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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Averda move up in SATT

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MUSCAT: British two-time Olympian Stevie Morrison made amends for missing out on the top spot in Wednesday’s EFG Sailing Arabia — The Tour coastal raid by leading his Averda team to victory in the penultimate round of stadium racing in Sur.


Averda won two individual races as the eight international teams vying for the 2018 title exchanged blows as they fought one another over six short, intense races held just off the beach of the historic city in perfect conditions.


The fact that the top four teams finished just five points apart indicates just how tight the racing was, with EFG Bank Monaco taking second and overall leaders Beijaflore third.


French team Vivacar picked up two race wins, while Lorina Golfe du Morbihan and Cheminees Poujalat scored one apiece.


After 11 days of thrilling racing at four stunning locations in Oman, and with just two days of the regatta remaining, the teams’ eagerness to win points was evident.


Beijaflore and all-woman crew DB Schenker were the only teams not to be disqualified at some point over the six races for being over the starting line when the gun fired.


Vivacar and Renaissance picked up two disqualifications each for pulling the trigger too soon on the startline.


It was the also the first day since the beginning of SATT on February 3 that neither Beijaflore nor second-placed EFG Bank Monaco, the reigning champions, won a race. Beijaflore command a ten-point lead overall going into the final stage of EFG Sailing Arabia — The Tour, with just two points splitting EFG Bank Monaco and Averda in second and third.


Morrison, whose crew consists of renowned British tactician Nic Asher and Omani sailing star Abdulrahman al Mashari, said beating EFG Bank Monaco was their goal.


“We felt we let one go yesterday — we ended up second when we should have won — so we were pretty focused on winning going into today,” he said.


“We had cracking breeze and the sailing was great fun. We sailed well and dominated early. We felt we were the best team out there and when we got the opportunity to prove it we did.


“EFG Bank Monaco are two points ahead in second and they’re our main target now going into the final stage. We need to beat them both days but maybe we can tighten the screw on them.”


Thierry Douillard, skipper of four-time EFG Sailing Arabia — The Tour winners EFG Bank Monaco, said he was content to finish behind Averda, made up of team mates from the Oman Sail squad that will take on the Tour Voile in France this summer.


“It was a great day in Sur — it was breezy, sunny... perfect racing conditions,” he said.


The finale of SATT will consist of a coastal raid from Bandar al Rowdha to Muscat’s beautiful old town of Muttrah on February 16, followed by a day of stadium racing there the following day. The winners will be crowned at a ceremony at Muscat’s National Museum of Oman on February 17 attended by guest of honour Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidy, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat.


Results of six Stadium Races - Sur:


1. Averda (Stevie Morrison) – 20 points


2. EFG Bank (Thierry Douillard) – 22


3. Beijaflore (Valentin Bellet) – 23


4. Lorina Golfe du Morbihan (Solune Robert)– 25


5. Vivacar.fr (Matthieu Souben) – 29


6. Poujoulat (Bernard Stamm) – 30


7. Renaissance (Cedric Pouligny) – 39


8. DB Schenker (Elodie Mettraux) – 40


Overall Results:


1. Beijaflore (Valentin Bellet) – 13 points


2. EFG Bank (Thierry Douillard) – 23


3. Averda (Stevie Morrison) – 25


4. Poujoulat (Bernard Stamm) – 34.4


5. Vivacar.fr (Matthieu Souben) – 35


6. Lorina Golfe du Morbihan (Solune Robert) – 36


7. Renaissance (Cedric Pouligny) – 57


8. DB Schenker (Elodie Mettraux) – 62


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