MANAMA, Bahrain — EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – The Tour, the region's only long distance offshore sailing race has started with nine world-class crews including a host of elite sailors from the Middle East taking on the unique sailing challenge and endurance race between Bahrain and Muscat. Inspired by organizers Oman Sail to encourage one of the region's fastest growing sports and reignite the rich maritime heritage of the Gulf, the third edition of the showcase sailing event was officially launched at Amwaj Marina ahead of 15 days fierce competition around the coastline of four different countries covering 760 nautical miles. Having left Manama on Feb. 10, EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – The Tour calls at Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al-Khaimah, Dibba and Mussanah before ending in Muscat on Feb. 25. The racing will include in-port racing at selected locations. This season promises to be the best yet, with some of the world's best sailors competing in the ideal sailing conditions of the Gulf. EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2013 represents the culmination of three years' development in offshore racing in the region, and the roster of competitors reflects the adoption and recognition of this unique event by the international sailing community. Competing aboard identical Farr 30 yachts, the race has attracted nine crews representing five different nations, led locally by Oman's Team Renaissance, Royal Navy of Oman, Team BAE Systems and the all-female Team Al-Thuraya Bank Muscat. Two teams are competing on behalf of the UAE — Team Abu Dhabi and Team AISM representing the neighboring Emirate of Dubai. The growing stature of the event and its adoption by the international sailing community is reflected in the diverse range of teams entered from around the world this year with crews hailing from Monaco, Holland and the EU. The route will see the fleet visit stopover ports first in Qatar, then along the UAE coastline to Abu Dhabi, Dubai (new to the course this year) and Ras Al-Khaimah before passing through the Strait of Hormuz and on to Oman, visiting Dibba, Mussanah and the finish in Muscat. Amongst the favorites is Dubai-based Team AISM, skippered by Bertrand Pacé. Aside from winning the 2011 event, Pacé is a former America's Cup helmsman and, relevant to this event, has won the Tour de France a la Voile eight times in its 35-year history. However with a similar pedigree is Cedric Pouligny, skipper of Team BAE Systems, which has finished third in the past two races. New to the event is Oman Sail's MOD70 skipper Sidney Gavignet, helming EFG Bank (Monaco). Gavignet's crew includes British round the world veteran Neal McDonald and Oman's Fahad Al-Hasni. British yachtswoman Dee Caffari, the only woman to have sailed non-stop around the world singlehanded both eastabout and westabout, is back as skipper of Al-Thuraya Bank Muscat. Caffari is joined by American round-the-world sailor Katie Pettibone, but also a squad of six up and coming Omani female sailors, four of whom will be on board at any one time. Because the girls are smaller, they will race with eight, while the boys teams will be sailed by six or seven crew. — SG
