The nine crews competing in the EFG Bank Sailing Arabia - The Tour will set sail for Abu Dhabi on Leg 2 today after three in-port races in Qatar, all of them won by Dubai's AISM crew.
Bertrand Pace, the AISM captain, is returning to compete in the Gulf's longest sailboat race for a third time, hoping to repeat his first place success of 2011.
"I like the mixture of inshore and offshore - it is good for us," said the former America's Cup helmsman. "This time of year we don't have that much sailing we can do [in Europe] so this is good practice for us. It is a perfect two weeks."
Having such a lengthy background sailing the Farr 30 designs is just one reason AISM are doing so well. Pace also likes the smaller nine boat fleet.
"In these wind conditions it is very technical and we know how to use the boat, so I am not surprised that we have good speed. We started OK and with Cedric [Chateau] we have good tactics. When you have the speed, you sail well and start well, most of the time you will be in the top of the fleet."
The Cedric Pouligny-skippered BAE Systems, the winner of the opening leg from Bahrain to Doha, scored a 4-2-4 yesterday in the three in-port races leaving them just ahead of EFG Bank and AISM in the overall standings.
"We raced well today," said BAE's Omani crewman, Ali Al Balushi.
Despite celebrating his 22nd birthday yesterday, Al Balushi has a long track record - having competed in the last three editions of Sailing Arabia and in the Tour de France a la Voile.
"We are very happy to be in Qatar. It is a very nice place, with friendly people - it feels like Oman," said Al Balushi.
EFG Bank, from Monaco, scored a 3-3-2 yesterday. "Today was great," said the skipper Sidney Gavignet.
"Conditions for us were ideal: just enough wind, flat sea, sun - all nice. The organisation did a good job to get three races in as well. We had a consistent day, we didn't win, but I am pleased. There is some competitive racing in the top half of the fleet. We are not doing too badly for a team that is still discovering the boat."
While the male crews were told yesterday they had to limit their number to six (some were sailing with seven) this did not affect EFG Bank greatly as among their number they have Sami Al Shukaili, a bodybuilder.
As the crewman Fahad Al Hasni pointed out of his teammate and his tree trunk-sized arms: "Sometimes he breaks the sails - he goes very hard."
For Dee Caffari and her all-female crew on Al-Thuraya Bank Muscat it was a difficult day and they struggled with their manoeuvring. "This really was a practice day for us," Caffari said.
The Abu Dhabi crew, captained by Adil Khalid, have struggled so far. After finishing eighth in Leg 1, they recorded 7-8-8 yesterday and will hope for a change in fortunes in Leg 2, which leaves Qatar at 1pm UAE time today. Leg 2 is over 160 nautical miles and the teams are expected to arrive at Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club on Friday.
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The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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He's a god
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
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- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
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THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
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The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
SERIE A FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Roma v Udinese (5pm)
SPAL v Napoli (8pm)
Juventus v Torino (10.45pm)
Sunday
Sampdoria v AC Milan (2.30pm)
Inter Milan v Genoa (5pm)
Crotone v Benevento (5pm)
Verona v Lazio (5pm)
Cagliari v Chievo (5pm)
Sassuolo v Bologna (8pm)
Fiorentina v Atalanta (10.45pm)
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
