Skipper feels the pressure from new challengers in countdown to big fleet racing weekend
After successive victories in the Jumeirah Regatta over the last two years, Toby O’Connell says he and his crew face a major test as they attempt to complete a hat-trick of wins in one of the region’s top fleet racing events at the weekend.
On the opening day two years ago, O’Connell had mixed fortunes aboard his 50-foot yacht Yo! and was placed third overnight in Division One of the cruiser class, needing a big fight back 24 hours later to take the prestigious Jumeirah title.
Last year it was virtually plain sailing for the Dubai company director as he won both opening day races, and maintained a 100 per cent record with another success on day two, but he knows it will be much tougher this time.
In the build-up to the eighth Jumeirah Regatta, taking place on Friday and Saturday, he has come under increasing pressure from two new challengers in the Commodores Cup at Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, home base for the majority of the leading cruisers that will be in action next weekend.
Joining the series only after the first two events had been run, Team Premier, skippered by Hannes Waimer, has climbed into second place in the series by winning one race and finishing second or third in the other eight. Meanwhile, David Rostant’s Mattafix, another late starter, has won six out of eight events since entering the fray to go third overall and close the gap on leader Yo!
“They’re two brand new boats specially designed for racing in Dubai, and they’ve been giving us a hard time,” said O’Connell.
“We’d love to win the Jumeirah Regatta again because the standard of sailing is always so high, the hospitality is great, and it’s the highlight of the year for us. But it will be much harder this year.”
A month before his first Jumeirah success two years ago, O’Connell guided Yo! to a splendid victory in the King’s Cup Regatta in Phuket, while success soon followed in Dubai’s Maktoum Sailing Trophy and he also took third place in a fiercely competitive flee race during Cowe’s Week in England.
Since then, O’Connell’s business commitments have restricted Yo! and it’s 15-strong crew to a much more limited race programme, although they will not give up their Jumeirah Regatta title without a fight.
Sponsored by the Jumeirah Group, the Dubai based luxury hotel management company, the regatta brings together much of the top young sailing talent from across the Emirates as well as many of the UAE’s most experienced fleet racing specialists.
The event will be split between the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, whose north beach will host the dinghies, Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, which will launch the cruisers, and Mina Seyahi Watersports Club, the event base for the catamarans.
