UAE sailors target success in Portugal

Five sailors, who coach Sid Ahmed Bensaleh described as 'budding talents', are currently representing the UAE in the International Optimist and Dinghy Association (lODA) European Optimist Sailing Championship in Tavira, Portugal.

The team includes UAE's most promising sailor Omar Shaheen, Ahmed Shaheen, Hakim bin Desmal, Mohammed Saud, Ahmed Aziz and Ahmed Jassim.

A five-member technical and coaching delegation has also accompanied the team on what will be their final event of the 2001-2002 season.

"We selected the team at the end of the six-race UAE Sailing Championship held between Abu Dhabi and Dubai," said Bensaleh, who is the sailing instructor and in-charge of the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) sailing department.

Besides this event the UAE team also competed in five domestic events held at the DIMC and three international events including the Dubai International Optimist Regatta, Sail the Gulf Championship in Qatar and the annual Al Barah Regatta in Bahrain during the season.

After completing the UAE Championship, the team underwent two training camps at the DIMC under the watchful eyes of coach Farid Benbakhta and technical advisor Barry Harmsworth to polish their skills.

"This is the third year this team is going for an international event. And what we expect them to achieve is more experience," explained Bensaleh.

Going further about what he and the sailing department at the DIMC are gunning for, Bensaleh stated: "We are trying to build a strong team for the country and this is not possible in a year or two. To reach our goal we need at least five to six years and this is the reason why we are trying to send the team to as many international events as possible."

The Algerian is not predicting anything unusual from his team, as there will be over 600 sailors from Europe and other parts of the world. "But I am sure that my boys are capable of doing better than the last two years."

Though it is a European championship by name, the lODA event also features an open competition besides the main event for the European teams.

After reaching Faro via London, the UAE delegation will hit the road for their final destination, Tavira. "Our immediate task upon arriving at Tavira will be to chart the boats and get them prepared for the race.

"Then we are hoping to have at least three days of practice and thorough the race area and weather conditions before finalising the race strategies and sought out the tactical options," explained Bensaleh.

The team will not have any problem with the weather conditions in Portugal as the region has similar condition to that of the UAE during the winter months, feels Bensaleh. "As per the information that we have gathered, we are expecting winds not more than 50 knots which is favourable for sailing," he said.

The 10-member UAE delegation also includes Essa Abdullah as team leader and Khalid bin Desmal as country representative.