Tactical competition intensified on the second day of the 15th Musannah Race Week and the 3rd Arab Women’s Sailing Championship, held at Barceló Musannah Resort in Oman. The event featured multiple sailing classes, including Optimist, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, ILCA 7, and the Para Inclusive Hansa 303, with four additional races completed amid stronger winds and close contests.

In the Optimist category, Oman’s Khaled bin Yahya al Sarihi maintained his overall lead by securing three podium finishes. India’s Krishna Venkitachalam moved into second place after winning a race, while Oman’s Mohammed bin Ziyad al Qasmi claimed third following a victory and a runner-up position. Among female competitors in the Optimist class, Egypt’s Laila Mohamed strengthened her lead by winning three out of four races, positioning her sixth overall in the standings. Omani sailor Abeer bint Khalil al Zakwani trailed Mohamed by five points in second place among women after a strong set of finishes, with Bahrain’s Dana Abdullah in third.

The ILCA 4 division saw Egypt’s Karma Waleed maintain her lead by winning the final two races of the day. Oman’s Hood bin Saad al Nofli rose to second place overall, ahead of the United Arab Emirates’ Abdulrahman al Bahri. Female sailors from Oman also performed well, with Tarteel bint Zaid al Hasani finishing fourth overall and second in the women’s category, while Hadeel bint Yousef al Mushairfi ranked third among female competitors.

Tunisia’s Ines Nabel Gmati strengthened her position at the top of the women’s ILCA 6 standings with two victories and two second-place finishes, extending her marginal lead to one point overall. Egypt’s Kholoud Mostafa and Kuwait’s Ameena Shah occupied second and third places among the women, respectively. The UAE’s Simeon Hristov held second place overall in this class, with Oman’s Elyas bin Bader al Fadhali in eighth.

In the ILCA 7 category, Bahrain’s Dawood Abdullah surged to the front with two wins and a second-place finish, overtaking Oman’s Al Mutasim bin Hamoud al Farsi, who cited the demanding conditions as requiring significant physical endurance and adaptability. The UAE’s Hamza bin Ismail al Ali maintained third place, noting his return to the top tier after a nearly 15-month hiatus and attributing his competitiveness to experience managing challenging wind conditions.

The Para Inclusive Hansa 303 competition was led by Buthaina al Balushi and Malik al Qartoobi, who achieved three consecutive victories. They were closely followed by Anwer al Balushi and Adil al Siyabi in second place, with Anas al Hashmi and Ahmed al Araimi in third.

Project Manager Hamad al Yahmadi emphasized that the championships serve as a vital platform for nurturing young talent, increasing women’s participation in marine sports, and fostering regional collaboration. Principal Race Officer Marina Psychogiou commended Oman’s race management for its professionalism in coordinating two separate courses — one designed specifically for inclusive sailing — and managing a fleet of approximately 85 boats across four classes. She also highlighted the significant involvement of women in senior race management and judging roles.

The event is scheduled to conclude with a closing ceremony and prize presentation, to be held under the patronage of Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al Hinai, Ambassador-at-Large at Oman’s Foreign Ministry. The ceremony will be attended by Shaikh Khalifa bin Abdullah al Khalifa, President of the Arab Sailing Federation, and Dr. Khamis bin Salim al Jabri, CEO of Oman Sail.