The team, on EFG Bank (Monaco) were, once again, spot on identifying the shifts in race one, giving them an early advantage up the first beat of the tight, stadium-style course. In doing so, managed to keep Kay Heemskerk and Team Delft Challenge – TU Delft/Katie Pettibone and her all girl team on Al-Thuraya Bank Muscat, exactly where they wanted them, in second and third places respectively.
EFG Bank (Monaco) repeated their performance in race two with both Team Delft Challenge – TU Delft, and Al-Thuraya Bank Muscat challenging off the line but EFG Bank (Monaco) popped out in front again and led Team Delft Challenge – TU Delft by just five seconds at the finish.
All fired up for the final race of the day, Al-Thuraya Bank Muscat girls’ team, were neck and neck with Team Delft Challenge – TU Delft off the line. EFG Bank (Monaco) suffered an OCS [over the line at the start] but they were soon back in contention and managed to out-manoeuvre the girls for second place, while Team Delft Challenge – TU Delft took their first win of the day.
Having won all four offshore legs since the start of The Tour in Baharin 10 days ago, Gavignet, skipper of EFG Bank (Monaco) was delighted to finally win the Inport races, something that has eluded the team so far this year. “It was good fun sailing in a stadium like this and to win, but it really highlights the fact it is far from finished. We need to remain focused, continue to make progress, and keep enjoying it.
“Tomorrow’s offshore leg to Dibba will be tough. The challenge is not to be too tired because the race really starts once we are over the peninsula. With the wind coming over the mountains it will be very shifty and good tactics will come into play.”
“The most important thing on these small courses is boathandling and keeping it as simple as possible. We all worked well, and are looking forward to today’s long leg to Dibba,” Kay Heemskerk, skipper of Team Delft Challenge – TU Delft in second place in yesterday’s Inport races, said.
“This is the most beautiful leg of the tour and, unlike last year, we are hoping for a daylight rounding of the peninsular this time. It will be tough however, with loads of sail changes because we are sailing a lot of different angles.”
“We had great day and good racing against EFG Bank (Monaco). Our teamwork is coming on, but this sort of short/sharp racing really highlights any weaknesses so we have a lot to work on, but it’s definitely going the right way,” Chatting about the Inport race, and the 104-mile leg to Dibba, Al-Thuraya Bank Muscat’s skipper, Pettibone, said.
“The next offshore leg is going to be downwind initially and obviously very complicated navigationally with a lot of land effects, it is a long leg, it is going to be a long overnight so we need to prepare mentally.”
The prize giving ceremony for the Leg 4 and the Inport races took place in the delightful setting of Ras Al Khaimah at Al Hamra Marina & Yacht Club. Competitors and guests were graced with the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Kayed Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development.
The teams are now preparing to leave the marina for Leg 5 of the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour 2014, which starts at 1030 today.
This 104-nautical mile leg to Dibba is one of the most challenging and will take approximately 24 hours to complete, depending on the wind strength. This means that if the scheduled start time goes to plan, the estimated time of arrival in Dibba is between early/mid-morning on Thursday 20 February.