The inaugural Dubai Duty Free SB20 Sailing Asia Pacific Championships kicked off today at the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC). Over the next two days, 38 boats, including 7 youth teams, will engage in exhilarating races off Jumeirah Beach.
Hosted by DOSC, the opening day witnessed three races. Kidzink skippered by Charlotte Borghesi had two bullets in race one and two, while race three saw team Xcellent take the win, helmed by John Pollard. The overnight leader is Kidzink, with two more days to go. Charlotte, following on from today’s victory, said, “we are here to do our best, keep practising, have fun, learn a few things and keep the flow. There are some great sailors out there”.
Addressing the weather conditions for the day, Alan Ruigrok, Race Director, commented: “With 18 – 22 knots of wind on average, it’s been a really challenging day for the sailors with very little room for error. The race
management team led by Roger Wilson did a fantastic job getting three races in, as did the teams”.
When reviewing the first day of the SB20 Asia Pacific Championships, Roger Wilson, Principal Race Officer, commented “Three extremely competitive, close, and excellent races. Each team were on each other’s tails and it was a delight to watch and be a part of – a real snakes and ladders phenomenon. Champagne sailing as they would say, I wish I was racing alongside them.”
Following the races, participants and spectators enjoyed the opening ceremony, joined by key supporters from the championship’s headline sponsor, Dubai Duty Free. The festivities continued with an evening of entertainment at the newly renovated Tentola Racing Village, featuring a diverse selection of food and beverages.
Text Credits: Sameeta/ Amber
Photo Credits: Mikey Brignall
Video Credits: ICARUS Sports
