Racing at the Regatta Sailing Academy, Doha - Autumn Week 6

Regatta Sailing Academy, Doha racing week 6 © Simon Kearns

Regatta Sailing Academy, Doha racing week 6 © Simon Kearns

Another weekend and another range of excellent conditions greeted the racing sailors of the Regatta Sailing Academy, Doha Qatar.

Friday morning started with very little wind but by the time the first adult racing group started the sea breeze had kicked in and provided the sailors with a superb 7 – 10 knots. After the race training exercises it was onto the racing with two races around an upwind downwind course with a leeward gate. In race one it was Helen Swan (AUS) who took line honours followed by Bob Monroe (USA) and Simon Torkington (GBR). As the wind built for race two the fleet once again headed out around their course directly off the beach at the Intercontinental hotel, West Bay, Doha. In race two it was Fabienne Depierrefeu (FRA) who took the victory making it two race wins for the ladies, with Simon Torkington (GBR) showing a return to form to take second followed by a hard battling Skylar Sherman (USA) who took third.

The second adult racing fleet took to the water in a dying breeze and after their session of race training exercises, this week focussing on gybing techniques, they also took to their windward leeward courses. In race one it was Rob Munster (NZL) who charged to the victory followed by a joyous Roy Quaden (NED) and Julie Tuck (GBR) rounding out the top three. In race two the breeze had dropped right down to sub 5 knots so with a substantial change in sailing style the racers started race two. Whilst the sailing itself may of looked slow paced to the spectators on the beach of the Intercontinental hotel, mere metres away from the action, the racing was anything but that! With multiple position changes and some high risk strategies being used it was once again Rob Munster (NZL) who managed to take the victory followed closely by daughter Miriam Munster (NZL) and Stuart Turner (SCO) in third.

Saturday morning started light but the sea breeze filled in enough that the junior learn to race sailors managed to get in two races and Petar Vuk Avramovic (AUS) went straight to work winning the first race on the water and on handicap by a comfortable margin. It was the Optimist of Francesca Jones (GBR) who took second place and the Pico of Anthony Bismar (CAN) managed third. In race two it was Nicholas Ward (FRA) who took the race win in his Laser 4.7 followed once again by the consistent Francesca Jones (GBR) in second and Matthew Coppi (FRA) who rounded out the top three in his Pico.

The Junior racing fleet had a gentle breeze for their session this week and with some slightly longer racing it was Robbie Witzmann (GBR) who stamped his authority over the racing taking both race wins in convincing style. Joel Figov (GBR) took second in race one and also race two while Roan Gill (GBR) took third in race one and Freddie Witzmann (GBR) and Michael Bayatti (GBR) took third in race two in their Vago, despite a major spinnaker malfunction!

Sunday started as the lightest of the three days but the wind filled in and the ladies racing group had West bay entirely to themselves for some champagne sailing. Jill Baeckelmans (BEL) stamped out two convincing race victories followed by Lena Bohlin (SWE) in both races and Maggie Marsh (GBR) and Sally Cronin (GBR) both took a third place each.

With only two more short course races and one more long distance race for the fleets remaining the final positions are anything but decided with only a few points separating the majority of the fleets. The full results can be found on the academy website, but the leaders in each fleet are currently Sally Cronin (GBR), Robbie Witzmann (GBR), Petar Vuk Avramovic (AUS), Rob Munster (NZL) and Bob Monroe (USA).