“Last night we went offshore looking for more wind and all we found was a fishing net, it was two hours before we were free. However, we are now achieving a speed of 7 knots and we are working the shifts to the best of our ability.” Hannes Waimer,Team Premier TP52 at 11:30 27.11.09

Dag Skarsgard’s Landmark 43, Team Premier L43 had a much better night than their team mates. Reporting by Thuraya satellite phone, that they had been night sailing under a wonderous carpet of stars dressed just in shorts and t-shirts. The feel good factor obviously worked, they are now 18 miles west of Al Khasab making six knots.

Race leader, Arabian 100, Majan has made it through the Straits of Hormuz and are picking up speed, once they reach the Indian Ocean, the giant trimaran built for Oman Sail will be flying, a race record is a distinct possibility.

Dubai Muscat Offshore Sailing Race record: 51 hours, 52 minutes, 31 seconds

As a beautiful dawn broke across the Persian Gulf, the majority of the fleet bound for Muscat in Oman had made good progress during the night. In Class IRC Two, Jim O’Hare’s First 36.7, Place is having a great tussle with Phil Hoskings Seaquest 32, Rush Knot, both yachts fairing extremely well, overall on handicap.

In the Rally Class, Gordon Joyce’s traditionally built Talitha went offshore last night and is going very well indeed, presumably fortified by some of the Scottish skipper’s secret weapon; chilli con carne.

The majority of the fleet were off Ras al-Khaimah, this morning, the current home of the giant catamaran, Alinghi 5. The competitors in the Dubai Muscat Offshore Sailing Race are looking to benefit from sea breezes developing, later today, also a geometrically opposing breeze may kick in later, giving the fleet faster, downwind conditions.

All of the yachts are carrying Thuraya XT satellite phones and tracking systems from race sponsor Xtra-Link.

Louay Habib

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Last Updated ( Friday, 27 November 2009 )