Highs and Lows for Young Omani Sailors in GCC Beach Games

Musa’ab Al Hadi and Ahmed Al Wahaibi, both sailors competing in the 1^st GCC Beach Games, have experienced highs and lows in the first four days of racing. In spite of this, Ahmed and Musa’ab are both exceeding expectations and using the event as valuable training for the Muscat Asian Beach Games in December.

Conditions in the venue, just off Manama’s corniche, have given the sailors a range of conditions with both sailors finding their strengths. The first day, and the last two, have been windier which has given Musa’ab his preferred conditions whereas the second was lighter wind with direction constantly changing, Ahmed’s forte. The last day of racing sees teams expecting slightly lighter winds than Wednesday and Thursday which saw wind-speeds topping out at almost 30 knots (55km/h). Lighter winds could mean shifty directions so both sailors could stand to benefit on the last day.

Going into Thursday’s races, Musa’ab was sitting in 5^th place overall with Ahmed in 8^th, but there were very few points between them. Unfortunately Ahmed had to drop out after the first race as he was having difficulty with a knee injury that he sustained in the last race in Wednesday during a capsize. This will have seen him lose some points against the sailors ahead of him, but he remains in 8^th overall against the Saudi sailors who keep 9^th and 10^th.

‘The conditions were very difficult out there with very strong winds. Any small mistake really costs you when the sailing is so fast and we are sailing against guys who have learned to make less mistakes. I am happy to be keeping close to the other sailors as I have only been sailing for six months. This time next year it will be a very different result for me!’ said Ahmed Al Wahaibi. ‘I have hurt my knee but I came in early so I can rest it and be ready for the last day of competition. The practice we are getting now is invaluable for the Asian Beach Games and I am looking forward to putting it into practice.’ He continued.

The highly experienced Qatari sailors are leading the pack at the moment with a string of strong results. Behind them the field is potentially still open for Musa’ab to step into if he out-sails the Kuwaiti and Bahraini sailors with whom he is constantly battling on the racecourse. With a strong 4^th place in the last race of today, he will be psyched going into the last day and the last two races. Both sailors are sponsored by BAE Systems who support development of young Omanis through all levels of the Oman Sail project.

Many other Omani athletes are taking part in the 1^st GCC Beach Games and they are all supportive of each other and watching each team compete in the various sports.