3.18.12 – It is a wrap! At least so to speak… The Sailing Tour Arabia 2012 is over. After the finish, we sailed into the Wave Marina where we were greeted by a class of young girls from a local school, our other Omani girls and their family. Hugs, squeals and cheering were abundant.
Very touching! Congratulations and stories were passed between teams, skippers thrown in the water, and all the normal chaos of celebration… Meeting Intisar’s family was wonderful- her sisters were just as beautiful as she and were in complete wonderment (maybe a bit baffled too) about what she had done. None of her family are sea farers, so I got a sense they were a bit like ‘ where does she get IT from?’ with IT being whatever you want to fill in: moxie, adventure, craziness, daring to do something like this, or plain ole fool hardy. Raiya’s exuberant family was there as well making the picture of our two heroines complete.
Sailing Arabia The Tour – a success!
There was great entertainment by native dancers and musicians, before the presentations. My embassy friends were also able to attend and I was so glad to share it with some of our government officials. I think it is important for us to support and be present for things that are organically grown and encourage opportunities like this. Prize giving went off without a hitch- French teams Courier Dunkerque, Commercial Bank taking 1st and 2nd, third place half French/half Omani skippered by renowned French skipper Cedric Pouligny, and our team Al Thurya in fourth. This only the second year of Sailing Arabia, but the Tour has seen a 50% increase in the number of teams competing, and a significant growth in the number of teams from the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), with five of the six GCC nations represented. Next year hopefully there will be a team from every GCC country. Personally, I would love to see a full American team come. While I know that are those that might say there are security concerns, knowing what I know now (and which only some have I been able to really write about) I have full confidence that there wouldn’t be any insurmountable issue.
Headed Home-
much to process
The prize giving ended early evening and then teams headed to the airport or back to the hotel. That was rather anticlimactic, as I would normally have expected a dinner or some other formal event where goodbyes could be said. Our Omani girls headed off with their families and had to go to Dubai for a live TV interview (it has begun- their stars are rising). A few of us had dinner and a few celebratory drinks and the following day we flew home. Over the next couple of weeks there will be debriefs and follow-ups and for me time to process this amazing journey. I have had to hit the ground running as legislative season in California has been launched. I arrived in Sacramento after a 36-hour travel and the next day have flown to Hollywood for a two-day political function. Never mind the 12-hour time difference… It has been exciting, surprising, sometimes frustrating and hard but all in all really good. I am lucky to have been a tiny piece in this growing story.
Thank you all so very much for following our journey on Sailing Arabia The Tour 2012!
Til ‘next time’
~Katie Pettibone
