Muscat – Intense racing and incredible talent shone through at the Barceló Mussanah Resort on the first day of competitive racing in the 15th Mussanah Race Week and the 3rd Arab Women’s Sailing Championship as sailors in both events hit their stride.
With four races already completed across the Optimist, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, ILCA 7, and Para Inclusive classes, sailors faced challenging tactical waters that tested both endurance and skill. The fleets delivered stellar performances, with tight leaderboards at the end of day one as competitors vie for position ahead of a busy week of sailing.
Khaled Yahya Al Sarihi from Oman recorded two wins and one second place finish out of four races as he stormed to the top of the Optimist standings after the first day. Krishna Vekitachalam of India sits second, himself recording three podium finishes. Fellow Omani Mohammed Ziyad al Gasim is third, overcoming a difficult start to win races two and three. The highest ranked junior is Mohammed Suleiman Al Balushi of Oman, fourth overall.
Laila Mohamed of Egypt, fifth overall, leads the 3rd Arab Women’s Sailing Championship Optimist competition with three wins and a second placed finish. Abeer Kalil Al Zakwani of Oman is second, just two points back after trading wins and recording three second placed finishes. Dana Abdullah of Bahrain is third after the first day.
The ILCA 4 competition is led by Karma Waleed of Egypt who came back from a third and fourth place to notch two wins in the last two races. She leads overall and the women’s sailing championship. Abdulrahman Al Bahri of the UAE sits second overall with a win, a second and a third placed finish, Omani Hood Saad Al Nofli ended the day in third just two points back. Tarteel Zaid Al Hasani of Oman, fourth overall, is second in the women’s competition, with fellow Omani Hadeel Yousef Al Mushairfi, seventh overall, third in a very close fleet.
Ines Nabel Gmati of Tunisia leads the ILCA 6 category after three wins from four races. Simeon Hristov, representing the UAE, ended the day in second with two wins, while Kholoud Mostafa of Egypt is third just one point behind. Oman’s highest ranked sailor after the first day is Elyas Badar Al Fadhali in eighth overall. Ines Nabeel Gmati and Kholoud Mostafa are the top two in the women’s competition with Maryam Ihab, also of Egypt, in third and fifth overall.
Ibtisam Al Salmi of Oman, who ended the day fifth in the ILCA 6 competition, said, "Competing in the 3rd Arab Women’s Sailing Championship is an empowering experience and part of an inspiring journey for all of the women here. Having a standalone platform dedicated to female sailors is vital; it gives us visibility, builds our confidence, and provides essential competitive experience. Providing more opportunities like this in Oman is crucial for encouraging young girls to take up the sport across the region, breaking barriers, and growing the community of women in maritime sports."
Oman’s Al Mutasem Humood Al Farsi sits atop the ILCA 7 leaderboard after day one with two wins, level on points with Dawood Abdullah of Bahrain who scored one win and two second places. Hamza Al Ali from the UAE is third while Oman’s Al Salim Ali Al Hamdani is just two points back in fourth.
The Para Inclusive Hansa 303 competition features an all-Omani fleet, and currently tied for the lead are the crews of Anwer Al Balushi-Adil Al Siyabi (two wins and a second place) and Buthaina Al Balushi-Malik Al Qartoobi (two second places and one win). The pair of Anas Al Hashmi-Ahmed Al Araimi are third, with Hashim Al Hashmi-Sabri Al Alawi and Moosa Al Nafai-Maher Al Balushi fourth and fifth but within touching distance of the top three.
Bahrain’s Dawood Abdullah, competing in the ILCA 7 class, praised the development of Mussanah Race Week, having participated in the event since its fifth edition.
“Over the past decade, I have seen significant improvements in the standard of competition, boats and equipment. The introduction of advanced equipment, including carbon fibre masts, has improved performance and given sailors greater confidence,” he said. Dawood also welcomed the growing participation of Arab sailors. “The event has attracted competitors from around the world, offering valuable opportunities to gain experience. Seeing more Arab sailors competing today reflects the progress of sailing in the region and is a source of pride for us,” he added.
Kuwait’s Yaqoub Shah, competing in the ILCA 7 class, praised the organisation of Mussanah Race Week and the strong level of competition among international sailors. “The event has brought together talented sailors from different countries, while challenging wind conditions have made racing more competitive, with positions changing throughout the races,” he said.“My opening-day performance was below expectations, but I aim to improve in the coming races. This event is also a valuable opportunity to return to competitive sailing after a break due to my studies. I look forward to gaining more experience and competing in future editions,” he added.
Nawaf Yaqoob Al Ghadani, Event Race Management, highlighted the infrastructure and local expertise powering the success of both championships: "The Mussanah Sailing School continues to prove its status as a premier venue, having previously earned recognition as a Category A High Performance Training Centre by the Asian Sailing Federation (ASAF). Our exceptional facilities and deep experience in hosting international championships and training camps provide visiting international teams with an ideal environment for high-quality training and competitive racing. Furthermore, the heavy involvement of Omani professionals across event management, marine operations, logistics, race organisation, and coaching is a testament to our commitment to building local capabilities and gaining practical experience that will shape future sailing programmes and international events in Oman."
Both events support Oman Sail’s work to develop national talent, empower young people and women, and increase community participation in sport. They also contribute to the acceleration of Oman Vision 2040’s objectives and strengthens Oman’s position as a host venue for international sporting events.
The 2026 edition is presented by Renaissance Services as title partner; the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism; Barceló Mussanah Resort as the host and bronze partner; and National Mineral Water Company (Tanuf), the Arab Sailing Association, the Oman Maritime Sports Committee, and the Royal Navy of Oman’s Directorate of Medical Services at the Medical City for Military and Security Services as supporting partners whose presence supports event operations, supplies, accommodation, promotion and services for sailors, coaches and visitors.