Muscat: The first day of the 14th edition of Mussanah Race Week brought exceptional sailing, perfect conditions and the promise of more to come. Over120 young sailors from seven nations including Oman, China, India, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates took part in the first set of races in Optimist, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, ILCA 7 and Para Inclusive RS Venture Connect and Hansa 303 classes.
In the Optimist, the largest fleet of the competition, Jean-Luc Soaren representing the UAE leads from Anya Zahedi of Singapore, the highest ranked girl and second overall. Also in the girls competition, Shreya Krishna Lakshminarayanan from India is second and third overall with Yuxuan Li and Yi Jia Ni – both from China – third and fourth. Zeph Wan from Singapore is second in the boys competition and sixth overall, holding a narrow lead over fellow Singaporean Ethan Chia who is third in the boys competition and seventh overall.
The fleet remains compressed after just four races with a lot of movement expected as the week progresses.
The early ILCA 4 pace has been set by Abdulla Al Zoubaidi of the UAE who finished in the top three in three of his races. Al Zoubaidi leads from Tamim Al Balushi, winner of race four, and Aws Al Bosaidi, winner of race two, both from Oman. After the first day there are six Omani sailors in the top 10.
Al Moatsem Al Farsi of Oman leads the ILCA 6 with three wins and a second place from the five races. Mohammad Al Hammadi of the UAE is just two points behind after three second places and one win. Amina Shah of Kuwait is currently the highest ranked girl in the competition and third overall.
Omani sailors occupy the top three positions in the ILCA 7 after day one, led by Hussain Al Jabri, who recorded four wins from four races today. Al Salim Al Hamdani is second, level on points with Ali Al Saadi in third. The two sailors traded second and third places in all four races.
In the Para Inclusive RS Venture Connect, while the team of Zahir Al Atabi and Abdulrahman Al Hamdani lead the Hansa 303 after winning all three races. Malik Al Qartubi and Ahmed Zaal Nabout are second and Hassan Al Lawati and Adil Al Siyabi are third just one point behind.
In total, there will be 12 races in each class – no more than three per day – will decide the winners. Prizes will be awarded for the overall top three in each class, as well as the Junior top three for sailors under the age of 12, and the girls top three, as well as the overall Team Racing competition.
Conditions so far have been ideal, with bright blue skies and winds of 7 knots.
Abdullatif Ziad Al Qasmi, an ILCA 4 sailor representing the ASYAD Group, “I am really enjoying being in such a competitive atmosphere with young sailors from around the world. We can all see how focused everyone is, and I am aiming to finish in a podium position this week. We have a strong Omani team here at Mussanah Race Week and we know that every race is a chance to improve. This is a busy period and regardless of where we finish, this is excellent preparation for upcoming events.”
Mussanah Race Week is officiated by an International Jury comprised of Louis Mackenzie from New Zealand, Satish Kanwar from India, and Saleh Al Jabri and Ali Al Ambusaidi from Oman. They must ensure each race is started and completed fairly, all penalties are noted,equipment confirms to the racing rules and any protests are resolved correctly.
Satish Kanwar, International Judge and Race Officer, commented, “It is a pleasure to be here in Oman for this prestigious event, and I am honoured to chair the Protest Committee for this edition. With sailors representing seven nations and more than 120 entries, this event continues to demonstrate impressive growth and international appeal. Our committee is committed to ensuring fair competition, consistency in the application of the rules, and upholding the highest standards of sportsmanship on the water. I look forward to an exciting week of racing and wish all the sailors the very best.”
Mussanah Race Week 2024 proudly achieved Gold Level Clean Regatta certification from Sailors for the Sea Powered by Oceana, recognising Oman Sail’s leadership in embedding sustainability and ocean conservation into every aspect of its operations and events. Building on this success, the 2025 edition continues to strengthen its environmental commitment through an ongoing partnership with Barceló Mussanah Resort, where sustainable practices, such as biodegradable materials, and local sourcing of over 65% of products, are integral to daily operations. This year, sailors experienced the resort’s pioneering circular economy initiative, which transforms collected food waste, including from the event itself, into nutrient-rich fertiliser that reduces methane emissions and nourishes the resort’s landscaped gardens. Sailors took part in a behind-the-scenes tour of the biodigester system, seeing firsthand how simple actions like food waste segregation can prevent organic waste from ending up in landfills.
As part of the event’s educational programme, 52 sailors participated in an Environmental Awareness Workshop focused on protecting Oman’s marine biodiversity, from its vibrant coral reefs to endangered sea turtles. This week will continue with a community beach cleanup at Mussanah Public Beach, reinforcing the shared goal to leave only footprints in the sand. Debbie Richardson, Senior Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Strategist, shared, “Oman Sail’s sustainability mission is to raise awareness about protecting our environment and to lead by example, showing that even small actions can create lasting change. Mussanah Race Week continues to set the standard for sustainable sailing, inspiring sailors to become catalysts for meaningful, positive change in line with global sustainability goals.”
Later in the week,Oman Sail and the Barceló Mussanah Resort will host a BBQ night for all sailors, staff and families to experience authentic Omani hospitality and bond with each other.
Mussanah Race Week 2025 is supported by title partner ASYAD,Gold partner QNB Oman, bronze partners Barceló Mussanah Resort, Mazoon Dairy, Tanuf Water and Visit Oman, as well as the Oman Maritime Sports Committee.
