As the Maktoum Sailing Trophy prepares to enter its last month, Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC) is poised to play an influential role in the climax to the seven-round series.

While Horizon FCB holds a commanding lead with four rounds completed, seven of the top-10 challengers are berthed at DOSC and they will all be looking to make a big impression when the club stages round five, with sponsorship from Van Oord, MMI and Thomsun/Yamaha on March 31 and April 1.

Owned by Shaikh Khalid Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and skippered by Frenchman Christophe Vanek, Horizon boosted its chances of taking the new Maktoum Trophy back to its base at Jebel Ali Sailing Club with victory in last month's Dubai-Muscat Race.

The common view is that it will take a series of mishaps or mistakes on the part of Horizon to prevent Shaikh Khalid's 36ft Beneteau yacht form becoming the first winner of the Maktoum series.

No one, however, is throwing in the towel just yet, least of all the three boats closest to Horizon Sharazad skippered by David Worrall, Serdal Dubai owned by Shaikh Rashid Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and skippered by Australian Mark Feilberg, and David Rostant's Switch Blade, all of which are berthed at DOSC. A disqualification in one of the opening round's five races saw Sharazad slip to a fourth place finish which was repeated in round three.

However, victory in round two and second place in the Dubai-Muscat Race has kept Worrall and his crew on the trail of Horizon and they will be going all out for victory in the fifth round at DOSC.

So will Serdal Dubai, which showed its liking for short course racing by winning the third round of the series at JASC.

"The series is bringing each of the UAE sailing clubs and their members together which is one of its objectives," said Saeed Hareb, managing director of Dubai International Marine Club.

Standings

Maktoum Sailing Trophy leading positions after 4 of 7 rounds: 1. Horizon FCB (Christophe Vanek) 89; 2. Sharazad (David Worrall) 81; 3. Serdal Dubai (Mark Feilberg) 76; 4. Switch Blade (David Rostant) 72; 5. Xclusive (Yousuf Bin Lahej) 61; 6. Southern Cross (Patrick Cahill) 46; 7. Mina Effect (Brian Hillesdon) 41; 8. Shockwave Aquamarine (Alan Skennerton) 35; 9. Twister (Glywn Rowlands) 29; 10. Insatiable (John Rose) 26.

Leading overall positions in Class Two:

1. Insatiable (John Rose) 26; 2. Binker (Ben Trenouth) 5; Time Out (David Madden) 5; 4. Al Awal (John Atherton) 4; 5. Irene (John Ford) 4; 6. Goan Bananas (Ged Langosz) 2.