| Oman Sail’s learning curve continues in NY’s tricky conditions |
MUSCAT The first head-to-head between the five MOD 70s offered a glimpse of things to come in offshore multihull racing as Musandam-Oman Sail proved a worthy contender in the KRYS OCEAN RACE prologue from Newport to New York.
In a soft start to the MOD 70 circuit, marked by light winds and slow progress, Sidney Gavignet’s mixed crew of Omani and international sailors finished fifth in New York having covered the 120 nm course in 14 hours, four minutes and one second. Until the final few miles when the fleet passed Coney Island and the Statue of Liberty on the spectacular approach to the finish, Musandam-Oman Sail were second behind eventual winners Steve Ravussin on MOD70 Race for Water before the wind died on them to leave them becalmed, according to a press release.
After a tricky start on Monday, Musandam-Oman Sail had risen through the fleet to take the lead, holding onto it until just a few miles from the finish, according to British helmsman and 27 world record holder Brian Thompson.
“We didn’t have a great start because we were fixing our winch system but we got away and within an hour we were in second place and within two hours we were in first. All night it was us and Spindrift battling for the lead, with the others up to 10 miles behind.
“They went in shore and we decided to cover them but the wind died so we were both becalmed. But that is yacht racing for you. We had a really good race and learned that as a contender, we had good speed and good tactics. It was very encouraging.”
A weary skipper Sidney Gavignet (FRA) said there were many positives to take from the race but spoke of his disappointment in finishing last after making good progress among such a high class fleet. “It is a shame because we were leading for a lot of the race but the wind dropped and the current increased and the other boats went around us in a bit more wind.
“As a team, we worked well together so I’m more confident ahead of the KRYS OCEAN RACE. The result here does not really matter but it was disappointing to finish like that and it is important that the team’s confidence was not affected because we had a good race. “When you consider that we were the last boat in the water only two months ago with limited experience compared to the other teams, we were expecting to be last. To be leading for a lot of the race, showed that we will be in contention,” he said.
Said Musandam-Oman Sail’s pitman Mohsin Al Busaidi from Oman: “It was hard work and wet but great fun and we did better than we expected. The wind died at the end but that happens in sailing. In a longer race, we will do better I think and I’m hoping for a good result in the KRYS OCEAN RACE which starts on Saturday.”
Sailing into Manhattan as part of the MOD70 parade had been a wonderful experience for all members of the crew.
“It was wonderful sailing into Manhattan – that is not something that many people ever get to do these days,” Thompson said. “We had light winds, flat seas and a beautiful day so it was a most rewarding experience.”
The MOD 70 fleet remains in New York until Saturday when they will line up for the start of the inaugural KRYS OCEAN RACE to Brest in France.
Oman Tribune
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