The 2010 Extreme Sailing Series was won by ‘The Wave – Muscat’. The blue boat was seen by thousands of people watching the series at the events and hundreds of thousands more on multiple media platforms. It’s hard to imagine a better way to promote a state of the art marina facility.

Dubai-based marina developer, Mourjan Marinas IGY will develop and manage the luxury marina facility in Muscat, Oman, to ensure it becomes one of the region’s top yachting lifestyle destinations.

The Wave, Muscat, is the first integrated resort and residential development to be undertaken in the greater Muscat region and brings with it beautiful properties, a Greg Norman-designed golf course, five-star hotels and a host of new retail, leisure and dining opportunities all situated along a 7km seafront address. At the heart of The Wave, Muscat, lies the 400 plus berth marina, a vibrant destination that will offer a breathtaking setting for sailing enthusiasts whilst providing an integrated marina lifestyle for its new residents.

Michael Horrigan, CEO of Mourjan Marinas IGY, said:

‘We are proud to be a part of what is a very exciting project in Muscat and continuing our rapid growth in this region which is fast becoming one of the leading destinations for marina developments and waterfront living in the world. What is so appealing about this initiative is the opportunity it offers Mourjan Marinas IGY to support the overall goal of Oman to create a world-class sailing boat industry. We are delighted to be entrusted with such a vital project that will allow us to bring our expertise and knowledge of the market to deliver on what will be one of the region’s leading marinas.’

Mourjan Marinas IGY’s management role with The Wave, Muscat, will see the Dubai-based company provide every level of support from design through to development support and optimizing the marina for operations. Mourjan Marinas IGY will then fully manage and operate the facility and will oversee the regional and global marketing of the facility.

Michael Lenarduzzi, CEO of The Wave, Muscat said:

‘This agreement is a testament to our commitment to not only building the ultimate home and lifestyle destination in the heart of the capital, but to bolster the nation’s thriving tourism industry. The Marina will most certainly complement our existing standards of living as we position Oman as a distinguished yachting and sailing centre that would compete within the global luxury boating circuit. Our strategic partnership with Mourjan Marinas IGY brings a wealth of expertise through a clear focus on hospitality and a proven track record in managing Marinas in some of the world’s top waterfront developments. We will also benefit from the wide range of services and solutions they offer in marina development and operations to set new standards for the scope and quality of our mixed-use development.’

Muscat will host the opening round of the new look, international Extreme Sailing Series in February 2011.

Sailing Sponsorship of Oman Sail is more than Just Marketing.

There is a definition of sponsorship that is less about business and promotion and more about long term investment. Sponsorship can mean: “One who assumes responsibility for another person or a group during a period of instruction, apprenticeship, or probation.” Of course the the multiple definitions of sponsorship need not be mutually exclusive. Long term investment can lead to long term brand building results.

The Oman Sail project has long term goals that are about nation building and campaigns partners also have similar goals. The Oman Sailing School at Marina Bandar Al Rowdha has been operational for over a year and has trained over 1,500 Omanis already as part of Oman Sail’s five year plan to teach 30,000 young Omanis to sail by 2015.

Over 75 students from Al Bustan School recently attended the BAE Systems sponsored ‘Try Sailing’ days held from 1-3 December. The young sailors proudly waved the Omani flags while sailing as part of their tribute to the nation on the occasion of the 40th National Day.

Earlier this year BAE Systems announced its partnership with Oman Sail to encompass a wide range of activities, including sponsorship of the grassroots development of the Oman Sailing School with apprenticeship programmes and sponsorship of a schools and education programme consisting of “Try Sailing” days for schools and young Omanis. BAE Systems also has its branding on Masirah, the Extreme 40 boat entered in the Extreme Sailing Series.

Andy Carr, managing director of BAE Systems Oman, said:

“Our partnership with Oman Sail demonstrates our long-term commitment to education and skills development within the Omani community. We are delighted to be a part of the ‘Try Sailing’ programme which gives students the opportunity to learn about the Sultanate’s maritime heritage as well as help build their team-work and decision-making skills.”

Ali Ambusaidi, chief sailing instructor at Oman Sail, said:

“BAE Systems has been the backbone of the programme. It is with such support that we are able to continue working collaboratively in teaching the children our great sport that not only benefits them physically, but also develops their personality traits and confidence levels. This year will witness a great development for the Oman Sailing School as we are in the process of opening up two more schools in Oman, enabling us to reach out to more Omanis and teach them how to sail.

“Sailing is a sport of discipline and needs a lot of focus but at the same time, it is great fun for the children. The wind conditions today were great and to see all the joy and smiles on the faces of the kids during the celebration of our national day makes it picture perfect.”

Among the young sailors, 16 year old Sara Al Wahaibi also shared her enthusiasm and joy in sailing.

“Sailing is indeed one of the coolest things I have ever tried. I learned so much about new techniques in how to balance the boat with my teammate and how to trim the sails to make the best out of the wind. The coaches also talked to us about the marine life of our country and how our forefathers were so passionate about sailing. It makes me so proud to learn a sport that is associated with our culture and also gives me a chance to spend time in my favourite place; the sea!”

With the support and guidance of the Ministry of Tourism, Oman Sail was set up in 2008 to rekindle Oman’s maritime history and to inspire a new generation of young Omanis to take up sailing as recreation and as a competitive sport.

More Oman Sail News

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It’s hard to find a better example of how sailing can be used to teach, inspire and aid development than Oman Sail. With a bit of political will and a long term vision that incorporates legacy factors, the sport of sailing can drive skills development, self esteem, national pride, technology transfer and tourism. In just 2 years, the project has proved that elite competition can drive grass-roots interest and that without the restrictions of ‘old fashioned yacht clubs’, sailing can be attractive and accessible.

Yesterday in Paris, the CEO of Oman Sail, David Graham hosted a press conference in Paris to talk about the competition that the Oman Sail team would be involved with in France in 2010. The Tour de France à la Voile, the Route du Rhum and the French leg of the Extreme Sailing Series Europe competition are the visible, billboard part of Oman Sail, but behind the competition lies a commitment to develop seven sailing schools across Oman ove the next 5 years and create an enduring capability to inspire, teach and coach young Omanis to be able to succeed in the field of maritime endeavour.

Nearly two years old, the project has already achieved a number of successes. In March 2009, Mohsin Al Busaidi became the first Omani and Arab to sail non-stop around the world on the trimaran Musandam (previously Ellen MacArthur’s Castorama/ B&Q). This was a source of huge national pride back home and inspiration to the youth. This success was soon followed by two Omani Extreme 40 entries taking both the European and Asian Extreme Sailing Series Circuits by storm with a double win on their boat Masirah and coming third and second respectively on the second Oman boat Renaissance / The Wave, Muscat. After two years as apprentices, two Omanis became full time sailors in the Asian circuit and Nasser Al Massari will now be moving over from the Extreme 40 circuit to the Omani Tour de France à la Voile team to share his expertise with the new Omani trainees.

With huge success on the international arena, back in Muscat the first of the Oman sailing schools was opened in mid-2009 and this now focuses on a double mission of forming an elite squad that is qualified to compete in international races at a high standard and secondly in developing a school and community sailing programme to give Omanis an opportunity to try the sport for themselves. The school now has six Omani instructors and three international coaches and consists of forty sailing dinghies and small sporting catamarans.

After two gruelling selection processes, the elite squad now consists of forty full-time Omani sailors learning to sail at a high standard and four hundred and fifty school children have already taken part in a six-week training course once a week after school that now enables them to sail safely on their own in light winds. A second sailing school will be opened later this year outside the capital Muscat, with a further five schools opening along the coast by 2015.

We’ll be covering the Paris announcements in more detail over coming days, but you can read the full story at the OMAN SAIL website

The growth of sailing in emerging markets is giving sponsors more options when it comes to matching sailing properties with communications goals.

This week Oman Sail have announced a new partnership with BAE Systems. Many sponsorships are based on targeting a specific audience in a specific market, and more sailing projects in more markets makes it easier for brands to use sailing as a marketing platform.

BAE Systems has a long and well-established relationship with Oman, a trusted partnership which dates back over 30 years, and is a major provider of defence equipment to the country. The partnership with Oman Sail is an important initiative for BAE Systems and is a demonstration of its commitment to this key market.

Oman Sail’s strategy of having multiple boats in multiple sailing disciplines allows the sponsorship to be leveraged to a wider audience. Given BAE Systems’ product and service offer, the Oman Sail project will also be important for B2G (Business to Government) activity.

BAE System’s partnership allows the company to have its branding on Masirah, the Extreme 40 boat currently at the top of the Extreme 40s Asia series leader board, and encompasses a wide range of activities, including sponsorship the development of the Oman Sailing School with apprenticeship programmes and sponsorship of a schools and education programme consisting of “Try Sailing” days for schools and young Omanis.

Speaking at the launch of the partnership, Guy Griffiths, Director International, commented:

“We are delighted to be working with Oman Sail on this exciting initiative, particularly in a country as important to us as Oman.”

“At BAE Systems, we are committed to education and skills development throughout our global business, and to support young people in developing their leadership skills. Through the Sailing School, Oman Sail’s aim is to make sailing accessible to the young people of Oman and this, in turn, allows them to develop the skills and experiences they need to create a sustainable sailing future for the country.

David Graham, CEO of Oman Sail, added:

“We are delighted to have BAE Systems as an official partner and thank them for their support. Their confidence in Oman Sail is extremely important to us and we look forward to having a rewarding partnership with them”.

One of the the themes at the World Yacht Racing Forum last week was that sailing’s new audiences are probably not in Europe or America. Just as F1 is moving slowly east, so too are yacht racing’s innovators including the World Match Racing Tour, Extreme Asia Series and Volvo Ocean Race.

Though it seems more and more unlikely that RAK will host the next America’s Cup, sailing in the Middle East is attracting more attention. Last week, while we were at the World Yacht Racing Forum (WYRF), we overlooked this story about Bank of Beirut sponsoring the Muscat Regatta.

Many at the WYRF commented about the opportunities that sailing provided to network with people that would otherwise be impossible to connect with. Guests at the Muscat Regatta included Hamad Said Al Oufi, undersecretary of Ministry of Fisheries as guest of honour. Also present was Saleem Al Zawawi, the chairman of Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, and the managing director of Bank of Beirut Remy Zambarakji, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Sports Affairs.

There was also a tourism and development element to the event. Building on the strength of the Oman Sail project, other in Oman, including Marina Bandar Al Rowdha are delivering the same message.

Saleem Al Zawawi said:

“We at Marina Bandar Al Rowdha feel that it is high time that Oman, as a Maritime nation with a sea-faring tradition going back over hundreds of years, has its own blue-water yacht race. The planned Muscat Regatta which was held here is the result of over a year of hard work and will fulfil the aspirations of many Omani and expatriate sailors.”

The regatta is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Sports Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism and will be managed by a British firm of International repute – GWM Racing Limited.

Remy Zambarakji, managing director of Bank of Beirut, Oman said of the decision to sponsor the Regatta:

“The bank’s aim is to support this exciting sport and take it one step forward to become an international race. We are certain that the Regatta in general, and specifically the Muscat-Khasab race will be a great success, and we are very proud of our sponsorship and involvement, especially considering the fact that Muscat and Beirut share centuries of maritime heritage together”.

The recent successes of Oman Sail on the European circuit has fired the imagination of many young Omanis wanting to sail and according to Al Zawawi, building a competitive platform for these young sailors is something very important to all involved in Muscat Regatta 2009.

“We are helping to build the national sailing teams of tomorrow in hosting this event, providing them with an important opportunity for competition to hone their newly acquired skills. The Muscat Regatta now has the potential and the financial support to become not just a regional event, but also an international one – attracting yachts from all over the world.” Al Zawawi concluded.

It was only a matter of time before the Xtreme 40 platform concieved by Herbert Dercksen and brilliantly executed by OC Events spread from Europe to other markets. The format was tested in the Middle East last year and yesterday, the company announced that a “winter” series would be run from November to March in Asia.

Extreme Sailing Series Asia will visit Hong Kong, Singapore and Oman with the possibility of a fourth venue to be confirmed. The plan is to grow to a six-event series by 2011/12. Bids have already been received for the future series from a number of other venues across Asia.

After the spectacular finale of the six-stage European iShares Cup circuit last weekend in Almería (Spain), five of the boats were packed up to be shipped directly to Hong Kong.

Mark Turner, CEO of OC Group:

“The iShares Cup has been running very successfully for three years now in Europe and the Extreme Sailing Series Asia is the next step in the evolution of this exciting sailing format – a format which has become a benchmark in terms of changing the way sailing is seen. Our aim is to build this series each year on the same foundations on which the European iShares Cup has been built – a comprehensive sailing entertainment event that packages the sport to appeal to the public, media and provide experiential VIP client hospitality. For this inaugural series in Asia we won’t be focused on the public side directly, instead we will work hard on the VIP and media aspects, as we did in the early iShares Cup years. But, of course, our aspiration is to build this circuit up over the coming years to match the award-winning iShares Cup format including a strong public element.”

The first event in the Extreme Sailing Series Asia will take place over the 20th-24th November in Hong Kong, supported by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, to coincide with their annual ‘Around the Island Race’ on the 22nd November. With over 200 entries the Around the Island Race is Hong Kong’s largest and most inclusive sailing event. The RHKYC is well equipped to support the series given its long time presence in Hong Kong waters as the premier sailing club.

The circuit will then move on to Singapore from 11th-15th December where sailing has become synonymous with sporting excellence in the region, after multiple medal success at the Asian Games and the ISAF Youth World Championships. One of the country’s key objectives is to make Singapore a key hub for sailing competitions.

Muscat, Oman will host the third event over the 1st to 5th February just before the America’s Cup in the neighbouring United Arab Emirates, subject to the current legal dispute. The Sultanate of Oman, home to the legend of Sindbad, is known throughout the Gulf for its spectacular beauty and hospitality. The two Oman Sail boats that finished in 1st and 3rd place in the European 2009 iShares Cup, will return to the Extreme Sailing Series Asia this time with two Omani recruits from the Oman Sail Academy on board as part of the crew.

The inaugural Extreme Sailing Series Asia will see the same high calibre of competitors currently competing in the European circuit with Olympians, World Champions and Record Holders battling it out for victory in this new territory.

For further information, please email info@extremesailingseriesasia.com

The Oman Sail project is a story of vision. It is also a textbook case of how to activate sponsorship of sport across a wide variety of projects. Just as the UK will experience a blip of national pride as a result of winning back the Ashes from Australia, the Oman Sail project is building pride in a nation where sailing has always been part of life, just not sporting life.

The launch of the new Arabian 100 trimaran then is not just some rich person’s toy – its a symbol of a country taking on the world. In the team’s own words : It’s a proud day for Oman as the Arabian 100 trimaran touches water for the very first time here in Salalah Port.

While many will ‘ooh and ahhh’ at the shiny new hulls, its great to know that there are side-effects of the programme like Safiya Al Habsi, a young lady who is the first Omani girl to become a qualified sailing instructor.

Just as F1 is slowly moving south and east, with new races in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and China, so too are sailing’s biggest opportunities outside traditional markets. The World Match Racing Tour visits Malaysia and Korea. The Volvo Ocean Race visited India and China – places where the sport of sailing is new, exciting and underdeveloped.

The Arabian 100 is a statement of intent. Traditional sailing powers wake up, shake up and be bold – or lose out.

Photos by Oman Sail / Lloyd Images

Oman Sail has officially been launched. Ellen MacArthur was on hand in Muscat, Oman, for the announcement of a round the world record attempt, on board her former record breaking 75-foot trimaran ‘B&Q, now known as ‘Musandam’.

Macurther said:

“Oman Sail is a project with a great heart and serious aims, and watching the Omani team progress over the past 6 months of intensive learning has been fantastic. I’m delighted to see my old boat now heading off across the oceans again on a new challenge, she was created for that! I wish the Oman Sail team fair winds and good luck on what remains an extremely difficult challenge – although I’m sure ‘Musandam’ will look after them.”

Mohsin Al Busaidi looks set to be the first ever Omani to attempt the gruelling 23,000 miles around the planet from Muscat to Muscat. If successful, the 5 person crew of ‘Musandam’ will join a select group of people who have circumnavigated the globe non-stop.

Moshsin commented:

“I am deeply honoured to have been selected to represent Oman on this first attempt to race around the world. Success is by no means certain, but we promise to give it our very best to make our country proud every step of the way. I can’t comprehend how cold the Southern Ocean will be, but the warmth of Oman will remain in our hearts and keep us strong on journey onboard Musandam.”

Oman’s Minister for Tourism, Her Excellency, Dr Rajhia bint Abdulamir bin Ali, launched the Oman Sail project. Her Excellency explained:

“Oman Sail is a long term initiative created to inspire a new generation of young Omanis to take up sailing as recreation and as competitive sport, to restore Oman’s maritime eminence through competing at international level, as well as supporting the development of events to support professional sailing in the Arabian Peninsula.”

Backed by the Sultanate, Oman Sail aims to promote the country of Oman to a wider international audience to encourage economic investment, promote the country as a prime tourist destination and, at the same time, provide working opportunities for its growing population of young adults.

Oman Sail’s dream is a big one, and it will take a decade or more to build this new capability for the Omani team to compete at top-level competitions, and is part of the plan to drive interest in young Omanis to step onboard.

In conjunction with the launch, and fresh from Act 1 of the Arabian Extreme 40 Challenge in Dubai, Oman Sail, supported by Partner Oman Air, are hosting the second 3-day ‘Act’. Each of the 4 boats competing includes 2 sailors from the Oman Sail Race Team, in their first ever competitive regatta as crew.

Shirley Robertson OBE, double Olympic Gold medallist, and skipper of “Oman Air” for this event, has been impressed by the Omani sailors:

“It is great to see a new nation sailing, my Omani crew are so motivated to learn, I am really looking forward to this next event.”

The Oman Air Challenge will be raced off Muscat between the 2nd and 4th of December. In 2009, Oman Sail will continue to race in the European iShares Cup Extreme 40 circuit, as well complete the construction of a new One Design 105′ ocean racing trimaran. Further details of this new boat will be released to the sailing media in the coming weeks.

Mark Turner has commented on the state of sponsorship in sailing. Speaking at the inaugural Arabian Extreme 40 Challenge Turner said:

“I was at the European Sponsorship Association conference recently and it’s something we were discussing,” he says. “Twenty years ago, sponsorship was viewed as an add-on. Now it’s all part of integrated marketing strategies, and nearly 20 per cent of all market spend – with the multiplication of media channels gettings the sponsor’s message to the client is harder than ever through advertising, sponsorship if often the driver itself of marketing campaigns, not an extra.

“Sponsorship in this circuit may not drop at all, in fact it is the one event area that might even grow.

“You may get the situation where multimillion-dollar companies don’t want to leave sailing, but don’t have the million dollar sponsorship budgets anymore.

“With iShares Cup Extreme 40 campaigns being relatively low budget events – in the hundreds of thousands rather than millions – and offering great business-to-business hospitality, media exposure and public visibility across several countries, they are great value for money and perfectly positioned as belts get tightened.”

The first Arabian Extreme 40 Challenge has begun in Dubai. The racing is the first of two demonstration events to introduce the class to the region to investigate the potential of a full series.

Four Extreme 40s teams including iShares and Oman Sail, will be take part moving from Dubai to Muscat, Oman, from 2-4 December.

The Arabian Extreme 40 Challenge will be run by OC Events, the owners and organisers of the successful European iShares Cup and supported by Oman Sail. Following the same short, sharp format as the hugely successful iShares Cup European Series, racing will take place in Dubai from the Mina Seyahi, before heading to Muscat for the second event (2-4 December) for the Oman Air trophy, in conjunction with the official launch of the Oman Sail project on 2 December.

Amongst the sailors will be of the world’s best yachtsmen and women, including British double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson and top French multihull sailor Karine Fauconnier. Olympic Bronze medallist Chris Draper will skipper Oman Sail.

The international crews will include Omani sailors on every boat, as well as a lucky ‘sixth man’ – a unique opportunity for a VIP or journalist to get onboard the Extreme 40s during racing and be part of the action. The four teams will not only be looking forward to racing old rivals, but it also provides a great opportunity to practice ahead of the 2009 iShares Cup, with plans firmly underway for next year’s series.

OC Event Director, Gilles Chiorri is yet to announce the European venues for 2009, but says: ‘We have been visiting a number of venues in the UK, France, Switzerland, Germany and Holland as we are looking to build on the successful foundations of the iShares Cup series over the last two years’.

He added: “The Extreme 40 boats are so spectacular, providing the public with real close-quarter action at a variety of venues – coastal, inland waters including inner city locations. There are a whole host of reasons as to what makes a good venue but, for sure, we are looking for premier locations that can offer the public a great spectacle as well as a fantastic VIP entertainment package.”