Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2021

The 11th edition of Sailing Arabia – The Tour returned to grace the clear blue seas just off the coast of the Barceló Mussanah Resort earlier this week with six teams representing five different nations ready to tackle Oman’s premier offshore race. It was the visiting team of Team France, with several sailors making their Tour debut this year, who took an early lead, winning the first and second day of races with a narrow advantage over DB Schenker flying the flag for Germany winning the third day with a mixed male and female Omani crew.

Organisers Oman Sail sit third after the first three days after improving one place each day so far, slightly ahead of Oman Investment Authority in fourth. Hosts Barceló Mussanah Resort of Spain are fifth and Nastro Rosa from Italy, also taking part for the first time, currently in sixth.

Saleh Al Jabri, Project Manager of the event, said, “It has been a great start to this year’s Sailing Arabia – The Tour and we have already seen how capable this diverse fleet is. The first two days of racing have been electric, with fierce determination and a high level of tactical awareness on show throughout. The debuting teams have started strongly but we know this is a complex and varied proposition and there is a long way to go. Sailing Arabia – The Tour is Oman’s premier offshore race and over the last decade the race has given some of Oman’s best sailors the chance to prove themselves and showcase their talent against supreme talent from around the world. We are looking forward to another excellent edition this year and are proud to have the opportunity to share our warm hospitality and beautiful coastline with visiting sailors once again.”

Antoine Rucard from Team France, said, “This is my third time sailing in Oman and I am very happy to be here. We competed in the 2019 Sailing Arabia – The Tour, finishing second as part of Cheminées Poujoulat, and we are pleased to be back and sailing in this amazing country once again.”
With its combination of coastal raids and in-port races, Sailing Arabia – The Tour has become a favourite with Omani sailors and visiting crews taking part in competitive sailing during the winter months.

The opening ceremony took place in the bright Mussanah sunshine which made the water glisten, offering the perfect introduction to Oman for the fleet. Conditions have continued to be perfect for the first two days, ensuring that it is the skill of the teams which determine the outcome. Racing continues at Barceló Mussanah Resort today before the fleet heads to the next leg in Sur for racing between 27-29 November 2021.

From Sur, the Tour then returns north to Marina Bandar Al Rowdha for a coastal raid and in-port race on 1-2 December and then onward to Muscat for the final leg from 3-5 December 2021.

The event is supported by national carrier Oman Air, OQ and the Barceló Mussanah Resort as official partners, and Be’ah as environmental supporter. The National Mineral Water Company Salsabeel Water provided all essential water supplies for the event while the Royal Navy of Oman provided medical support throughout.

Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2021 will be run in full adherence to the government of Oman’s latest COVID-19 safety protocols. More information about the event and instructions on how to register are available on the official website https://sailingarabiathetour.com/.


The 2nd leg of this year’s Sailing Arabia – The Tour ended with Team France still in the lead as the gap to DB Schenker in second grew to four points. Team Oman Sail remain in third with Team Oman Investment Authority in fourth, Barceló Mussanah Resort fifth and Nastro Rosa of Italy in sixth.

Racing featured a longer coastal raid along the shoreline, which Team France won ahead of DB Schenker and Nastro Rosa, and then two short stadium races. Team France and Oman Sail traded wins, each claiming victory in one and relegating the other team to second place. As well as a one-point gap at the top, Oman Sail has opened up a three point advantage over fourth place as the fleet began to separate.

Ali Al Balushi, bowman on the Barceló Mussanah Resort team, said, “Today was a great day of sailing, very challenging with some ups and downs for our team but we came back in the coastal raid, finishing fourth. Afterwards we had two inshore races, finishing fourth and sixth, last, which was a bit frustrating. There are still two more stages, and we will try to improve as a team, make good decisions and we’re confident the results will come in the end.”

Solune Robert, Helmsman from Team France, said, “Today we had three races, and all three went very well for our team. There was a tight battle and some contact with the other boats which was a very nice feeling, a reminder that the competition is fierce. There are some very strong teams this year. We finished first and second in the in-port races and are very happy with our performance. Sur is a very beautiful place to sail, the winds move a lot in direction and strength here, which is a challenge but we are very happy to be here to race.”

Racing continued in Sur with a further coastal raid and two more in-port races. Plenty of points were up for grabs as the teams continue to jostle for position. From Sur, the fleet will travel north to Marina Bandar Al Rowdha for a series of coastal raids and in-port races on 1-2 December and then onward to Muscat for the final leg from 3-5 December 2021 when the medals will be decided.

The event is supported by national carrier Oman Air, OQ and the Barceló Mussanah Resort as official partners, and Be’ah as environmental supporter. The National Mineral Water Company Salsabeel Water provided all essential water supplies for the event while the Royal Navy of Oman provided medical support throughout.

Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2021 is run in full adherence to the government of Oman’s latest COVID-19 safety protocols. For more information about the event, the schedule, and safety guidelines, visit the official website https://sailingarabiathetour.com/

Team France wraps up Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2021 title in style

Team France claimed the Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2021 trophy with another win in the final leg at Al Mouj Muscat. The debuting crew led from start to finish, winning seven of ten days. Competition for places behind them was fierce but the fleet was ultimately unable to close the gap to the eventual winners.

DB Schenker, representing The Tour’s official logistics partner and flying the flag of Germany with a mixed male and female Omani crew, never gave up - winning two days along the way and finishing second on five occasions – to finish second overall. Organisers Oman Sail ended The Tour in third with Oman Investment Authority fourth. Spanish team Barceló Mussanah Resort finished fifth and Nastro Rosa of Italy ended the race in sixth.

The final leg of The Tour featured two days of racing. Team France earned another victory on the first day with Oman Sail in second and DB Schenker in third, giving them enough of a lead to secure the title. With first place secured, Team France eased off on the final day which allowed DB Schenker to take the win and confirm their position as runners up. Oman Sail finished second on the day and sealed third place overall. Barceló Mussanah Resort finished third on the day with Team France fourth, Oman Investment Authority fifth and Nastro Rosa sixth.

Antoine Rucard, skipper of Team France, said, “Today was the last day of Sailing Arabia – The Tour. We are a bit sad to go back to France, because there it is 3-4 degrees and, here, we are sailing in shorts and t-shirt! It was a good day for the team and a good way to finish with some guests on board, too. A good fight on the water with perfect conditions. We are really happy about this last day.”

“During Sailing Arabia – The Tour, it was super nice to look at many different places in Oman. We had a lot of fun, discovered many beautiful places. Wadi Shab, a really nice place in Sur, souqs and mosques, and our guide took us to the best places!” he added.

Akram Al Waihaibi, skipper of DB Schenker, said, “Today is the last day, we pushed hard and were aiming for the podium. We fought all the way and finished second thanks to our teamwork and the effort of our crew – Ibtisam Al Salmi, Nasser Al Mashari and Marwa Al Khaifi. This has been a great experience for us and we hope to do even better next year.”

Gilles Chiorri, Sailing Arabia – The Tour race director, said, “The sport of sailing uses the “power of sail and wind” to propel the boats. It requires a combination of skills, passion and an incredible amount of teamwork. This event is organised by a passionate team within Oman Sail, and was not only able to engage well-known famous sailors, but also diversify the port destinations in Oman and in the GCC to showcase an exceptional backdrop of progress and development. Traveling along the unique coastline, we get a taste of the Omani culture, meet new people, and experience the natural and historical landmarks of the country. Sailors go back home carrying a message of a warmth and exceptional hospitality.”

The event was supported by national carrier Oman Air, OQ and the Barceló Mussanah Resort as official partners, and Be’ah as environmental supporter. The National Mineral Water Company Salsabeel Water provided all essential water supplies for the event while the Royal Navy of Oman provided medical support throughout.

For more information about the event, the schedule, and safety guidelines, visit the official website https://sailingarabiathetour.com/.