Muscat: After almost 35,000 miles of hard sailing, Omani sailors Ahmed Al Maamari and Abdullah Al Busaidi have almost circumnavigated the world.
Both Oman sail crew members have been sailing for 10 months and have visited six continents in that period.
Their last major crossing was from Cape Breton Island, Canada to Ireland, in which they crossed the Atlantic for the third time, breaking the record by arriving two days ahead of schedule after eight days of frantic sailing.
Both sailors reached a major milestone after passing over the line of longitude that marks their official circumnavigation of the globe.
On reaching port in the picturesque south-eastern town of Kinsale in Ireland, a tired but happy Ahmed said: "There was no break on this race across the Atlantic. It was very cold when we left so it was good that we had to work hard, it helped us stay warm and focussed. I am now officially a round-the-world sailor, one of only three Omanis but I certainly hope I am not the last."
During the stopover in Kinsale, County Cork, the local council laid on a Clipper Festival that was attended by 45,000 people over two days.
They were welcomed onboard the yachts and Ahmed and Abdullah were proud to talk about Oman with them. They made many new friends, including a student from Saudi Arabia, an Iraqi cook and several groups of people from the Emirates.
On September 13 2009, Abdullah and Ahmed left the English port of Hull. Ahead lay 40,000 miles of sea and stopovers in eight continents.
So far they have crossed the Atlantic twice, battled the infamous Southern Indian Ocean, navigated the Java, South China and the Yellow Seas and crossed the Pacific Ocean, the largest expanse of water in the world.
