's Cup skippers including British star Ben Ainslie who in 2011 was the skipper of Oman Sail's Extreme 40 team Oman Air in the Extreme Sailing Series as well as America's Cup rivals Jimmy Spithill and Dean Barker.

'This is a fantastic opportunity for Oman's young sailors to show off their skills and ask questions of these amazing sailors about what it takes to reach the top' said Mohsin al Busaidi Oman Sail's youth manager.

'There are not many young sailors who can say they have had tips from Sir Ben Ainslie or Jimmy Spithill so we hope they take full advantage of their chats with the champions.' David Graham the CEO of Oman Sail said the importance of engaging youth in the top sailing events could never be underestimated.

'Everything we do at Oman Sail is geared to inspire and create opportunities for our youth sailors with the aim to one day have an Omani sailor racing in the America's Cup or winning an Olympic medal' he said.

'Our national youth squad sailors represent a bright future for sailing in Oman.'

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