In a fleet of 1,776 boats lining up for the annual JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race off Cowes yesterday morning, two sailors stood out from the thousands of peers around them. Khamis Al Anbouri and Mubarak Al Battashi were representing their home country of the Sultanate of Oman for the first time in a competitive race.
The start was a slow affair but the class in which the Omani sailors were competing, the Extreme 40 catamarans, was possibly the most competitive on the water with Olympic medalists, World champions and Americas Cup superstars. Amongst them was British Olympic triple medalist Ben Ainslie who was set to take the glory from the rest of the 1,776 strong fleet of boats, ranging from 100′ carbon racing yachts to 20′ weekend pleasure cruisers.
This 55-mile contest is one of the world’s greatest sailing events, with 1,776 boats of all shapes and sizes taking to the water. After six hours of racing, Oman Sail managed to out maneuver Russell Coutts, sailing on Team Aqua, to win the coveted accolade of Line Honours by just 29 seconds.
