Spirit of Qatar team leader keen to revive genuine offshore racing
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Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani, president of the Qatar Marine Sports Federation, has called for Class 1 races to be held further offshore “where they belong”.
Al-Thani runs the Spirit of Qatar team, who will have two boats racing in the Class 1 season opener in March, with himself and Britain’s Steve Curtis in Spirit of Qatar 96.
He has switched the first event of the season in Doha from the relative calm of
Doha Bay to a new base at the Pearl of Qatar, which should produce rougher conditions.
“The courses need to suit these big boats. Class 1 catamarans are not
intended to run on courses designed for small circuit boats.
“They should
race offshore where they belong. In the past we have often competed in
severe weather conditions with large waves and it’s on these occasions
the less ultimate speedsters come into their own.”
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