Volvo Ocean Race supports EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour with launch of Rookie Award for top two under 30 sailorsSaturday, 28 February 2015The Volvo Ocean Race has recognised EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour (SATT) as a leading development race for young offshore sailors by launching a Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) Rookie Award for the two best under 30 sailors competing in the event.Since 2011 when Oman Sail first launched its 760nm endurance race around the Gulf of Arabia, competitors have been drawn from the ranks of past and present Volvo Ocean Race crew and 2015 is no exception with past winners Damian Foxall (IRL) and Sidney Gavignet (FRA) currently at the front of the EFG SATT fleet as they head towards the finish in Bahrain. Three of the GAC powered by Dongfeng Race Team from China, namely Cheng Ying Kit, Liu Ming and King Chencheng are using EFG SATT as training for the next VOR which for any offshore sailor, represents the pinnacle of a career due to the formidable challenges set across the 27,000 nm route through the Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Pacific Oceans plus 10 inshore races staged at each stopover. Every Volvo Ocean Race team must have at least one crew member under the age of 30 but gaining racing experience to earn qualification is no easy matter and ambitious young sailors are constantly seeking opportunities to test their endurance, technical and strategic skills in events that replicate the VOR inshore-offshore model, such as EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour where 50% of all the crewmembers are aged under 30. The new Volvo Ocean Race Rookie Award was announced at the prize-giving for the inshore racing in Doha.“We are thrilled that EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour has attracted this recognition from the Volvo Ocean Race as being a valuable feeder event for young offshore sailors and we look forward to working closely together to promote the sport of sailing among young local and regional audiences,” said David Graham, CEO of Oman Sail. The Volvo Ocean Race will offer an economy return trip to Newport, accommodation and hospitality for the full stopover race weekend and pro-am day to the two top EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour Under 30 sailors, who will be nominated by their skippers and adjudged by a panel comprising George Catsiapis, CEO EFG Private Bank, Knut Frostad CEO, Volvo Ocean Race and Gilles Chiorri, EFG SATT Race Director. They will be announced at the prize giving in Bahrain at 16:30 local time on Saturday 28 February.“We are delighted to launch this award since the Volvo Ocean Race works hard to promote the development of young offshore sailors and also fully supports the initiatives and programmes that are being launched by emerging nations in the sport of sailing,” said Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad.

via BYM Sailing & Sports News.