Tight in-port racing

After a huge welcome barbeque last night, today was tight in-port racing. It was held just outside the yacht club in a very narrow patch of water, with the committee boat moored about 150 feet from rocks where we started!  The race was two laps of up/downs and with docks on one side of the course, sand spits/shore on the other side, and a top mark all of 50 feet from the shore.  The action was fast and furious!

We ended up third overall, which was terrific, but (more importantly) with no damage!  Such tight action can result in boats colliding, and today was no exception. Luckily, we were able to avoid that calamity and are ready to go for tomorrow.

Potential danger in the Strait of Hormuz

It is the leg that takes us from RAK up through the rest of the Persian Gulf and the coast of the UAE, around the top through the Strait of Hormuz (between Iran and Oman) and down the other side into Dibba, Oman into the Gulf of Oman.

According to World Atlas, the Strait of Hormuz,” The narrow Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the most, if not the most strategic strait of water on the planet. Through its waters, in giant ocean-going tankers, passes much of the oil from Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. “

One only has to read CNN in the last year to know that there has been a great deal of action going on in the Strait, with Iran rattling its saber threatening to close the strait, while western forces (very much including the U.S.A. with our air-craft carrier) are here to make sure that doesn’t happen.  I know our guys are in the area, and  it sure makes me feel better. (Continue reading at CNN: Meet the U.S. ‘Top Guns’ with eyes on Iran here…)

Racing within the safety zone

Oman has relations with Iran and has been in contact with them regarding this race. Provided our yachts do not cross into Iranian waters, we should all be fine and should have no safety concerns.  The fleet is required to stay within 10 nautical miles of the coast, which should ensure that we do not instigate an international incident. [Read more…]

Adventure: Mount Everest

During the in-port race, we were joined by Suzanne Al Houby, the first Arab woman to climb Mount Everest. The event was covered by The National:

via Arab mountaineer inspires Omani all-female crew to scale high point – The National.

When I asked Suzanne how her climbing adventure began, she said she came to a point in her life when she wondered if this was it?  She was married and had children but wanted to do something more. Suzanne went on her first climb in all the wrong gear.  She said  it was miserable, but she loved it.  And so her story began… 

Adventure: Sailing Arabia 2012

Later in the day I was talking with Raiya about her thoughts regarding her experience with Sailing Arabia 2012, and Raiya told me she loves it and wants to do more… Raiya shared that a journalist had asked her what was the point of it all was?  What would she do if she got engaged/married/had children? And,  why she wasn’t home taking care of her skin??? Raiya told me that she set the male journalist straight by telling him that many who loved her would support what she wanted to do in sailing  and that she could do both —  have a family/ life/career like the other professional sailers on board Al Thuraya.  Raiya said she also told the journalist she didn’t want to be at home worrying about her skin when she could be out sailing on the ocean!

I loved it, and I told her the best thing you can do for your skin is be happy!

Adventure: Teaching

A woman at the yacht club told us a story I would like to share with you. The woman is a teacher, and when she told her pupils here in  RAK about an all women’s team racing in the Sail Arabia Tour, the students didn’t believe her. They said, “Well, it is full of westerners.” The women told them, “No.  The boat has Omani women onboard.” The students still didn’t believe her. So, she had her class research our team on the internet. When the students found out their teacher was telling the truth, they were awestruck and so excited to learn that it was true. Omani women were doing it. and doing it well! They are now following our team and the race, and they are big fans!

Adventure: Volvo Ocean Race

My good friend and teammate from the Volvo Ocean Race 2002-2003, Emma Westmacott, has swapped in for Hannah Morris and will be sailing with us for the rest of the tour. Emma is a great addition to the team and brings incredible experience with her.

via Worth the effort for tired crews as Sailing Arabia reaches the capital – The National

The 296-kilometre leg, from Doha to Abu Dhabi, was the longest of the Tour, and unlike the downhill run from Manama to Doha in Leg 1, the fleet sailed in light to moderate headwinds and was obliged to navigate past oil rigs, no-sail zones and heavy shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Jean-Michel, the race director.

Raya Al Habsi, one of the four Omani women competing with Al Thuraya Bank Muscat, who finished fourth, said the leg was “tough” and described her all female crew as “pretty tired.”  Continue reading...