Qatar Sail the Gulf 2016 - Day 3
by Icarus Sailing Media 6 Feb 2016 18:46 NZDT
2-6 February 2016
Qatar Sail the Gulf 2016 day 3 © Jayaram Korambil
The stunning conditions once again saw some red hot international competition at the Sail the Gulf Regatta, which continues to grow annually thanks to the efforts of the Qatar sailing and Marine Sports Federation.
Today is the half-way mark of the regatta with 4 races on the schedule. With the pressure rising as that podium moment gets closer there was added focus an immediacy to the sailors' preparations.
It was windy and shifty out on the water today and it proved testing for many of the sailors... but of course wind means speed and it looked like they were enjoying themselves.
The Optimist class was once again dominated by Malaysian Muhamed Rani who won every single race and sits well clear at the top of the leaderboard.
Tricky conditions often mean home sailors can use their local knowledge and that's exactly what young Qatari Ghanim Al Sewaidi (Gun-im Savay dee) did – performing well with 4 top 10 finishes.
He's yet another example of how the sport is fast developing in the country and developing new talent thanks to the many years of hard work by the Qatar sailing & Marine Sports Federation.
Again in the Laser Standards, the Qataris shone with Waleed Al-Sarsani notching up 4 podium results in the day's racing and now sits second in the leaderboard behind leader Kairu nizam Afendi.
Meanwhile in the Laser 4.7 fleet Malaysia's Asmawi Asman was beaten into second only once in the day's four races and dominates the leaderboard. Although Abdulrehman Ajineh of Qatar impressed to move up to fifth.
Malaysia had another good day in the Laser Radial with Asri Azman still leading overall, now by 5 points.
4 wins out of 4 for the British Hobie Cat crew saw them move top of the leaderboard ahead of two crews from Khasakstan.
The Qatari team of Hassan Al Bakker and Mohammed Ismail had a better day with 2 second placed finishes.