Dubai: Gunnar Larsen, the 2010 Nacra Infusion multihull champion started a three-day clinic at the watersports centre at Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) yesterday.
The watersports centre has a strong fleet of multihulls ranging from the latest F18; F16 to Hobie Cats and the fleet enjoys a strong racing culture.
"The multihull is getting a lot more publicity since the Americas Cup decided to design a 70ft boat to race in San Francisco in 2013," Larsen said. "I've had a lot of requests for clinics and have recently been teaching in Argentina and Spain, however, Dubai is particularly suited to the multihull because of the weather conditions and flat seas state. It would be perfect to bring a catamaran event here."
Over thirty people have signed up for the three days, which will include a mixture of theory, practice on the water and then feedback. ‘There is much to learn just on rigging the boat correctly for the varying weather patterns," Conrad Schwindt said. "I'm keen to learn as much as possible as I will race in the F18 class worlds in Europe this summer." Brian Hillesdon and Peter Eldrigde, who are avid catamaran sailors attending the clinic were able to impart some of their catamaran knowledge to Dean Barker, the skipper of Emirates Team New Zealand during the recent Louis Vuitton Trophy when he was keen to ask them about his transition to the multihull class.
The clinic will end on Saturday and the DIMC catamaran fleet will race in the league on February 11 at DIMC after attending the UAE National Championships at Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC) on February 4 and 5 as well as 11 and 12 at Al Hamra Yacht Club in Ras Al Khaimah.
