Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
clear sky
weather
OMAN
25°C / 25°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Epic struggle for top spot as SATT final leg finish nears

940515
940515
minus
plus

MUSCAT: An epic tussle for the top spot in the fifth and final leg of EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour (SATT) was on Monday playing out as the fleet closes in on the Dubai finish line. Reigning EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour champions EFG Bank Monaco (MON) and title challengers Team Al Mouj Muscat were this morning split by just a few metres as the 205-nautical mile sprint from Doha to Dubai entered a second day.


The rival crews have been practically neck and neck since the fleet of eight international teams set sail from Qatari capital Doha yesterday morning.


At midday the fleet, spread over just three nautical miles, had around 60nm still to sail to the finish line off Dubai’s iconic The Palm Jumeirah, the culmination of 763nm of intense offshore action around the Arabian Gulf.


EFG Bank Monaco, who have lifted the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour trophy the past three years, started the final leg with a narrow four-point advantage over Team Al Mouj Muscat, runners-up in last year’s event. But with double points up for grabs on Leg 5 the overall podium positions are far from decided.


Team Renaissance (OMA) began the leg occupying the third podium spot on the tour leaderboard 4.25 points ahead of Team Zain (KUW), however at the latest position report the chasers were two places ahead of their rivals in third and fifth consecutively.


Italian team Adelasia di Torres, newcomers to Arabia’s premier offshore regatta, were today occupying the fourth spot in the Leg 5 rankings, with all-woman crew DB Schenker (GER) in sixth and Team Averda (GBR) in seventh.


Bienne Voile (SUI) were some 25 miles behind the rest of the fleet today after they ran aground overnight 70nm west of Abu Dhabi. No one was injured and their yacht sustained only minor damage before being towed to deeper water by the SATT committee boat, allowing the team to restart the leg.


The fleet is expected to cross the Leg 5 finish line in Dubai this evening.


The SATT crown will be decided on Wednesday by a series of in-port races around a short course held at The Palm Jumeirah Marina West, supported by Nakheel.


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon