Press release - Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority

The state-of-the-art Volvo Open 70 racing yacht Azzam – meaning ‘determined’ - and her international Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing crew will this weekend become the first Arab entry in the UK’s iconic, 600-mile, Rolex Fastnet Race.

Azzam and her talented crew – who will later this year contend the 2011/2012 Volvo Ocean Race – will compete in the Fastnet against her Volvo Ocean Race competitors Team Sanya and Groupama on Sunday 14 August. Abu Dhabi’s skipper, double Olympic silver medallist, Ian Walker, says his outfit is ready for this global debut challenge.

“We have a lot of respect for this race and it is always tough,” said Walker. “It’s a great challenge being the first race in our new Azzam yacht. It will be a race within a race, as we test ourselves against some of our Volvo Ocean Race competitors. I am sure everyone will be keeping their cards very close to their chests.”

Adil Khalid, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s young Emirati crew member, will make his international debut in the Rolex Fastnet Race. “He has come on leaps and bounds and this will be a great test for him,” said Walker.

Azzam will line up alongside a record Rolex Fastnet Race fleet of around 320 vessels – a fact organisers claim is demonstrating “that enthusiasm for offshore racing is coming back”.

Azzam’s competitors admit they will be closely monitoring the performance of the striking, purpose-built Volvo 70. “The guys have done some good miles and they will have to be watched,” said Mike Sanderson, skipper, Team Sanya.

Meanwhile as race officials prepared to take the iconic competition to the water, Fastnet Veteran Ken Newman - who at almost 83-years-old is preparing for his 27th Fastnet challenge - stopped by a press conference in the UK’s famous Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week regatta to welcome Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Emirati members, 22-year-old Khalid and 27-year-old Butti Al Muhairi, to the international sailing fraternity.

“I wish these boys all the very best and can’t tell you how good it is to see them join the international sailing fold – it is good for us, good for them, good for their country and for all in global sport. If I was to give them any advice it would be not to fall overboard! But seriously, it is so heartening to see two young men from a nation new to international sailing competition presenting themselves so well on the worldwide scene. They make the future look very bright indeed,” said Newman.

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