SSL Team Oman lead Group B after perfect start

SSL Team Oman – featuring 10 sailors from Oman Sail – lead Group B after the first two days of the Star Sailors League Gold Cup Asian Qualifier. Winning all four races, the team stayed composed through tight upwind battles and difficult downwind manoeuvres.
In Race 1, the team took control early and built a commanding lead on the upwind leg, then sailed conservatively to ensure victory. Race 2 opened with a stronger wind, but SSL Team Oman stayed composed and crossed the line first to complete a perfect first day. This form continued into Day 2 where the team swept to victory in both races.
Representing Oman is skipper and team leader Nasser al Mashari, Hussain al Jabri, Yasser al Rahbi, Ali al Balushi, Akram al Wahaibi, Haitham al Wahaibi, Raad al Hadi, Abdulrahman al Maashari, Ibtisam al Salmi and Marwa al Khaifi.

Nasser al Maashari, Skipper and team leader, said “We have trained a lot, and that preparation helps us stay calm on board, even in tricky conditions. Our focus today was to keep things simple, use common sense, and execute each manoeuvre cleanly. Good communication across the whole crew was key. Everyone knew their role, and we focused on choosing the right moments to push and the right moments to stay conservative. That balance helped us avoid major mistakes.”
Team Oman are racing against Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates in Group B with the group winners qualifying for the finals in Brazil. Group A comprises Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea and Vietnam.
Six teams from Asia — Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and India — have already secured their place in the SSL Gold Cup 2026 through the official SSL Nations Ranking, based on the performance of their top sailors.

A total of 40 nations will compete for the title of ‘World Champion of Nations’ in Brazil.
The races are sailed on identical SSL47 yachts – high-performance one-design boats that ensure pure, tactical racing where skill and teamwork decide the outcome. This format guarantees a level playing field, bringing out the very best in every crew.
The ‘Road to Rio’ Asian Qualifier concludes on Monday 22 December.
Organised in collaboration with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the SSL Gold Cup Asia Qualifiers will run from December 20-22, 2025 at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club, Chonburi. The event will be the first-of-its-kind in Asia, setting a new benchmark for high-performance, nation-versus-nation sailing in the region.