Q Tell us more about yourself and how did you get involved in competitive sailing?
A It all started when I was working as a sailor in the tourism industry. I got to know about Oman Sail through an advertisement in a newspaper then I decided to try my luck and I applied. It wasn’ t easy at the beginning because I had to compete with around 1000 applicants and I had to prove myself mentally and physically. I would say, what got me involved in sailing was my passion to inspire Omani youths who are enthusiastic to become sailors.
Q The SATT route this year was a challenging one, what kind of mental preparations did you take to make sure you are ready for this kind of route?
A I worked out in the gym every morning and tried to keep it a daily routine. Physical exercises apparently help me in staying focused and enhance my mental state. In long races, we need to stay mentally strong and to be able to be on that level of concentration and patience we should prepare well ahead.
Q Considering your experience in sailing, how do you see the future of the sport in GCC?
A I am very optimistic about sailing in the region. There is a lot of work going on and the goals are very ambitious. We have set the standards high and are doing the smart thing by merging our old relationship with the sea – considering our geographic location – with the support of international sailing experts. Our youths are very passionate and I can see it in the eyes of Omani sailors and how they dream in reaching high levels of competitions, the Olympics for example.
Fahad Al Hasni www. society. qa 19