By A Staff Reporter - MUSCAT — The final day of the Extreme Sailing Series at Cowes Week bought high tension and conditions challenging, 20-25 knots of wind, choppy sea state and the potential for the boats to capsize. The Wave Muscat had led the regatta since day two and needed to continue their excellence form to win the event.
Five races were sailed with the final race counting for double points, adding to the tension. The young team onboard The Wave Muscat had sailed so well over the six-day event that they had to only finish the final race to lift the trophy for Oman. However Paul Campbell-James, Khamis al Anbouri, Alistair Richardson and Nick Hutton were not playing it safe, they finished fourth in the final race, winning the regatta by 18 points.
Khamis al Anbouri was ecstatic with the victory. “To win this event is an amazing feeling, it has been really long and pretty tiring but I am so happy to win here in front of a crowd who have been so supportive of The Wave Muscat. It is extra special for me to win in Cowes because this is the place I first sailed an Extreme 40.”
Khamis is already focused on the next event of the Extreme Sailing Series in Germany at the end of August. “We haven't got much time to train before Kiel but we feel really confident after this result. We have proved we can win here, so there is no reason we cannot do it again in Kiel.”
Paul Campbell-James and his team on The Wave Muscat have been training incredibly hard in the gym and on the water to be at the top of their game for Cowes, but even he was shocked by their win.
“I couldn't have dreamed of this result at the start of the season. We were hoping to podium and have trained so hard to get there, but to win the second event and to be leading the series over all feels incredible. The boys did a fantastic job this week and I am so proud of all of them, especially Khamis who has proved that he compete with the best in the world.”
Their team-mates on Masirah improved their performance significantly pulling themselves up to fourth place overall.
During the event Oman Sail welcomed His Highness Sayyid Tareq bin Shabib al Said to Cowes to participate in the Extreme 40 racing. Sayyid Tareq joined Khamis al Ambouri on The Wave Muscat and was impressed with the team's performance.
“These guys are a great team. It is quite awe inspiring to sail with them. It is a bit of whirlwind when you are on the race course. You have got these four sailors who train so hard and know each other so well, the racing is so close and when the other boats are all flying on one hull right next to you, you have to be alert to avoid collision!”
“You are full of adrenalin and it is such an unbelievable rush. These boats are extremely fast on the water and its gets pretty hairy when you are flying through the air at an angle, and then on the downwind legs you are under the water! Everything happens very quickly and you have to be very aware of everything that is going on.”
Khamis al Anbouri added, “Having HH Sayyid Tareq bin Shabib al Said onboard makes us feel really great and gave us more confidence. It makes me feel very proud and he was really encouraging us on the racecourse which made us push harder.”
HH Sayyid Tareq has been very supportive of the Oman Sail project and the development of Omani sailors such as Khamis al Anbouri. “I am impressed with the Oman Sail project. They are achieving on many levels. They are engaging the public internationally, as well as in Oman where the people public aren't as familiar with sailing. They are working closely with the schools in Oman and teaching them how to sail and race, while also trying to develop new races in the region that will benefit the country, that is the scale of what the project is doing. The project is often in the media and a lot of companies in Oman are behind it.”
Dr Abdul Aziz al Hinai, Oman's Ambassador to UK was also in Cowes to witness victory for The Wave Muscat, it was the first time he has seen the Extreme 40s in action. “The Omani teams here in Cowes have put on a real spectacle. The sailing has been wonderful and to see our team on top of the podium is an excellent achievement. I have been very impressed by the way in which Oman Sail are promoting the country. I certainly look forward to coming back next year.”
David Graham, CEO, Oman Sail has seen great success both on and off the water this week. “Cowes Week has been incredible for Oman Sail. Last year when we came we realised it was the right audience for us and we really have scaled it up this year. We have had some great VIP and sponsor engagement and have also engaged the public, talking to them about Oman and enabling them to understand more about the country.
“Having the support in Cowes of HH Sayyid Tareq and Dr Abdul Aziz al Hinai means an awful lot to all Oman Sail. Actually being here at Cowes and seeing the enormity of everything we are doing makes a big difference. On the water, I am absolutely delighted. We have a very young team in The Wave Muscat which we put together earlier in the year. Khamis has been sailing with them for just two years and they have just done an incredible job. It is great to have been able to see Khamis develop; he has worked really hard for it and deserves his spot and the win. Watching them work as such a great team is fantastic.”
Cowes has not all been about the racing on the water, Oman Sail have been promoting Oman to the spectators in Cowes through the Oman Experience. It has been a very successful initiative that has seen thousands of people visiting to learn more about the country.
"With over 100,000 spectators coming to Cowes Week it is a perfect opportunity for Oman Sail to promote our country as a high end tourist destination. We created the 'Oman Experience' in order to have an area where people could enjoy a taste of what Oman has to offer. Thanks to the sailing teams success on the water so far this week we have had a lot of interest with many people coming learn more about us as a sailing project and the Sultanate as a tourist destination. It has been fantastic and I feel proud to be Omani,” said Maha al Lawati of Oman Sail.
Oman Sail have been hosting a number of VIP guests at the beautiful Amouage Lounge this week. All VIP guests have been introduced to the fragrance and gift bags were given out to guests at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club Ball and the Artemis Challenge Prize-giving that was attended by Zara Phillips, the Queen's grand-daughter.
David Crickmore, CEO Amouage explained the association, “The House of Amouage honours great traditions of its birthplace, creating fragrances that reflect the wonderful heritage and artistry of perfumery. Through our association with Oman Sail, we are celebrating another cherished past-time, Oman's rich maritime history, and inspiring a new generation of young Omanis to take up sailing as a recreational and competitive sport.”