Dubai: Marcel Herrara’s Team Averda lead the in-port race standings of EFG Sailing Arabia — The Tour, after finishing first, fourth and second in Monday’s opening three in-port races in Dubai.
It served as the perfect morale boost ahead of the opening leg of the offshore 750-nautical mile race from Dubai to Muscat, which will set sail for Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and end in Muscat on February 29.
Sidney Gavignet’s EFG Bank Monaco, who have won the overall series for the past two years running, had to settle for fourth after the first round of in-port racing, with their second, third and fifth place finishes.
Herrara is looking to end Bank Monaco’s dominance this season after having twice finished second to Gavignet’s side.
“Top of the table after the first inshore series is a really good place for us to start this campaign,” said Herrara. “We were quick on the water and had no real problems — we couldn’t really ask for a better opening day. It would have been nice to win all the races, but the competition is so tough it wasn’t possible. It just shows that the teams are all so good that anyone is capable of winning a race.
“We have come close to winning this event twice now but each time Sidney’s team beat us. This year could be our year — Sidney is the target for everyone on the water and that might just work in our favour. We’re looking forward to getting offshore on leg one and seeing what happens.”
The nine-boat series, involving identical Farr 30 yachts, runs for 15 days from Dubai to Muscat, via Abu Dhabi, Doha, Khasab and Sohar. A further two in-port races will be held in Abu Dhabi and Doha. In-port races serve as bonus rounds, offering points, which amount to overall race series standings. The overall race is decided on points accrued over all five legs of the voyage.
