EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour saw French team Beijaflor win two of the three races at Sunday’s stadium racing. The young crew continued their winning ways in the first of five coastal stretches. These long coastal courses along Oman’s coastline are part of a reworking for EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour, which also includes exchanging 30ft yachts for superfast Diam 24 multihulls and introducing short, intense stadium racing close to the shore.
Reigning EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour champions EFG Bank Monaco and British-Omani-flagged Team Averda were among the crews in hot pursuit of the French as the fleet hit speeds of more than 20 knots.
Beijaflore managed to hold onto the lead until the finish line – and their victory puts them firmly at the top of the leaderboard, according to the Times of Oman.
Omani sailing star Ali Al Balushi said his EFG Bank Monaco team found their speed in the Salalah Coastal Raid after a slow start in the stadium racing, finishing the coastal race in second just ahead of Averda.
“This result is a good improvement for us, and it shows we are definitely a fast boat,” he said. “We’re going to fight hard for first place until the end of the regatta.”