Dubai: Airline pilot David Rostant made a flying start to the Jumeirah Regatta as one of the highlights of the UAE sailing calendar got under way this afternoon.
Rostant, skipper of Mattafix, steered his boat to an opening race victory in Division One of the cruiser class to remind Dubai company director Toby O'Connell that he faces a big battle to compete a hat-trick of wins in the event.
O'Connell, who has taken his 50ft yacht Yo! to the Jumeirah title for the last two years, could manage only third place in the first race behind Christophe Vanek's Team Duboats BMW, as the two-day event began in light to medium winds of eight to ten knots.
Boosting the challenge of three-times Americas Cup contender Vanek is Maurizio Zuelta, member of the Chilean national team and a South American champion in the 470 class, who is now working in Dubai as an architect.
"I really need a bit more wind because of my boat's design," said Vanek as the cruisers went into action off Dubai Offshore Sailing Club. "When we have more than 10 knots of wind it's very quick, but we're giving it all we've got and we'll see what happens."
The first race in Division Two brought victory for Privateer, entered by Ed Bowen and Matt and Becky Britton, with Mike Jelf's Mace and Twister, skippered by Glwyn and Karen Rowlands, completing the top three.
Also making a perfect start was Mike Cross in Catch 22, who won the first race in Division Three from Stephen Miller's Mystique and Tosser, skippered by Tom Coldicott.
Meanwhile, the opening SB3 race brought victory for Ian Armstrong's Trouble and Strife, ahead of Marine Tech, skippered by Gareth Owen, and Jonathon Hill's Men on Pause.
The event is providing some invaluable competitive experience for two top young Emirati competitors, Ahmad Esmail and Taher Al Tahar. They are members of the five-strong Team Duboats under 18 crew in the event, which is sponsored by the Jumeirah Group, the Dubai based luxury hotel management company, and is being staged for the eighth year.
With the catamarans sailing a course set off Mina Seyahi Watersports Club, Dave Holligan experienced mixed fortunes in the performance class.
After winning the first race from the Hobie FX1 of Brian Hillesdon and the Spitfire of Carol and Peter Eldridge, he was forced to retire from race two after falling out of his Blade when his trapeze wire broke, plunging him into the water. Hillesdon was first on the water in that race, ahead of the Eldridges and Tom Hemmingway in another Spitfire.
In the battle of the classic catamarans, race one brought victory for the Prindle of Andy Perkins and Moira Freeman, who edged out the Hobie 16s of Charlie and Lot Robinson, and Tim Grant.
The Robinsons bounced back to reverse the top two finishing positions in the second race, with Conor and Maeve Ward placed third on the water in another Hobie 16.