2nd GCC Beach Games at Doha, Qatar - Overall
by Icarus Sailing Media 9 Apr 2015 12:58 BST
6-8 April 2015
Big smiles for all the competing sailors
Welcome back to magnificent Doha, here in Qatar for the 2nd edition of the GCC Beach Games. It's the final day for the sport of sailing, so all the sailors are focused on putting in a good result in the last three races.
The forecast is for lighter winds so the lighter athletes have a last minute chance to take the upper hand. Making your boat go fast in light winds is a real art which requires subtlety and concentration, a real test for everyone on the race track.
And to make things harder, all the sailors have to follow specific rules on kinetics, body movements like pumping the sail, in order to avoid penalties. Racing goes under the eye of the Jury, close to the action to ensure everyone follows the rules. If the jury misses something, sailors can use a protest procedure following any opponent's breach of the rules.
Out on the race track the Optimist sailors were eager to make the best of the last races so the fleet was tighter than usual. Mahmoud Al Hammadi from the UAE was fast enough to gain 2 places on the leaderboard to secure the bronze, while two Omani sailors took the tops spots, Zakarixa Al Wahabi (gold) and Marwan Al Jabri (silver).
In the Laser Radial Class in a last minute attempt for glory Dawood Al Sadiq from Bahrain scored a bullet and a second to secure the gold. The silver went to Qatar and Faris Al Bakri who lost the gold in the final race.
In the laser standard Waleed Al-Sharshani had no problem continuing his good performance to secure the gold medal for the Qatari team.
In the Laser 4.7 gold went to Khamis Al Wahabi from Oman, silver to Saou Al Naar from Bahrain and bronze to Hamza Al Ali from the UAE.
The GCC Beach Games is building on its success as a congress for the region's athletes to get together, compete at a high level and to gain valuable experience and know-how.
All the winners enjoyed the sound of applause during the medal awards. Big smiles for all the GCC athletes who enjoyed a great competition along with some unique Qatari hospitality.
Do stay with us, as tomorrow we'll follow the 10k open water-swimming contest of the 2nd GCC Beach Games. More water action with our next report!