Oman Sail’s role in helping communities connect with the sea was recognised at the 2014 Oman Maritime Festival which closed on Saturday after a highly successful debut in Oman’s cultural calendar.

Attendance at the 10 day festival which was held at Al Bustan beach front to celebrate Oman’s seafaring heritage showed an appetite for all things maritime as crowds turned up to enjoy a diverse range of activities from dhow boat building to live cookery demonstrations using locally sourced fish.

As part of its wider mission to get more local people afloat, Oman Sail lent their support by providing sail boats, both modern and traditional, as well as the coaching expertise to demonstrate them in a series of daily races, which proved key to the success of the event as more than 14,000 people turned up in the first four days to soak up the region’s rich seafaring heritage.

His Excellency Mohammed Al Wahaibi, Representative of the Wilayat of Muscat in Majlis Ash'shura said the Oman Maritime Festival was designed to preserve that heritage by introducing it to new generations and paid tribute to the various local and GCC institutions who had supported the venture, including Oman Sail.

“Oman Sail played a great role in the organization of the festival,” he said.

“They contributed to the success of its activities by lending support in managing the daily races and providing the required resources. They provided an opportunity for visitors, students and community members to experience sailing by holding beach events during weekends.

“I am proud of what this national project does and the efforts made to inspire the youth and instil passion within them towards this sport and I hope it could reach its target of introducing the sport of sailing to 70,000 kids – even before 2020.

“An ambitious project like this needs a considered long-term approach and I am sure what Oman Sail’s national talents have achieved since inception is commended and appreciated by the community”

Festival activities were designed to sweep visitors back 1000 years to when the trade routes between Muscat and the Far East were first established and sailors would set sail on their dhows and head for India and China, returning months later laden with exotic cargoes.

Oman’s famous replica Jewel of Oman was presented as part of the historical excursion but visitors were also given a tour of today’s maritime industry with a small and medium businesses exhibition plus local and international market pavilions.

Oman Sail’s activities were organised by Saleh Al Jabri, Centre Manager at Oman Sail Sailing School at Marina Bandar Al Rowdha.

“The festival has been a great platform for the public to engage more with Oman’s long-standing and historic marine traditions and sample the pleasures of modern sailing,” he said.

“The festivities have attracted a lot of visitors and spectators to the Al Bustan beachfront where they have been able to watch the daily races at close quarters.

“Being able to take people on board the Jewel of Oman is always a special privilege because she is an iconic dhow that symbolises the essence of our country by travelling across the world to carry a message of patriotism and pride.”