Oman All Set for 2019 Optimist Asian and Oceanian Championships

A Young Omani Sailor in action © Oman Sail

Young sailors from 20 countries will vie for the top honours at the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) Asian and Oceanian Championships, which will be held at the Mussanah Sports City from September 30-October 7. The annual prestigious championships is one of the most popular event among the young sailors and nearly 150 sailors have already registered for the event.

Besides sailors from Asia and Oceania, there is participation from Brazil and US.

Oman had won the bid to host the regional championships in 2017 at the purpose-built Olympic standard venue that offers outstanding facilities, including the Millennium Resort Mussanah, as well as ideal winter sailing conditions with blue skies, warm weather and reliable winds.

Rashid al Kindi, vice-president of the Asian Sailing Federation and Oman Sail’s acting director of sailing, said, “Oman Sail is passionate about delivering top-level international events, and as we celebrate our tenth anniversary we can be proud of what we have achieved.

“Our Optimist team came eighth at the Asian Championships in Myanmar last year, and we are on track to reach our goal of winning a medal this time. Qualifying for the gold fleet at the recent world championship in Antigua was another milestone in the development of our Optimist squad.”

A total of 16 sailors, representing Oman Sail’s four sailing schools, will compete for the hosts.

The latest championships underlines Oman’s growing stature as a world-class venue for international sailing events.

Oman has previously hosted the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series, the Extreme Sailing Series, Sailing Arabia–The Tour (SATT), the Formula Kite World Championships and, later this year, will also be the venue for the finale of the 2019 GC32 Racing Tour.

Mussanah Sports City has also hosted world championships for the RS:X Windsurfing and Laser Radial Women in 2015, and Laser Standard Men, Youth and Masters in 2013.

“Oman has an impressive history of hosting international sailing events, and we are looking forward to adding the IODA 2019 Asian and Oceanian Championship to that growing list,” said David Graham, Oman Sail CEO.

Following the opening ceremony on October 1, the races will continue until October 7 with competitions in individual and team categories.