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24 November 2005, 02:42 pm

Omar Makes Flying Start

Jumeirah Regatta 2005

Dubai, UAE

Omar SHAHEEN made a flying start to the 2005 Jumeirah Regatta today as the second round of the UAE National Championships got under way. One of the rising stars of sailing in the UAE, Shaheen won the opening race in the Laser 4.7 senior event, beating his brother, Ahmed, into second place as two days of intense competition began off the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

It was another splendid performance from the youngster of whom so much is expected after he dominated the optimist class for the last four years.

Already in the record books as the first and youngest UAE competitor to take part in the Optimist World Championships, he has stepped up to the lasers with ease and won the opening round of the 2005-2006 UAE National Championships last weekend.

He was among more than 300 competitors in action in the two-day second round of the series, which is sponsored by Jumeirah, the Dubai based luxury hospitality group.

Also off to a winning start today was Fergus ALLEN, who took the opening race in the Laser standard category from another Jebel Ali Sailing Club challenger, Peter WEST, and Ron HEYSELLAR of Abu Dhabi Sailing Club.

JASC's Ben BUTLER scored an opening victory in the Laser radials while Oskar CANEBORG of Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC) started with a win in the junior section.

Race 2

It was a DOSC one, two-three in the Toppers, with Marcus O'CONNELL winning the first race from Marcus HERRERA and Robin SMITH.

In the Optimist cadets, JASC's Freddie GREOGONO captured the opening race ahead of club mate Andrew BYWATER and Hamoud SALAM from Abu Dhabi Heritage Club.

Dubai International Marine Club's Taheer ADEL also got off to a winning start in the senior Optimists, taking the first race of the regatta ahead of JASC's Oliver GREOGONO.

Launched six years ago and forming part of the UAE national series for the first time, the Jumeirah Regatta is showcasing much of the top young sailing talent in the UAE where major efforts are being made to encourage greater participation, fairer competition and more public awareness of sailing.

The event is dominated by youth, and while some of the youngsters on view are gaining their first serious competitive experience beyond their local club activities, many are using the event as a warm-up for the Dubai Junior Regatta taking place in January.

In addition to the Shaheen brothers, the regatta line-up include most of the other members of the UAE national team currently undergoing intensive training for next year's Asian Games in Doha.