MUSCAT: Oman Sail’s team has commenced the Star Sailors League season with Qualifying Series on Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
The top two in the group will join other qualified teams in the draw for the SSL Gold Cup 2022 Finals Series when the knockout stages begin in October.
Representing Oman are Ahmed al Balushi, Ahmed al Hasni, Abdul Rahman al Mashari, Yasir al Rahbi, Musab al Hadi, Raad al Hadi, Haitham al Wahaibi, Waleed al Kindi, Zakaria al Wahaibi, Husain al Jabri and Skipper Nasser al Mashari. Marwa al Khaifi will also join the squad as team administrator.
Nasser al Mashari, Skipper of the Sultanate of Oman team, said, “The Star Sailors League is a great challenge and a tough test of team work, speed and tactics. Our team joined the event last season and it was a very valuable experience, and we hope to improve on that performance. Cuba, Mexico and Guatemala are all good teams but we have been training on the boat used in the Star Sailors League and we feel ready.”
Star Sailors League, a World Sailing Special Event, was created by sailors for sailors and is the ultimate challenge between sailing nations. Held in the Kingdom of Bahrain from October 28 to November 20 2022, the SSL Gold Cup Finals Series follows a similar format to the Fifa World Cup where groups of four teams face each other and the top two teams advance to the next round.
Forty nations start the competition, including the World’s Top 23 Sailing nations plus 16 teams coming from the Qualifying Series — held between May and July 2022 — and host nation Bahrain, all racing on the exact same boat, the SSL47, a 14-metre performance racing boat.
The Finals Series in October will see an initial 16 teams race in four Groups, with the top two being joined in the next round by high-ranking teams that have already qualified for the Last 16, Final 8 and Quarterfinals.
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