The team from France took the gold ahead of Oman, with Italian Luna Rosa team in third. The event was a showcase for offshore and inshore racing in identical DIAM24 crafts around the Italian coastline starting in Genova a month ago
Oman Sail’s team finished the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Tour in Italy in second place after powering through tough conditions to claim the silver medals. An excellent first week which saw the team leading at the halfway stage was followed by a solid second week against very strong competition.
The team from France took the gold ahead of Oman, with Italian Luna Rosa team in third.
The event was a showcase for offshore and inshore racing in identical DIAM24 crafts around the Italian coastline starting in Genova a month ago. The tour then visited Rome, Gaeta, Napoli, Brindisi, Bari, Ravenna and concluded in Venice.
Starting strong, the crew notched up two first place finishes in their opening three races. This form continued as overall performance improved, culminating in an excellent performance on day one in Naples where they won all three races.
The second week began in Brindisi after a week of recovery and work in the gym. Conditions were difficult as winds changed but the team finished in second overall, although did have to contend with a disqualification in the final race of the day for a minor infraction.
The remaining races included two inshore races and a 50 nautical mile coastal race, which the team coped with well, finishing third overall. They improved the following day with a second-place finish in Bari before heading to Ravenna for a short race, where they finished sixth, and a long 76 nautical mile coastal race where they finished fourth.
Venice hosted the finale and the team started well before succumbing to another disqualification in the last race of the penultimate day. They battled back on the final day but could not make the leap into first place.
The team had been scheduled to withdraw after racing at Brindisi in order to begin training in Switzerland, but the run of excellent performances resulted in the team remaining in Italy to complete the final race.
Nasser Al Mashari, Oman Sail team captain, said, “To finish second in our first event back after a long break is extremely impressive. Originally, we were not intending to finish, so to end the Tour in second place has exceeded all expectations. I am proud of the entire team. It was great to get back on the water and test ourselves in the DIAM24”.
Venice hosted the finale and the team started well before succumbing to another disqualification in the last race of the penultimate day. They battled back on the final day but could not make the leap into first place.
The in-port races and offshore legs provided a difficult test at times but we learned together and this bond will be valuable in our next adventure at the Star Sailors League in Switzerland. After that the team will return home to face visiting crews in Oman. It’s a busy season but we’re glad to be back sailing again.”
Training for the Star Sailors League Finals began on 21 September. Team Manager Hashim Al Rashdi, Yassir Al Rahbi, Waleed Al Kindi, Musab Al Hadi, Ahmed Al Hasani, AbdulRahman Al Mashari and Raad Al Hadi were already in Switzerland preparing for the race against 12 teams from around the world.
Team Captain Nasser Al Mashari, Hussain Al Jabri, Ali Al Balushi, Haitham Al Wahaibi and Akram Al Wahaibi will now join them as they prepare to battle it out in a series of Inshore Races for the Sir Roland Symonette Trophy, the first major international tournament for Oman’s team of elite sailors post-pandemic.
Crews from the Nastro Rosa Tour are due to take part in Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2021, starting in Mussanah on 24 November and ending in Muscat on 5 December as a busy winter season of sailing in the Sultanate comes to a close.
Oman’s Nastro Rosa Tour Team featured:
Nasser Al Mashari – ((Team Captain), Hussain Al Jabri, Haitham Al Wahaibi, Akram Al Wahaibi, and Ali Al Balushi
Oman’s Star Sailors League team will feature:
Hashim Al Rashdi – (Team Manager) , Nasser Al Mashari – (Team Captain), Haitham Al Wahaibi, Yassir Al Rahbi, Waleed Al Kindi, Musab Al Hadi, Hussain Al Jabri, Ahmed Al Hasani, AbdulRahman Al Mashari, Akram Al Wahaibi, Ali Al Balushi and Raad Al Hadi
Operating under Oman Tourism Development Company, Oman Sail is tasked with rekindling the country’s maritime eminence, promote the Sultanate around the world through sailing, contribute to the sustainable prosperity of the nation and provide long-term learning opportunities for the youth.
Since 2008, Oman Sail has built a solid foundation around Sailing, Tourism, Commerce, Health and Environment, all underpinned with competency-based development for its workforce. Committed to offering both men and women equal opportunities to learn, Oman Sail’s programmes focus on nurturing young talent to develop the sailing champions of tomorrow, increasing revenue in the tourism, activity and experiential learning markets and gaining prominent international exposure for the country.
The company has a strong track record in delivering a portfolio of events across the Sultanate to showcase Oman’s natural beauty, tourism potential, the people’s hospitality, and the infrastructure readiness for business opportunities.
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