Visit The Oman Ministry Of Tourism Exhibition Pavillion At Cowes Week 2014

Running this year from 2 – 10 August 2014, Cowes Week returns as one of the largest and longest running sailing regattas of its kind in the world. With over 40 daily races, approximately 1,000 boats, 8,500 competitors and a crowd of 100,000 to cheer them on, it is a key event on the radar of both sailing and water-sport enthusiasts. The Oman Exhibition pavillion will be open from 2 – 7 August, 10am to 7pm with both English and Omani representatives to provide information on all things Omani. The record breaking MOD70 Musandam-Oman Sail’s highly experienced international and Omani crew members will be competing in the Artemis Challenge and at the end of the week the seven Star Round Britain and Ireland Race.

For the first time, half of the six-strong Musandam-Oman Sail offshore crew for the Round Britain Race will be Omani sailors including regular Fahad Al Hassani, Sami Al Shukaili and Yassir Al Rahbi, members of Oman Sail's M34 squad for the Tour de France a la Voile who switched to the MOD70 earlier this year.

Sailors are well catered for in Oman: little surprise, as the country’s ancient capital, Suhar, was the birthplace of legendary Sinbad the Sailor. West of Muscat, the Millennium Resort Mussanah (www.millenniumhotels.com) offers a private 54-berth marina managed by Oman Sail (www.omansail.com). Boat rentals, sailing instruction and yacht charter are all available. At the nearby Wave (www.thewavemuscat.com), Almouj Marina is home to a 300-berth port. From here it is a short sail to the Damaniyat Islands Nature Reserve. Oman Charter (www.seaoman.com) organises bespoke sailing holidays, island-hopping day trips and – uniquely for the region – bareboat yacht charter.

Oman annually holds a range of sailing events of its own for spectators to enjoy. The Extreme Sailing Series –a type of Formula 1 on the open sea – begins its annual year-long competition around the globe from Muscat each February, and every November yachts compete in the Dubai to Muscat Race, navigating the Straits of Hormuz en route.

For more information on sailing in Oman please visit, www.omantourism.om.gov