(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) The Bank of Beirut Chairman's Cup Muscat-Khasab Race, a flagship offshore event of the annual Muscat Regatta, has been officially recognised by the UK-based Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), according to Muscat Regatta organisers. Speaking to the media at the Marina Bandar al Rowdha onMonday to announce the details of the fourth edition of the annual MuscatRegatta, Saleem al Zawawi, the organising committee's chairman, said, ''We aredelighted to announce that the Bank of Beirut Chairman's Cup Muscat-Khasab Racehas got formal recognition from RORC, one of the oldest and respected sailingclubs in the world.'' He added, ''The recognition bears testimony to our effortsto make the race a high-class event and we hope that there would be largerparticipation in the future.Already this year, we are expecting 15 boats to compete inthe Rally Class and IRC (International Rally Class) for the Chairman's Cup.''Over 100 boats are expected to compete in the annual Muscat Regatta, which willbe held at the Marina Bander al Rowdha from November 22-28, while theMuscat-Khasab Race is scheduled to begin on November 24. Ten teams that arecompeting in the 21st Dubai-Muscat Race are expected to join the five localteams for the Chairman's Cup. Three Oman Sail teams, including an all-women crew, alongwith two from Royal Navy of Oman and the other ten are expected to vie for theUS50,000 Chairman's Cup crown. The international fleet of sailors fromAustralia, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland and South Africa areexpected to arrive in Muscat via Dubai over the next two days to participate inthe Muscat Regatta. John Grandy of GWM Racing Ltd, which is managing theregatta, said that for the first time in the event, the boats could be trackedlive via online streaming for the Chairman's Cup Muscatto- Khasab Race,courtesy xtra-track.com/regatta. Grandy said, ''With the RORC recognition, theevent will have to adhere to the highest safety standards and we will have tofollow the RORC rating system for the Rally and the IRC entries. During the Muscat Regatta, participants will sail in Hobie16s, Lasers, RS QBas, Weta Trimarans and Optimists off the Marina Bandar alRowdha. Prize distribution for the inshore racing will take place on November23, while the presentation ceremony for the Muscat- Khasab Race will be held inKhasab on November 28. Ramy F Zambarakji, the managing director of Bank ofBeirut-Oman Branches, and Mutassim al Zadjali, head of corporate affairs ofNawras, spoke on the occasion and reiterated their support for the annualsailing event. Also present on the occasion were Mohammed Ali Abdullah,vice-chairman of the organising committee, and Bob Looker, Marina Bandar alRowdha manager.
