Inaugural Qatar Optimist Cup at Doha - Day 5
by Icarus Sailing Media 2 Jan 2014 07:07 GMT
27 December 2013 - 2 January 2014
2014 starts with the best possible conditions for the final day of the Qatar Optimist Cup
The race committee of the Qatar Optimist Cup decided for the fifth day of the event that if they could get four races in today, that would be enough for the championship. So the 50 sailors taking part set out early to make the best of the 12 knots of breeze.
On the start of the first race, the committee boat end was favoured and the young Turkish sailor, Rasim Yasar, who was leading overall by a huge margin, made the best start.
But at the top mark, Navyn Prabhakar from India rounded first a long way ahead of the rest of the fleet. Downwind he increased his lead at the bottom mark for the last upwind leg. Meanwhile a group of five were battling for the second spot with Algerians Akill Nouha and Hichem Mokhtari round in second and third.
On the final upwind Navyn Prabhakar chose the right side of the course which gave the opportunity to Yasar to take the lead. Crossing the line, this made it five wins out of nine for the Turkish Yasar, putting his overall position almost unassailable. Navyn Prabhakar crossed second.
The final three races were sailed in the best conditions of the regatta – 15 knots of wind and sparkling sunshine.
Rasim Yasar managed to nail the final three races as well for an emphatic championship win, a great result for the Turkish sailor. Marsha Shahrin from Singpaore will be pleased with her second place overall, as will Florine Bramervaer from Holland who just pipped Okyanus Arikan by three points.
The prizegiving and closing ceremony for the Qatar Optimist cup is taking place at the Sharqe Hotel tomorrow...
It was a fantastic event enjoyed by 50 sailors from 15 countries, plus all the supporting families and coaches, and superbly run by the Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation who are looking for more entrants same time, same place next year.
More information on the event website at www.qatarsailing.org