Around Bahrain in a Laser!
by John Reed, WSSR 7 May 2004 12:45 BST
From John Reed at the World Speed Sailing Record Council. One rather out of the ordinary:
'A Performance Certificate for Around Bahrain, singlehanded, with assistance.'
Sami Kooheji
Laser dinghy
1st to 2nd April 2004
Elapsed time 27 hours 1 minute 22 seconds
Distance 86.4 nm
An extract from the WSSR Commissioner's report:
"Situated in the south-western corner of the Persian Gulf, between the coasts of Saudi Arabia and the State of Quatar, Bahrain is an archipeligo of 36 islands with a total land area of 706 sq. km.
The name is derived from the two Arabic words "thnain bahr" meaning "two seas". This refers to the phenomenon of sweet water springs under the sea, which mingle with the salty sea water. The water in this area of the Gulf is in general very shallow with coral reefs just below or at the surface in
many places. The tidal range being seldom more than one metre the use of even small escorting power boats for such a circumnavigation must be undertaken with great circumspection."
So a larger, faster boat may have to travel a much larger distance.