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Four to join all-women Al Thuraya sailing crew
Muscat: Of the 30 Omani Female sailors who participated in the Women Sailing Programme four of the best sailors will be selected to take part in the Sailing Arabia – the Tour 2012 (SATT) according to a press release issued here by The four selected sailors will be part of the all-woman crew on Al Thuraya BankMuscat, skippered by renowned British sailor Dee Caffari. The team will compete in two weeks of racing around the Arabian Gulf Coast, beginning in February, with the Omani sailors lining up against 10 other Gulf countries and international crews. During the Women Sailing Programme, the Omani women’s team were tested to the limit for their endurance, on focus and offshore sailing skills, with training often leading to sleepless nights and needing extreme commitment and hard work from participants. Theoretical and practical lessons will have taught the team about how to face tough conditions on the water, safety protocols and the need for strict food diets. The preparations aim to ensure the women are ready to cope with limited rations on board, as the sailors are often at sea for up to three days non-stop. Intisar Al Tobi, a trainee said: “We start our day at 9am and head straight for the gym for about two hours. After that we start rigging the boat, where we spend about three to four hours training. Every day, one of us takes the responsibility of a certain position on the boat such as: main sheet, trimming, helming undergoing task rotation, and each one of us have a coach.” “The programme is tough but it is fantastic. But after the intensive training programme I feel more confident about myself, I have learned so much more about the boat, however, we are still at the beginning and there is so much to learn and train for,” she added. Shedding light on the personality angle she said, “In order to excel we must have the will to learn which will ultimately drive you from within. You must challenge yourself every day to be able to overcome any obstacle you face in life”. According to Intisar, communication skills have also been boosted since the women joined the programme: “Every week the girls join English language courses twice a week. I feel my English language and communications skills have improved dramatically.” Intisar concluded. Oman Sail will be announcing the selected crew for Al Thuraya BankMuscat this month followed by another major announcement about the details of Sailing Arabia - the Tour 2012 that is due to take place from February 9 to 27. Times News Services http://www.timesofoman.com
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