The final round of the Aggreko Laser League season underlined why senior instructor for sailing at the Dubai Offshore Sailing Centre, Simon Adams firmly believes in catching them young.
Several youngsters showed they had all the makings of crafty sailors as they attempted to outpace each other in tough conditions. Adams, who has seen many of the competitors blossom from beginners to promising young sailors was understandably pleased at their progress.
"It is good to start young. We coach them every week and try to get them to be winners. So it pays off, especially when they win stuff," he said with a broad smile.
Marcel Herrera, just 15, is one of Adams' students to have come through the ranks at DOSC and finished second in the 4.7s Gold Fleet category. "Marcel began six years ago. He is only 15 and he has already been UAE national champion in the Topper category.
"There was no proper competition for girls before either but now we have three to four girls in the group which is good," said Adams before stressing on the need for his students to enjoy what they do. "It's no use people being pushed into it. There are good incentives for them to try and win but they should want to do it."
But Adams said his class required a huge helping hand if they hoped to go further.
"Laser sailing is quite small in the UAE. In the UK, you would have about 300 boats on the start line.
"If they want to go abroad, they need sponsorship. How will someone like Marcel at his age head to the UK for the national championship on his own?"
The winners
Overall
Alastair Tate
Standards – Gold fleet
Alastair Tate
Radials – Gold fleet
Robyn Smith
4.7s - Gold fleet
Marcus O'Connell
Standards – Silver fleet
Mark MacDonald
Radials – Silver fleet
Julia Mills
4.7s – Silver Fleet
Silvia Natale
Winner Under 19s
Justin Walsh
1st Female
Denise Herrera
Special day: A taste of the action
Children with special needs enjoyed watching the final race of the Aggreko Laser League season from the heart of the action. Dubai Offshore Sailing Centre (DOSC) and Special Needs Awareness Programme (SNAP) arranged for the children to be taken out on a boat to watch the 25-odd competitors battle it out on the waters along Jumeirah beach.
Three-year-old Safiya Fairooz was among the excited group as her mother Samantha looked on happily. "She is only three and has been on a boat, it's a memory no one can take away from her," said Samantha.
