15th Dubai Muscat Yacht Race - Start

The 15th Dubai to Muscat race started at lunchtime on the 18th January from Dubai Offshore Sailing Club. The race this year has been overseen by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) who administer such races as the Fastnet and Cowes Week.

Twelve boats have entered the 365 nautical mile race from Dubai, up the west coast, through the Straits of Hormuz and across the Arabian Sea to Muscat. A good 20 knot wind sent the competitors on their way with a long beat into the wind heading up the UAE coastline. The early leader, as expected, was Yo, Toby O Connell’s Pacific 50 which is expected to come close to breaking the existing record of 51 hours and 52 minutes held by Twister. Yo is closely followed by Faith, a Beneteau 44.7 owned by an Emirates pilot Francis Carr and the rest of the fleet are spread out along the coast.

There is a website to track the boats at map.globaltrack.com/dubai_muscat/# and if the winds stay as forecast then Yo could be in Muscat on the morning of Sunday 20th January breaking the record by hours.

There will be a prize-giving and reception at the Bandar Al Rawdha Marina in Muscat on the 23rd January.