UAE- Al Mouj of Muscat claim 2 races in Sailing Arabia

Date

2/22/2016 6:06:53 PM

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Muscat-based Al Mouj made it two wins in four races in the in-port event of the sixth EFG Sailing Arabia The Tour (EFG SATT) off the waters close to the Emirates Palace Marina in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

They overcame the strong challenges from EFG Bank Monaco and TU Delft Challenge in the fourth outing. The winners needed to hold off EFG Bank Monaco in the final stages which was no easy feat.

The fleet next sets sail for the 160 nautical miles Abu Dhabi-Doha second leg on Thursday morning. One nautical mile is 1.856km.

Al Mouj led the in-port regatta down to the end of lap one but Team Zain EFG Bank Monaco and Renaissance Services were close behind during the early part of the fourth session on Wednesday.

Race director Gilles Chiorri said: "It was another brilliant day for racing with winds of approximately 4-5 knots from the west. One knot indicates 1.856 km/hr.

A colossal lead for Team Zain saw them pick up their first win of the sea drag racing series when they landed the third in-port race on Wednesday the Kuwaiti entry showing themselves as strong contenders for the overall title. Al Mouj Muscat claimed second while Renaissance Services were third here.

Team Zain took the fight to their rivals leading race 3 after one lap after Sidney Gavignet's EFG Bank Monaco had a nightmare start to race 3 having to go back to the start line after being caught over it when the gun sounded.

Gavignet said: "Going into the Abu Dhabi In-Port Race series we didn't really have anything to change - a few tweaks here and there but were in good shape" he said.

"Sailing inshore in Abu Dhabi is very tricky. There are buildings on one side of the course and an island on the other and the winds are light."

Al Mouj Muscat won their first EFG SATT honour when they clinched race 2 while EFG Bank Monaco claimed their second podium of the day as Team Zain posted their best result so far with a bronze finish. They had to chase down Team Averda in a hotly contested battle for third. The first teams round the first marker were Al Mouj Muscat EFG Bank Monaco and Team Zain in the order.

Race 2 was moved to a slightly new course slightly to account for a change in wind direction and the best start of the day was by the impressive Al Mouj on the far left of the course.

EFG Bank Monaco won the first race and Bienne Voile scored their first podium finish The Tour claiming second while TU Delft Challenge came flying down the left of the course to snatch third from Team Averda winners of the 61nm Dubai-Abu Dhabi first leg on Tuesday. EFG Bank Monaco rounded the port leeward mark in front - Team Averda and Renaissance Services choose the committee boat end of the line before powerfully tacking well in upwind conditions.

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