Friday 17 / May / 2024
Muscat: Over 80 young sailors from three of Oman Sail’s Sailing Schools will take to the waters of BarcelóMussanah Resort this week as the Winter Cup 2024 gets underway. Competing in Optimist, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, ILCA 7 and windsurfing events, the sailors are joined by Race Club and Youth Club, national squad and international sailors for a chance to earn selection to the national teams for this year’s competitions.
Twelve races are scheduled in each event, giving the sailors four days of racing and opportunities to show their skill and tactical ability on the water. The top three in each event will receive medals, along with the overall highest ranked school.
Ahmed Al Qasmi, Acting Director of Sailing at Oman Sail, said, “This is a very important year for sailing in Oman. We have a number of high profile events scheduled and intend to show our capabilities at all levels. The Winter Cup offers a chance to begin the year strongly and also to assess the progress of our sailors as we start a new season. The sailors selected from each of the sailing schools have the chance to earn their position with the national team and represent Oman at the various events throughout the year, and we are looking forward to witnessing five days of excellent sailing.”
Mohsin Al Busaidi, Oman Sail’s Head of Performance, said, “We have been working with talented young sailors at all of the Sailing Schools to prepare them for competition. For some, the Winter Cup will be their first taste of a major event, and for others it is an important experience as they continue to grow. The chance to compete against more experienced sailors is an opportunity to gauge their progress, learn and improve, and this is always our aim for those coming through the ranks and aiming to reach the national team.”
The Winter Cup 2024 serves as an important showcase for the sailors as coaches watch on and look to select the best performing sailors for upcoming regattas. In February, Oman will travel to Kuwait for the Arab Sailing Championships 2024 before returning home for the Oman School Olympic Days 2024
Later in the year, the Oman national team will join fellow GCC nations at the inaugural edition of the Gulf Youth Games in the UAE in April, compete at the 2024 ILCA 4 Youth World Championship in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, in June, and the 2024 Optimist Asian & Oceanian Championship at Marve Beach, Mumbai, India, in November.
