March 25th at 15:43:12 Local Time (11:43:12 GMT) Mohsin made history to become the first Arab to sail non-stop around the world, as Musandam crossed the finish line in Muscat in under 80 days.
After 76 days at sea, Oman’s Mohsin Al Busaidi became the first Arab to ever sail non-stop around the world. Sailing onboard Ellen MacArthur’s former record-breaking 75-foot trimaran ‘Musandam’ alongside four international teammates, 33-year-old Mohsin Al Busaidi has made history and was welcomed home to Muscat a hero. Thousands turned out on Muscat’s historic waterfront to congratulate Mohsin, a new hero and an inspiration for the country’s young population.
Up until 15 years ago, no one had ever completed a non-stop round the world journey onboard a racing multihull and still today it remains one of the hardest challenges a sailor can ever dream of tackling.
Musandam sailed over 24,000 nautical miles during which Mohsin sailed deep into the harsh and hostile Southern Ocean as he passed the legendary capes of Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope. Since the start day on 8th January, 2009 the crew have endured storms, freezing conditions, a diet of only freeze-dried food and, unless it rained, no showers and the tiny cramped conditions of a racing multihull.
Mohsin Al Busaidi, who grew up in Al Khoud, a village north of Muscat said: “I am so happy, so proud for my country, it has been the most amazing experience of my life. Although the voyage has only taken 76 days, I have loved sailing and the sea for a long time. This round the world journey has been the key focus for the newly formed Oman Sail project and we wanted to show quickly what could be achieved to inspire others. We’ll continue the voyage of our ancestors who sailed the seas and we’ll build boats and masts, so our children continue the journey after us.”