Oman Sail is playing host for the closing event of the RC44 Championship Tour, known as the RC44 Oman Cup, for the second consecutive year. Running from November 19th–23rd and sponsored by Mercedes Benz Oman, the unique event brings together boats owned and raced by some of the world’s leading businessmen and crewed by top sailors.
“It is a great pleasure to welcome the RC44 fleet back to Oman for the second time. Last year’s event was fantastic, and the expectations are high this year. The RC44 event brings together boats owned and raced by the world’s leading businessmen and crewed by some of the world’s top sailors. With three boats in contention for the world title, it will inevitably be entertaining racing over the coming days, and of real interest around the world. It’s a great opportunity for Oman to be showcased to the sailors and the wider audience via your efforts and our joint media teams”, said David Graham, CEO of Oman Sail at the opening press conference held on November 18th.
“Zawawi Trading Company, the sole distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Oman is proud to be a partner and sponsor to Oman Sail and of the prestigious RC44 Challenge 2014. The values of Zawawi Trading Company and the brand image of Mercedes-Benz with its stylish, innovative and refined products align themselves perfectly well with the principles and values of Oman Sail and the emotional, exiting and exclusiveness the RC44 event brings here in Oman. We at Mercedes-Benz Oman are very excited with this tie up and truly believe it will help position Oman as a key location not only for RC44 but for future sporting events and the development of sport and wellbeing for the local people across the Sultanate. We wish everyone taking part tremendous enjoyment, fun and exciting racing,” said Clive Hammond, CEO of Automotive, Zawawi Trading Company.
The season finale promises to be a close one with both the Match Racing and Fleet Racing titles up for grabs and the top three teams all within touching distance. It will kick off with a day of match racing, where either the professional tactician or owner can take the helm. The remaining four days will be fleet racing. Currently leading the fleet racing is three times defending champions, Chris Bake’s Aqua in their familiar spot, but it is not all been plain sailing this year for Bake. A sixth place at the RC44 Puerto Sotogrande Cup loosened their iron grip on the leaderboard slightly. Seizing the advantage, team John Bassadone’s Peninsula Petroleum, took the lead thanks to good teamwork from the crew and tactician Vasco Vascotto.
After a consistent event in tricky conditions at the RC44 Marstrand World Championship in Sweden, Team Aqua are back on top going in to the Oman Cup, holding a slim one-point lead over Peninsula Petroleum. Completing the top three, current World Champion Vladimir Liubomirov’s Bronenosec Sailing Team sits three points adrift, having won two regattas this season.
In the Match Racing, Team Aqua holds a slim one-point lead over the fleet. A strong match racing season for Synergy Russian Sailing Team, with America’s Cup veteran Ed Baird at the helm, puts them in second place. Two podium finishes this season for Vladimir Prosikhin ‘s Team Nika sees them in third. Team Nika appear to have found their groove in the Match Racing with professional Terry Hutchinson calling tactics for Prosikhin at the helm. Returning to Muscat for the second year, Oman offers crystal clear water and a prevailing north-easterly wind providing great sailing conditions to end the season. The country boasts a rich maritime heritage and has played host to a number of successful international sailing events over the past few years.
