#offshore – After a thrilling Round Ireland world record last week that saw the Sultanate of Oman's flagship MOD70 Musandam-Oman Sail break Steve Fossett's 22-year-old time around the Emerald Isle, French skipper Sidney Gavignet and his 50% Omani crew high-tailed it back to French waters to compete in the Tour de Belle Ile, finishing a respectable second to Gitana-Groupe Edmond de Rothschild.
"We were delighted with the Round Ireland record – with big seas and up to 40 knots, it was a huge challenge and another incredible achievement for Oman Sail," said Gavignet.
"We were also very happy to be able to make it back to France in time to race the Tour de Belle Ile, it meant that we could keep the intensity high which is a big part of my Omani crewmates training for 2015."
This was Musandam-Oman Sail's first Belle Ile and with 470 boats on the start line, it was quite a spectacle. Conditions were perfect for the multihull fleet with a steady 20 knots and a gentle ocean swell. "We had an excellent race against Gitana-Groupe Edmond de Rothschild and Paprec Recyclage and were happy to finish with a second," said Gavignet.
With just a few days rest between regattas, Musandam-Oman Sail's next event kicks off on Thursday at the ArMen Race sailed out of La Trinité-sur-Mer. The Sultanate's flagship will have a new skipper at the helm in Roland 'Bilou' Jourdain, a veteran of offshore racing and – amongst other victories – a two-time winner of the Route du Rhum. Bilou, as he is better known, will stand in for Sidney Gavignet for the rest of May while he steps on to the Chinese Volvo Ocean Race entry Dongfeng for the Leg from Newport to Lisbon. Alex Pella will also continue to sail on board the MOD70 lending great depth of experience.
"Bilou is the perfect fit for Oman Sail, he really understands the Omani sailor development programme and what we are trying to achieve and he knows the MOD70s well. Musandam-Oman Sail is in good hands," said Gavignet.
"For my part, I'm excited to be returning to an event that I really enjoy and to be doing the transatlantic leg with a team that has such great spirit. There are quite a lot of similarities between Dongfeng and Oman Sail in terms of the development of sailors – we met a few of the Chinese crew in February at EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour which they were using as a training platform."
Roland Jourdain is excited at the prospect of sailing the MOD70, but is approaching the next few weeks as custodian conservatively: "I was lucky enough to sail with the team briefly for the Tour de Belle Ile, it was a good experience and a chance to get to know everyone. The atmosphere on board is very good and I have been well briefed on the objectives while Sidney is away – the main one being for everyone to continue learning. I was pleasantly surprised at the level and the teamwork amongst the crew
"You have to be constantly alert on the MOD70, it is a highly tuned beast, but the team already has excellent reactions so we will focus on reinforcing the fundamentals. It is going to be very interesting – I have been following Oman Sail for some time now and this national initiative is an excellent way of using sailing."
As for Fahad Al Hasni, the original MOD70 Omani sailor and an integral part of the offshore team, he is delighted to have the opportunity to learn from someone new: "We have worked hard on building a strong team and are seeing the results, we have made a lot of progress in the last couple of years. My Omani crewmates and I know the boat very well and are hungry for the challenges that are coming.
"I met Bilou on the European Tour and am familiar with his illustrious career, it will be an excellent opportunity for us to sail and race with him as he will look at us with fresh eyes compared to Sidney who knows us very well."
Post ArMen Race, the MOD70 will head to Kiel Week for the Welcome Race and an attempt on the boat's own record set in 2014. Before that happens though, the crew will race the team's M34 at Normandy Sailing Week (11-14 June). "And of course we will be supporting Sidney from afar during the next leg of the Volvo!" added Fahad.
