A heroes welcome13th May 2010

As Majan slowly motored into The Wave marina in Muscat, the 200+ strong crowd rose their flags into the air to welcome the crew home. Family, friends, press, VIPs and Oman Sail staff gathered on the dock to see Majan and her crew for the first time since the 6 February, 97 days ago.  The families and close friends got the first attention from the crew. Mohsin got to see and hold his baby girl, Thura, for the first time. Slowly all the greeting embraces were over and the media interviews and questions started in earnest. Over 100 school children had come down to see the festivities and were hugely excited. “This chapter of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race is now over, we look forward to the next. Majan and crew are home safely, and we are satisfied we have given our all.  Majan has stood the test superbly, as can be witnessed by the condition she was in when we arrived. After the home coming we have just witnessed, we can safely say that Oman has given the crew a heroes welcome,” reported Mark Covell. Watch the videos about the end of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race and visit the photo gallery for new pictures…

They did it !12th May 2010

Majan and her crew crossed the finish line off Cape Ras Al Hadd at 23:29:30 last night : “As is the same with so many ocean voyages, we’re happy to have finished safely, but sad that it’s all over. By the time we get to the dock 140 nm from here (Muscat, Oman) we will have logged 20,419 nm sailed. The sun is rising over us and more poignantly it’s rising over Oman. We are home! We left Muscat on the 6th February; 96 days ago, by the time we get to Muscat we will have been away 97 days - a lot has happened since then.” reported this morning Mark Covell onboard Majan. Check out pictures of their arrival in the Photo Gallery. Full story online soon.

In on One11th May 2010

The A100 Trimaran Majan and her crew have put in their last tack and their last gybe, as well as seen their last racing sunrise. “After a long starboard tack out from the coast of India we are now in the Arabian Gulf and 300 miles from Cape Ras Al Hadd.” Reported Mark Covell, media crew onboard Majan. He added: “‘In on one’, was the last call from the navigator. That means no more manoeuvres and into the mark on one tack. At present the wind is blowing a cooling 11 knots true from 305º. That puts us a good 30º under the lay line for the finish. The forecast is for it to lift us and get stronger. If it does it will put us back on target and send Majan galloping across the finish like a home sick horse!” After crossing the line at Cape Ras Al Hadd, the Oman Sail trimaran will still have a further 140 nm to sail before docking in the Wave Muscat.

Are we there yet?10th May 2010

“Estimated time of arrival (ETA), but what does that mean?” said Mohammed on the last Leg of the Indian ocean 5 Capes Race ahead Muscat, Oman.  “So with all the information at out disposal right now, we estimate a time we will be there. If this was a quiet road with not much traffic and we were driving a car I would be happy to give an ETA. However, we are in the fickle Indian Ocean bobbing about in ever decreasing winds.  We’re racing as fast as we can to the line - but with the weather patterns changing almost hourly, and the current against us, pushing us away from the finish line, trying to predict the correct ETA is a bit like threading a sailmaker’s needle with your eyes shut.  The wind is now only 4.5 knots and we have slowed to 4 knots upwind. The temperature has soared to 40º by day and 35º by night. I think we can safely say we are all being tested on this final leg – mentally more than physically,” he reported. As Paul Standbridge, the skipper, said: “At least we don’t have kids sat on the back seat of the car asking “Are we there yet?”  But if there were we would be saying, “We are doing our best! We’ll be there when we get there – not long to go now!” According to the last estimate Majan and her crew are hoping this will be on Wednesday May 12, with less than 580 nm to go, but they are in the hands of the weather gods, for the last time on the Indian Oceans 5 Capes Race!
Visit the photo gallery below with new pictures of the end of Leg 5…

Coastal cruising06th May 2010

The A100 Trimaran Majan is coming back home at full speed off the Indian coast. The boat passed Cape Comorin yesterday, 5th and final landmark of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race at the southern tip of India : “Like a steam train crossing the Indian continent, we powered up the coast of Kerala, eventually coming close to land just off the town of Kolachel. The Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race course just keeps coming up with pleasant surprises, and the team on board keep saying it’s so different on each ocean leg. Very soon we could hardly see the land and you had to pinch yourself and think, “did we really see all that?”  But we definitely smelt the curry and saw some landmarks, and then we vanished into the night, to get on with our watches and race, and wonder what the people on shore are doing?” reported Mohammed al Ghailani onboard Majan. The Arabian Peninsula is now less than 1230 nautical miles away.

Like a fly in a sticky web04th May 2010

Majan has already experienced difficult times during this inaugural Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race, but in recent days, the situation has been hard to bear: “There is so little wind and the sea lies so still and lifeless. It’s 40º on deck and 33º in the water. Eating a hot meal is the last thing you want and sleep is harder to achieve in your roasting bunk. Will we ever get to Muscat? The attitude on Majan is a little more positive. All of the above still exists, it is hot and the sea does look like oil. We stay more positive, why? Because we have to! As we all know Mother Nature can play games with us all, cooking up all manner of combinations. I know most cruising boats would be very pleased with that. However we’re not cruising, we’re racing! Mohsin is dealing with the slow pace extremely well as he wants to get home to see his new baby girl for the first time” reported Mark Covell onboard Majan. Fortunately, Majan and her crew are now heading towards the Sri Lanka coastline at a good 20-knot and about 1,700 nautical miles are yet to be covered before reaching the final destination of Muscat, in Oman. “ It’s great to feel Majan moving again in the wind and waves.” added Mohsin this morning.
Visit the Photo Gallery to discover new pictures about the 5th Leg…

A new Dad aboard Majan!29th April 2010

“Today is a very special day, as our very own Mohsin Al Busaidi has become a father,” reported Mark Covell this morning. Mohsin rang home and spoke to his wife Sarah back in Oman who broke the news to him that he was a father to a beautiful baby girl, called Thura. “Mother and baby are doing well,” says Mohsin. “As soon as he got off the satellite phone he humbly apologized to all the crew for being a little anxious and pre-occupied over the last few days. “I am happy now and you have the old Mohsin back. I am a father, I am so happy, I don’t need to worry any more.”  They now need fair winds and good weather to deliver them home to Oman, still more than 2,700 miles to go, and unite the new dad with mother and baby!
Read below the race news about the start of the Leg 5, and visit the photo gallery…

The Last Start: 27th of April27th April 2010

The fifth and final leg of the Indian Oceans 5 Capes Race from Singapore to Oman started today… On a beautiful day with 6 knots from the a westerly direction Majan and her crew crossed the line to the south of Cape Piai at 04:00 (GMT), midday local time. “Our host for the week, the Keppel Bay Marina had looked after us admirably. A big thank you to all the staff for helping us with our various boat works and projects. Now, as we now pick our way northwards up the course, we enter the Malacca Straits. After passing Sri Lanka, we will carve around the bottom of Cape Comorin, the southern most tip of India, the final cape on this 5 Capes Race course, which will be the last sight of land before seeing Oman.  We will then race as fast as we can to the finish line off Cape Ras Al Hadd to enter the Gulf of Oman and home to Muscat. By then we will have raced over 16,000 sailing miles,” wrote Mark Covell this morning before the off.

Last day of Majan in Singapore26th April 2010

Majan and her crew arrived in Singapore on the 19th of April. During her stopover, Majan was able to “stretch her hulls” with many guests onboard: “It was very light airs for our guest sailing today. Only 5 knots of wind.  Most dinghies and dhow’s would be barely drifting in such light breezes, but Majan is so powerful she is still able to impress out guests, gliding along smoothly and gracefully. We had two groups of guests all who seemed to really enjoy themselves” reported Mohammed al Ghailani from Singapore.
The shore crew had a long job list to go through before leaving the dock on the 27th of April, undertaking the final Leg 5 of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race and heading back to Oman. “We are all looking forward to the next leg and sailing with our new crew member, Ali Ambusaidi who joins us from the Oman Sail Academy” added Mohsin al Busaidi.
Visit the photo Gallery to see new pictures of the stopover in Singapore…

Singapore: Job Lists and Gym21st April 2010

It’s hot and humid here in Singapore, but no rest for the crew or shore crew as they get trapped by a new job list. Mohsin al Busaidi commented: “By now you must wonder what we still find to do to Majan at each stop over? Surely the jobs list must be pretty short by now, and Majan must be totally sorted? The reality is that a racing boat is never completely finished.  There is always something that can be perfected. Just like a Forumla 1 car wears through tyres, we wear through sails, sheets and halyards. On this last leg the G1 halyard strop and halyard broke, and we had to improvise a fix for that. The third gear cog in the port pit winch sheared off three teeth and we also managed to snap three vanes off the wind generator.  All these problems, you work around at sea”.  
He added: “The sailing crew must also find time to get to the gym as it’s important to maintain general fitness, while on the stopovers.   Lots to do and fit into our short stay here. And once again, thanks to our hard working shore crew led by Murray Goodsell, it means Mohammed and I can get a day or two off, before we set sail again on the 27 April”.

Majan Now in Singapore until 27th April19th April 2010

Majan, after having passed the fourth Cape, Cape Piai, yesterday at 14.47 GMT, arrived in Singapore the same evening. Mark Covell, onboard Majan, reported a moment that none of the crew will forget:  “When we were blasting through a narrow channel at 18 knots under full sail, a lone fisherman was crossing the channel well ahead of us in a thin dug out wooden canoe. Within seconds we were barrelling towards the unsuspecting sailor, he had obviously not seen us. To see his face as we shot by in a 105 ft ball of power was unforgettable. He looked up at us calmly, like he was witnessing a UFO landing in his back yard!”. On arrival in Singapore, Mark added: “We will all look back on this leg as a leg of contrasts compared to the open ocean. Walking the course of the Indian Oceans 5 Capes Race has been interesting. Running this leg as a fleet race with as little restriction on the course as possible will be intriguing.” The stopover in Singapore will last until the 27th of April before Leg 5, the final leg of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race course, passing the last cape of the race, Cape Comorin on the southern tip of India. Visit the photo gallery below with new pictures of the end of Leg 4.

Majan passed Cape Piai at 14:47 GMT!18th April 2010

Majan and her crew, after a hard windless day, finally crossed Cape Piai, the southern most point of the Malaysian peninsular at 14:47 GMT today, 18th of April.
Singapore is directly opposite Cape Piai - they are currently heading into dock. Like the cold of the Southern Ocean, or the high winds of a cyclone, the crew, as sailors, have to deal with all conditions :“Flat calm, a millpond, a desert oasis of tranquillity, bereft of wind, spent, the wind is resting; the means of propulsion has ceased to be.  All statements to the effect that this boat is going forward are now inoperative, this wind is an ex-wind, it has snuffed it…..! We just need to find a way not to go a little mad in this heat. ” reported Mark Covell onboard Majan. Majan will leave singapore the 27th of April for her final Leg of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race, back to Oman.

Penultimate Cape On The Horizon as Temperature Soars Onboard Majan16th April 2010

Life on board has taken a twist now that the crew is racing in the Java Sea. “It’s the same but different,” told Mohammed al Ghailaini on board Majan. “Flat water is the biggest change.  A multihull can handle very big waves but give Majan flat water and she purrs along like a happy cat stretched out in the sun. Our drinking water consumption has tripled and our freeze-dried food consumption has halved due to the rising temperatures. You just don’t feel like eating hot mince and mash or spaghetti bolognaise in 40 degrees.  A fresh salad would be nice and maybe a cool glass of juice!  Dream on…for a few more days. So far, we have made better progress than expected. The forecast has been for very little wind by day and a touch more by night.  We did have a hot and painful 4 hour stretch of under 3 knots yesterday - but last night we fed off the updraft of a large thunderstorm about 10 miles away.  As the hot are was sucked up into the system, it drew air past us giving us a solid 15 knots for most of the night,” he reported. Majan and her crew are hanging onto a nice 8 knots from 300 degrees, for now. They are only about 36nm from another waypoint - a light house called Karang Selatan that they must leave to port. After that they head north for 60nm to another island and then they can turn left and start their 450nm approach to Singapore and the finish line off Cape Piai, the fourth Cape of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race.

“Land and more land… Ahoy”15th April 2010

Seeing land again is always a good feeling for a sailor, and Mohammed saw it first.  Mohsin, onboard Majan, tells: “The thing Mohammed and I notice the most is the amount of rubbish in the water. To be fair it’s not all man made. Clumps of grass and mangroves float about like mini islands, each with their very own eco system. The wind slowly dropped off from a light air beat to nothing. We persevered, working closer to the land feeling there may be some more wind due to compression along the shore. The contrast to the stark open ocean to having so much visual stimulation around us is almost too much to handle. Smoke, boats, people land and shipping are all new to us”. He added “Now we are having to navigate round obstacles, instead of sailing for days on one heading.  So for Mohammed and I it is really good for practicing our navigation, and understanding more about what Marc and Paul are planning.”  No more long and open ocean swells and weather systems for Majan and the crew. This is flat water coastal racing, island hopping with Jawa to starboard and Sumatra to port. Singapore is up ahead them and they have approx. 400 nm to go on this penultimate leg of the course and lots of twists and turns to come, with a mixed forecast of showers, squalls and light breezes.
Visit the photo gallery below with new pictures of the Leg 4 and watch the Video about the hoisting of the head sail, the G1…

Drama: G1 Down But Not Out13th April 2010

“At 9.00 UTC, (around 4am W Australia time) we had a big drama on deck.  Mohsin was steering in around 15 knots of breeze and we were sailing downwind off the north west corner of Australia, under our huge cuban-fibre genniker, the G1. Suddenly, the halyard snapped about a foot below the top of the mast – sending the sail tumbling over the side in the dark,” reported Mark Covell onboard the A100 Majan this morning. “Mohsin, Marc and Sidney were on watch at the time,” he continues. “Quick thinking by Mohsin, meant little damage was done as he turned the boat down, slowing us right down, and shouted for Paul to come up on deck.  This was quickly followed by a call for ‘all hands on deck’ – meaning we all had to jump out of their bunks and come and help. It took about twenty minutes to haul the sail back on board – it’s big, heavy and the cuban-fibre weave makes it very slippery too, so hard to get a grip on.  Currently, it is half on the deck and half down below decks, as there’s not room to stow the whole sail on deck unfurled. We think it’s undamaged, and we have ‘moused’ a line in place to thread a new halyard when it gets light. The plan is to hoist the sail from the deck in the morning.  Normally – when it’s not in use this sail all nicely furled up into a big roll.  We unroll using a furling pulley system when we need it.  So hoisting it unfurled and loose will be quite interesting”.
Visit the photo Gallery to see new pictures of the start and of the sail drama…

Already at the halfway point - Leg 412th April 2010

Three days after Majan left Fremantle, her crew are now sailing at 27 knots to their next destination – Singapore – on this penultimate leg of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race. More than 1,000 miles after the start at Cape Leeuwin, Mohammed al Ghailani confides: “I always find the first 48 hours at sea very hard. As soon as my body and sleep clock has become accustomed to the timing, I am happy again. I personally take about two days to get my sea legs. We had an upwind start again and, yes, I was very ill. Please can we have at least one slow start to a leg? These first nights that launch us right into the thick of it are becoming too common. It will get lighter and lighter and hotter and hotter as we sail up to Singapore. I also like that every mile we sail we are getting closer to Oman and home. It’s still a long way to go and I’m not wishing it away but I am missing home, friends and family. I have never been away this long before. Paul and Mohsin have taught me never to count the days. I love my time on Majan but think I’m only human to sometimes want to be with my family.”  Majan is almost at the halfway point en route to Singapore with approx 1260 miles to go. Watch the Videos below about the start of Majan from Fremantle and Cape Leeuwin…

Majan on Leg 4, let’s go!09th April 2010

Majan cast off from the dock of Fremantle, Occidental Australia, at 10.00 hours (local time – 03.00 AM GMT), ready to restart at 12.00 hours (05.00 AM GMT). Their ‘start line’ is at 270° West at a navigation buoy called Hall Bank. They then have to sail south back to Cape Leeuwin, to pick up their Indian Oceans 5 Capes Race course, where they left off at the end of Leg 3, before they head up north to Singapore. “We hope to see some of our new local Fremantle friends out on the water to wave us off,” said Mark Covell, Media crew onboard Majan. “Fremantle has really embraced Majan and her crew. The two days of guest sailing was a great success. The groups that came out on Majan were grinning from ear to ear when they stepped off the boat. Today, we have all been putting the last preparations in place for Leg 4 and packing the boat.” Read more about the start of the Leg 4 in the Race News below…

Majan under the spotlight08th April 2010

Sailing reporter, Sebastian Destremau of DesTopNews, contacted Oman Sail about the possibility of coming down to Fremantle to film Majan, speak to Sidney Gavignet and find out more about the A100 and the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race project. Last week he got on a plane to Perth and this is the first result of the filming he did. Watch the French version on You Tube now - English version will follow : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTwCCg9rrxY&feature=player_embedded# >

Majan ready for Leg 406th April 2010

Back in Fremantle after an Easter break for some of the crew, the shore and offshore teams have been very busy. Majan has had a makeover for its guests and is now ready for Leg 4.  “My first impressions are that the boat has been tweaked and perfected taking Majan even closer to race spec,” reported Mark Covell, media crew, back from a break in Oman. “The next few days it’s all about the media,” he added, “we have invited an eclectic mix of Australia’s travel, yachting and consumer media to sample the dynamic sailing experience of Majan. From two scheduled sails we ended up with 3! 18 guests experienced a sail on an A100!”. Mona Tannous, Manager of Oman Tourism in Australia & New Zealand is one of the guest in Fremantle. “The first group of guests have just come off the boat, totally raving about the experience. I myself was dumbfounded yesterday when I finally saw her in ‘real life’ so to speak,” she said. The start for the next leg to Singapore is planned for the 9th of April.

Majan and Fremantle29th March 2010

Yesterday, the Australian public was invited to view Majan at the Fremantle Sailing Club. Crew member Mohammed Al Ghailani was there: “By 4pm groups of individuals and families started arriving; it was beyond our expectations. Over 150 people came to see Majan and were shown onboard! The amazing turn out of individuals, families, teenagers, children and professional sailors actually made our day. Every one was impressed not only with Majan, but with our beautiful country and the vision and mission of Oman Sail as a project. It made me so proud being part of this race and representing my country. It has also confirmed to me that the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race is not just a race, it’s a unique race linking nations and humans from different races and cultures, making this world a better place.” Majan will continue her journey of tracing out the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race when she leaves Fremantle on 6th April, heading for the fourth landmark: Cape Piai the southernmost point of mainland Asia, just to the west of Singapore.

Great to be in Fremantle!25th March 2010

Mohammed Al Ghailani reported on the crew’s first hours spent on dry land after a tiring and eventful Leg 3 between Cape Town and Fremantle: “We’ve all had a very peaceful sleep, enjoying the simple pleasures of life after our arrival yesterday morning - it’s great to be in Fremantle after two weeks at sea. After lunch Mohsin and I decided to do some other tasks on the ground, to have a rest from the boat! We went grocery shopping and took over the role of our logistics person!  Being at sea for two weeks, we missed the simple day-to-day tasks that remind us of home and family. It’s been a productive day with more to come preparing Majan for the 6th & 7th of April Media & VIP sailing”.

Leg 3 Finish - Stopover in Fremantle, Australia24th March 2010

Today, 24 March 2010, the A100 Trimaran ‘Majan’ entered the Fremantle harbour at 10:00 (Local Time - 2:00 am GMT) after a two-hour rigorous visit from the Australian customs, who gave the boat a thorough going over.
“We arrived in bright Perth sunshine and sparkling water, to be welcomed with open arms by the Fremantle Yacht Club.  Pretty much the first item on our all of our agendas was a long, long shower in fresh, warm water. The crews are relieved and happy to be ashore and to be able to spend a short while relaxing and reflecting back on the Leg. Meanwhile, the work goes on. The shore team is already in full swing. The mainsail is already off and Majan has a new crew buzzing about her, above and below decks, like worker bees” reported Mark Covell, media crew onboard Majan. The trimaran and the crew will leave this peaceful place in two little weeks, headed for Cape Piai, on the tip of the Malaysian peninsula (the southernmost point of mainland Asia, just west of Singapore).

Soon in Fremantle, Australia23rd March 2010

At the pace they’re maintaining, Majan and her crew will be in Fremantle in the evening for their third stopover. The third landmark of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race is in their wake, but the crew feel they’re still racing!
“Life on board is not really any different than when we were racing. We are keeping to the normal race watches and routine as usual.  It’s now all about getting to the dock!  So in a way we are still racing.  It’s a powerful pull that a man has to get to a fresh shower and a green salad.  That’s the chat on board”, reported Mohsin Al Busaidi.

Cape Leeuwin and the “land of the lioness”22nd March 2010

The Dutch navigators who had first sighted it - without stopping or claiming possession -had named “Land of Leeuwin” (which in Flemish means “lioness”, the name of their ship) this vast and wild piece of territory located at the southwestern tip of Australia. And if Mathew Flinders eventually gave the name Leeuwin to the cape itself in 1801, the French influence on this region could have been much more important !
READ MORE about Cape Leeuwin in the Race News below…

Finished - but still sailing!22nd March 2010

“We’ve got 600 nm to go, but we’ve finished!! The finish line was to be crossed from the west to the east at a longitude of 115°08 E.  That is the line due south of Cape Leeuwin.  In pockets of cold fog and bright sunshine, we crossed the line at 04:10:48 GMT on the 22nd March” reported Mark Covell on board the A100 Trimaran Majan. It has taken the crew 11 days, 18 hours, 48 seconds to sail from Cape Town, South Africa to the longitude of the third landmark of the race, Cape Leeuwin at the Southwestern tip of Australia. “The experience of 70+ knots in the resulting storm is now something that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. We took that breeze all the way - mostly east-south-east, down to 44º6 S” he added.
Majan and her crew are now heading north to reach Fremantle, some 500 nautical miles in front of their bows, for their third stopover.

As quick as the wind19th March 2010

Majan seems eager to reach her third stopover. Moving as fast as the wind, the 105 foot trimaran forges ahead at 30 knots. The distance to Cape Leeuwin, Australia, third cape of the race, is less than 1600 miles!
See the photo gallery below with the new images of Leg 3…

Sweet dreams18th March 2010

Majan passed the halfway mark! The trimaran is now forging ahead at nearly 20 knots, in 15 knots of wind. “One of the basic functions of man is sleep. Without sleep, your body and mind begin to malfunction. In the past, sailors have gone mad without sleep. The sea is one place that you can’t afford to malfunction. The ability to think straight, work hard and perform as part of the crew of a 105 foot giant trimaran is essential, with the heavy sheet loads and the potential to flip her over with one slip in concentration,” explained Mark Covell. “During a storm like the one we’ve just had”, he added, “or any upwind sailing, the only way to sleep is on a beanbag.  So there’s a bit of a scramble on to ‘bag’ your bag when you come off watch!”. Just over 2,000 miles are left before the crew reach their third stopover port in Fremantle, Australia, after rounding the third landmark of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race, Cape Leeuwin.

A100 Majan Surviving 70 Knots in the Southern Ocean17th March 2010

Oman Sail’s A100 trimaran ‘Majan’ has been battling hurricane force winds in the Southern Ocean on leg 3 of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race en route to the next stop over in Fremantle, Australia. The six-man crew led by Paul Standbridge including new recruit Sidney Gavignet and two Omani crew, who are tracing out this new course ahead of the official race in 2012, have had their mettle tested to the limit in these ferocious conditions. ‘Majan’ left Cape Town on 10th March and are approximately 2,300 miles into the 4,600-mile leg, with another 5-6 days before arriving in Fremantle.  New video, photos and full blog from Mark Covell coming soon…

62 Knots Over The Deck!15th March 2010

Majan and her crew are facing huge changes in the weather over the last 24 hours. Yesterday, they had great conditions, “now, we are in a big, big waves and driving rain. There’s between 48 to 55 knots of wind and we are down to our 4th reef in the mainsail, with no headsail. The waves are huge – but we are very safe and adapting the boat to the conditions. Majan is looking after us well. ” reported Mohsin on board Majan.

Cog in the Clock15th March 2010

“Like a clock with its many moving parts all working together to bring you precision time, a good race crew performs in the same way. I come on deck to do a job. It may not be the same job as Thierry our navigator or Paul our Skipper, like the cogs in a clock we all have our own role and specialty,” explains Mohsin Al Busaidi on board Majan.
Less than 3,200 miles remain to be covered before reaching the third cape of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race, Cape Leeuwin, in Australia, and the crew is not running out of surprises. Yesterday, Mohsin said: “Today is the first day the Southern Ocean has looked like it did the last time I was here. The waves are long and rise up as if someone has shaken a blanket out, sending huge folds of sea tumbling over itself. Our routing may take us back north east as our next challenge is to weave through two strong fronts; one to the north and one to the south. Our best option is to back the northerly route. I like the sound of that as Mohammed and I are feeling the cold and we are still above 40 deg south. We should get a good day in today - as I send this there is a 33 in the boat speed box on the instruments.”
See the photo gallery below with the new photos of the Leg 3…

Finding Our Legs on Leg 311th March 2010

Just like leaving Oman and Ras Al Hadd, the first Cape crossed by Majan, on the first night of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race, the crew has had another bumpy night. “Just as we crossed the line the warm wind seemed to turn cold and the first few spits of rain started to fall. The wind got up, under rain clouds, to a gusty 26 knots at times. Majan’s motion was to sling shot over the short sharp waves slamming hard after every one of them. I normally have a strong stomach but both Mohammed and I were very seasick,” said Mohsin Al Busaidi onboard Majan. The A100 Majan left Cape Town yesterday at 12:00 local time; they are now more than 280 miles into Leg 3 destination Fremantle. Over the next day or two Paul Standbridge and his crew are planning to sail south as fast as they can. “Paul described it as driving on small back roads, often away from your destination, just to get to the motorway junction, “ added Mohsin.

Cape Town’s Signal Hill noon day gun releases Majan on Leg 310th March 2010

In breathtaking style the giant A100 tri-maran ‘Majan’ shot across the Cape Town start line of the third leg of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race just off Table Bay harbour’s breakwater at exactly midday (12:00 Local Time) today to track a course down south to the treacherous seas of the Southern Ocean for her next stop in Fremantle, Australia. The start perfectly timed to coincide with the daily firing of the noon day gun from Cape Town’s landmark Signal Hill, the magnificent speed machine, which has utterly captivated Capetonians during her brief stay in the city, quickly built pace of over 23 knots in a brisk 14 knot south westerly breeze and dark rain threatening skies.
Read more about Majan and her crew below in Race news.

Ready, Steady, Go : Leg 3 !10th March 2010

After a ten day stopover in Cape Town during which the crew of Oman Sail’s A100 Majan showcased their new Nigel Irens designed trimaran and promoted the future of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race to the local media and VIPs, ‘Majan’ left Cape Town today, heading for Cape Leeuwin and Fremantle, Australia. The third leg is 4,631 nautical miles taking the Majan crew into the infamous Southern Ocean before reaching the third cape of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race. This leg will take approximately 12 days sailing crossing one of the most feared oceans on the planet and Paul Standbridge and his crew, who are now joined by the French sailor Sidney Gavignet, will be looking to set a fast reference time between Cape Agulhas and Cape Leeuwin.

An epic second leg! Sidney Gavignet joins the A100 ‘Majan’ crew…02nd March 2010

Read more about the Leg 2 of Majan and her crew below in Race news.
French sailor Sidney Gavignet will be joining Majan’s crew in Cape Town and will sail onboard the new A100 for the final three stages of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race.

Early this morning, Majan docked in Cape Town02nd March 2010

The A100 trimaran Majan swept into Table Bay, Cape Town, in bright moonshine at 02:45 GMT early this morning (Tuesday 2 March) after screaming around Cape Point and down the Peninsula at speeds of over 30 knots in strong south easterly winds gusting up to 40+ knots. Cape Town is a designated stopover for the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race – the first official edition of the race is scheduled 2012. Majan left Muscat, Oman, last month on 6 February and stopped briefly in the Maldives while en route to Cape Town as she traces out this new course via 5 capes. She crossed the proposed new race finish line at Cape Agulhas – the second cape on the course - at 16:02:57 GMT, 13 days, 6 hours and 57 seconds after leaving the Maldives. She departs Cape Town for Freemantle next week (9 March). See the video gallery below to check out Majan crossing Cape Agulhas.

Majan passed Cape Agulhas transit !01st March 2010

At 16:02:57 GMT today, the A100 Trimaran ‘Majan’ crossed the line of Cape Agulhas, the second cape of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Races, after 13 days, 6 hours and 57 seconds.  Majan will arrive in Cape Town tomorrow for their second stopover before departing on Leg 3 on the 9th March to Fremantle, Australia. See the photo gallery below with the new photos of the Leg 2…

Land Ahoy!01st March 2010

The A100 trimaran ‘Majan’ is now very close from the second Cape of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race, Cape Agulhas, approximately 150 miles to go which marks the official finish line of this leg from the Maldives. The crew expects to pass Cape Aguhlas later tonight and should arrive in Cape Town, the second stopover, by tomorrow afternoon. Media man Mark Covell wrote: “Last night was memorable not only for making land fall but for the clear sky and full moon. I filmed Mohsin at the helm using no flash, no fill in light, just lit by the silver moonlight dancing on the sea. Now at daybreak we are about 150 miles from the finish and we are trucking along nicely at 12 knots in bright morning sunshine with a warm 10-knot breeze in our hair. Unlike any other night on this leg we have been mixing with large fishing boats, cruisers and cargo ships. At one time we had as many as 30 vessels in a 20 nm radius. Obviously all this shipping traffic can only mean one thing - we are getting closer to civilization. I think it may be after nightfall when we cross the line off Cape Agulhas later today.”

Slow Down to Cape Aguhlas28th February 2010

Majan’s high-speed express ride to Cape Town has come to a halt as the crew on the A100 cross a high pressure zone reducing the trimarans speed to less than 2 knots at times.  The second of the great capes on the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race course - Cape Aguhlas - lies 350+ miles away and Cape Town another 170 miles after that. As a result there estimated time of arrival in Cape Town is unlikely to be tomorrow (Monday 1st March) but both the pro sailors on board and the less seasoned Omani crew have learnt to resolve themselves to life at sea and accept that Mother Nature controls all: “We have been set a course, with a start and a finish, that is a set distance. No one has set a time that we must do it in. We are doing everything we can, to sail fast. I have learnt to never wish my time at sea away. You can set the distance but you can never set the time…” mused Mohsin Al Busaidi, the first Arab to sail non-stop around the world on board Musandam. See the 2d tracking map below for Majan’s latest position.

Less than 1000 miles to Cape Town26th February 2010

“Leg 1 to the Maldives was a bit like treading new boots in, flat walking across wide plains before the foothills.  Leg 2 and it’s on towards the mountain range itself – or in our case towards the Southern Ocean,” wrote Mark Covell onboard the A100 Majan. Less than 950 miles from their second stopover, conditions and landscape are changing, Omani crew member Mohsin describes the changes as, “The waves have changed from being those ‘bumps in the road’, to large show-jumps, and now they are looking more like the side of a stable block.  And the heat haze that has followed us for days, so you can’t really see the horizon clearly, is lifting and the colours are brighter and sharper out here”.  See the video gallery below to check out the latest onboard video which sees the Majan crew making some repairs to the mainsail halyard and an exhausting re-hoist to get the sail back to the top of the 35m mast!

The Conversion is Almost Complete25th February 2010

The A100 trimaran ‘Majan’ approaches Cape Town at full speed, less than 1,300 miles are left before the crew reach their second stopover port. An equally important landmark is the crossing of the second cape on the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race course – Cape Aghulas (find out more about Cape Aguhlas in Race News & Features below). Back on board ‘Majan’ Mark Covell wrote: “This morning I woke at sunrise to find Thierry and Mohsin on deck, bringing in the day throwing down some fast shapes over the long waves. I smiled to the two, tired crew and politely asked, ‘How are you going?’  Mohsin replied, ‘Good, 22 knots boats speed in only 18 knots true wind, compass course 210 but lifting all the time, we’ll be gybing by lunchtime.’ As I turned to put a new memory card in the camera and check the lens was clean, it hit me - the definition of a good sailor, or the signs that you’re beginning to get it, is when you start thinking like one.  All I did was ask Mohsin how he was, but he answered on behalf of the boat. He was thinking the language of a sailor and dealing in the international currency of boat speed. His conversion is almost complete. Just as I am trying to think in light, sound and word counts in my quest to bring you the story, Moshin and Mohammed are thinking sails, wind, winch loads and leads. They still have to learn a lot more before they can drop into a race crew or captain a watch with that all round depth of knowledge. Every day they become a step closer and more confident.”

Latitude 23º A new Home For Now24th February 2010

“We started the Indian Ocean 5 Capes course from Muscat on the 6th February on a line just off the Royal Palace 23˚ 37.55 North. In the early hours of this morning, 23rd February, we crossed the same latitude South about 400nm SE of the Mauritius Rodrigues Islands” said Mark Covell, media crew onboard Majan. Having spent a few days holding back for a very ugly depression, that turned into a storm, then into a tropical storm, then into a hurricane, Majan and the crew are now ‘blast-reaching’ on a heading of 240 degrees. They are regularly touching speeds in the high 20’s (knots). “Meanwhile, the waves are picking up and my job is getting a touch harder. Typing this, and for the guys to do emails, is now also a mission in itself. We find there’s no guarantee that our fingers will hit the keys we are aiming for! The waves must know when we are typing and shudder the boat just as we try to hammer the word out. It makes for some good typos and odd copy - that I can’t always blame on my dyslexia!” adds Mark Covell. See the 2d tracking map below to pinpoint Majan’s position en route for Cape Town and the crossing of the second famous Cape on the course, Cape Agulhas.

Leg 2: One week in and charging south23rd February 2010

Oman Sail’s A100 Majan has been freed from the burden of the Tropical Storm and the brakes are off as the six-man crew, led by Paul Standbridge, press on towards their Leg 2 stopover port of Cape Town tracing out the course of the new Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race ahead of the first official edition in 2012. Nearly at the halfway stage of the 4,200 mile leg from the Maldives, Majan is powering along at 24 knots:  “The latest weather report was in. Triumphantly the call rang out, ‘Put everything we have up and more.  If it can be hoisted then hoist it!’ With 20 knots under our wings, amidst deep blue ocean rollers and a bright sunny sky, we were back on the quest like Knights of the Round Table, going South – ready to charge,” wrote Mark Covell, media crew onboard Majan. “We had a fast night sailing, good wind, thousands of stars and a very bright moon. Perfect conditions just on the edge.” Omani crew member Mohammed Al Ghailiani had his stamina tested at the ‘coffee grinder’ - see all the latest photos from onboard in the gallery below. Cape Town had better be ready, the A100 trimaran does not waste time!

Gelane, Your move…22nd February 2010

The hurricane ‘Gelane’, downgraded to a Tropical Storm, finally agrees to let Majan and her crew move, but not without difficulty. Under a heavy rain, Majan is sailing  towards strong winds and menacing waves. The crew remains cautious: “There are other cells forming and we need to keep our wits about us. The sea state in the area will be very aggressive and Gelane is still puffing and panting like a teenager on a ‘bad hair’ day” said Mark Covell.
It’s still a long way for the A100 Trimaran, with about 2,700 miles still to go in though conditions to reach their next goal, Cape Town (via the second cape of the race: Cape Agulhas).

Mohsin speaks about his journey south…19th February 2010

Find below in Race news an exclusive interview of Mohsin by Mark about coping life onboard Majan and how he is helping Mohammed to increase his sailing skills.

Slow Down Before The Hoedown!19th February 2010

Approaching a large tropical cyclone named ‘Gelane’, Majan’s skipper Paul Standbridge, had to take a painful decision yesterday, deliberately slowing down the boat in order to avoid the storm. The result is frustration on board…

“It’s goes against every racing bone in your body to actively reduce sail and slow down. After Paul made the call we all felt very strange. We had only about 15 knots of wind with a grey sky and a small swell. We furled the J1 and put a reef in the main.

Now we have to crawl, the crew doesn’t know what to do with themselves. Mohsin was happy to sit on the deck in the light rain and get a slow shower as if in a stream bath with its fine spray. Mohammad looked crest fallen as he had worked really hard in the night sailing his fastest. Only now to have his good work reduced to slapping waves and sloppy sails. No longer is Majan singing her song of speed. It’s hard to explain to Mohammed what we are trying to avoid, as it’s an experience any sailor would not want to witness. He nodded his head and said, “I never thought I would be racing with Paul Standbridge and have to slow down. I guess it’s just a lesson I have to learn”.

Mohammed’s wide eyed expression just got more extreme as Mike Gilles told stories of 50 knots onboard Thomas Colville’s maxi-trimaran, Sodeb’O on a trip from Cape Town to New York back in 2008. We are all learning a lesson in patience and how not to walk straight into a tropical storm asking for a fight.”

Sent last night by Mark Covell.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place…18th February 2010

Two days after flirting with one of the most beautiful terrestrial paradises, the Maldives, the crews of trimarans ‘Majan’ and ‘Musandam’ will face the underworld of the Indian Ocean with the meeting of the Tropical Cyclone ‘Gelan’ determined to barring their way.

“Have you ever made a journey to somewhere, where you know bad news awaits you?  We’re on a journey with some very bad news just ahead of us. As I write, there is a Tropical Cyclone called “Gelane” just off Mauritius. Its barometric pressure is 975hpa. If we were foolish enough to go within a 100knm radius of it’s epicenter, we would be battered with giant waves and winds gusting up to 100 mph” explained Mark Covell from the A100 trimaran ‘Majan’.

Read Mark Covell’s full blog entry in the Race News section below…

Majan crew pays respects to Neptune17th February 2010

In time honoured maritime tradition, Lord Neptune made an appearance on the decks of Majan today.

In sailors mythology, Lord Neptune, the Roman God of Water and Sea, saved and showed the way to ships caught in the storm.  In his benign aspect, Lord Neptune was seen as creating new islands and offering calm seas.  When offended or ignored, he supposedly struck the ground with his trident and caused chaotic springs, earthquakes, drownings and shipwrecks.  Sailors prayed to Lord Neptune for a safe voyage, sometimes drowning horses as a sacrifice.

Read Mark Covell’s full blog entry in the Race News section below…

Majan entered the Southern Hemisphere!17th February 2010

Around 5:00 GMT this morning, Majan entered the Southern Hemisphere, which represented the first Equator crossing for Omani sailor Mohammed. The crew is expecting some rough weather on their way, with a potential tropical storm promising a ‘nice’ little shakedown for both boat and men…
See the video gallery below for the video clip on the passage of the equator…

Leg 2 - 4,200 miles to go!17th February 2010

After a great stopover in the Maldives, the ‘Majan’ A100 trimaran and the 75-ft ‘Musandam’ set off yesterday morning, heading for Cape Agulhas and Cape Town. There is now just under 4,000 nautical miles to go before reaching the second landmark of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race. “Earlier today I met Mohsin coming back from the buffet, with a second healthy plate brimming over with curries, flatbreads, and chicken legs. I joked with him that tonight’s menu would be freeze-dried dehydrated vegetable broth. He turned and put another chicken leg on the plate” said Mark Covell yesterday just before the start of Leg 2. With lunch finished, the two crews waddled their way to the end of the jetty knowing they would very soon burn the large meal off. “This second leg of approximately 4,200nm (7,800km) will complete our first Cape-to-Cape connection” added Mark Covell. 
“Our start time was just after 15:00 local time (10:00 GMT) at the mouth of the Malé Lagoon. Our timed run was well executed and we crossed the line with good speed on a compass course of 165 degrees. The 14 knots of wind blowing from 040º meant that we had great speed down the track, quickly losing sight of the low lying atolls to starboard.  Now back on Majan all that ‘mucking about’ in boats is over. This is business and it looks like this leg will throw up some real challenges for the Omani recruits. The weather charts are indicating that we may have a sizable tropical storm ahead of us that will test both the crew and Majan. Naturally, our navigator is monitoring it closely!

The sun has now set and Mohsin has just boiled the water to re-hydrate his dinner. This time I don’t think he will be back for second helpings!” 
Mark Covell

Starting signal for the Leg 2 - Next stop: CAPE TOWN16th February 2010

Today, Tuesday 16th of February, the A100 trimaran ‘Majan’ and the 75’ trimaran ‘Musandam’ crossed the start line at 10:02GMT in the Maldives, headed for Cape Agulhas and ultimately Cape Town. “We’ve just started Leg 2. Fantastic day, 14 knots of wind, on a broad reach, heading 165 degrees with the Maldives to starboard” said Mark Covell.
Follow ‘Majan’ as she traces out this new Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race course, go to the 2d race tracking map below. Next stop Cape Town.
See the photo gallery below for images from Leg 1…

Time Warp – the slow road to transmission15th February 2010

From Faru, Maldives, where Majan and Musandam are moored safely in the lee of the island since last Thursday (11th of Frebruary), Mark Covell tries, by all means, to share with us their Leg 1 by sending a video- and it seems to prove challenging: “Every so often you realise that you just may be pushing something uphill that just doesn’t want to be pushed. That was the case in my task of sending you my Leg 1 film footage from this beautiful Island of Faru. We are guests on this sandy island resort that sits just next to a natural lagoon. The water is warm, the sand is white, and the hospitality is wonderful. We are in paradise! However, there is a small, little, tiny, weeny problem - if you are trying to send 40 gigabytes of video highlights back to the UK from paradise!” Said Mark Covell, the media crew. He then ventured into Male, the capital of the Maldives. He knew that TVM (TV Maldives) had filmed their arrival, “so I thought they might just be interested in some more footage from our leg. And, as a modern broadcasting corporation, also that they must have the ‘tools’ for the file transfer job?” hoped Mark. Despite new challenges, “it took four hours to push the media - kicking and screaming - down the wire. As I sat smiling, and staring at the autocue, I looked up at the camera and said in my best BBC English, “Breaking news just in!  Mark Covell has finally been successful in his mission. Good night”. We’re expecting to receive the footage anytime today - stay tuned!
See the photo gallery below for photos from Maldives…

MAJAN HAS ARRIVED ! Maldives: First stopover.11th February 2010

Majan crossed the official finish line off the Maldives at 10.25 GMT.  She was welcomed in by an armada of small boats flying Omani flags, and is currently dropping her mainsail and heading in to berth.

Paradise Incoming11th February 2010

Five days after their departure from Muscat and despite a tumultuous first night, the crew is doing well and the excitement at the approach of Maldives, is felt! “Boots on and rucksack over our shoulder, we waved goodbye to Cape Ras Al Hadd and started walking. That first night we had an uncomfortable shake down that just served to remind us that Mother Nature wears the trousers.” Mohammed Al Ghailani, the pseudo-apprentice, impresses more than one: “ He wears the medal for best-improved crew. He has spent a lot of the time on the helm being coached by Michael Giles. As I type this, he is on the helm pushing consistently good speeds and making the most of the dropping wind pressure”.  Mark Covell really looks forward to seeing the Maldives Islands and wearing his flip-flops. And, as it is the country with the lowest highest point in the world, at 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in), with his 2m frame, he looks forward to seeing most of the 1,190 coral Islands from standing on the deck of Majan!

Nearly at the Maldives10th February 2010

After that Majan passed the first Cape of five in the early hours of Monday morning, the 105-ft multihull is now approaching its first stopover in the Maldives at high speed and the crew expect to arrive tomorrow: “Like a fast train on a downhill run, we are coming in with pace! The boat hums and whistles to the key of “C”, it’s like she’s on that train but listening to her own iPod, nodding her head with the beat and smiling from hull to hull,” said Mark Covell.

This first 1400nm leg has proven to be a tough shakedown for the brand new trimaran: “We knew about a small crack in the deck just behind the mast rotate pad eye. There was also a small grub screw to hold it all together that was also dipped in Loctite. It just goes to show that our night of shaking, rocking and rolling took its toll. The shock loads that shudder through the hull and rig are huge. If the outriggers were solid the boat would break up, but like an aircrafts flexible wing, we bend and bow with the moving waves…”.

Americas Cup, Eat Your Heart Out !
08th February 2010

After approximately 53 hours at sea, Oman Sail’s A100 Majan has covered more than 500 miles since leaving Muscat and the Omani coast behind, heading south for their first stopover in the Maldives another 900 miles down the track. The six-man crew have already dealt with a variety of conditions from little wind to 25+ knots and an uncomfortable sea state, combined with sweltering conditions down below.  Once at sea it is easy to forget life on land but as Mark Covell, media crew on board Oman Sail’s A100 Majan, spared a small thought for America’s 33rd Cup that should have begun today on Monday, February 8th: “When we all look back in yachting history and remember where we were - when a monster catamaran raced a monster trimaran for the 33rd Americas Cup; we can proudly say that we were racing a ‘Giant - the A100 ‘Majan’!” PS the first day of the America’s Cup was postponed due to lack of wind!

Slap, rock and shake! Read the first report from Majan below07th February 2010

After setting off across the start line off Muscat (Oman) yesterday, Mark Covell, media crew on board Oman Sail’s A100 Majan set back this report… Over the next six hours we sailed under eight different sail combinations to cope with the wind’s fickle mood. We saw as much as 26 knots and as little as zero. Why is it in so many races and crossings the first night at sea, Mother Nature and King Neptune gang up and tries to catch you out? This morning we’re blasting along at 20 knots, under light cloud, trying to get as far down the track as possible before the wind drops and the large sea state takes over to slap, rock and shake Majan… Read Mark’s report in full below in Race News…

Cape Ras Al Hadd07th February 2010

Literally meaning ‘the cape’ in Arabic, it is the easternmost point of the Arabian Peninsula and Oman is very proud that this is the point where the suns first rays touch land on rising. Its location marks the dividing point between the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is an unspoilt part of the world and one of the largest nesting sites for endangered Green turtles, with over 20,000 females returning annually to lay their eggs. The waters around this area are popular for snorkelling, diving and fishing as it marks the convergence point of many currents resulting in an abundance of sea life. For the Omani crews on board both Majan and Musandam this was their last sight of home until their return journey up the Arabian Sea.
Geographical Coordinates: 22° 51’ N - 59° 76’ E

THEY ARE OFF!06th February 2010

Today, Saturday 6th of February, the trimaran A100 ‘Majan’ and ‘Musandam’ (75 ft trimaran) crossed the line at 15:45 local time, 11:45 (GMT). The boats started in a shifty E-NE wind of 8 kts.
Follow ‘Majan’ as she traces out this new Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race course, go to the 2d race tracking map below. Next stop the Maldives.
See the photo gallery below for photos from the start…

Weather update for the start…05th February 2010

Oman Sail’s A100 Majan, alongside their 75-ft trimaran Musandam, will be tracing out the new Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race leaving Muscat (Oman) at 2.00pm local tomorrow. Majan skipper gave this weather update: “We had 25 knots of wind yesterday, 23 today and now it has gone down to nothing so we seem to be in a variable place. But, in theory, we should start in about 8 knots tomorrow, maybe a little bit more thermal enhancing so it could pick up a bit. Then we head out into quite an interesting weather pattern and on Sunday we are not going to be far from 40 knot squalls so it should be exciting!”

Majan skipper Paul Standbridge on the A10005th February 2010

The A100 really is a magnificent boat and I absolutely love it! We have a lot of fun on it and it is a great training vehicle, and it’s great for flying the flag of Oman Sail and Oman. I can’t stop telling everyone what a nice boat it is to sail! It’s been beautifully designed by Nigel Irens and beautifully built. We all know that one-design racing has got to be not too complex, not too expensive and not too difficult to sail, and that is what we’ve achieved with this one. Read more about the A100 below…

Countdown to the Start29th January 2010

The 16,300-mile inaugural Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race starts on Saturday, 6th February from Muscat, Oman.  This new premier course, via the 5 great Capes of the Indian Ocean, will be traced out by a new breed of giant multihulls, the A100. Oman Sail’s ‘Majan’ is the first of this new breed and she will get the opportunity to stretch her legs on this diverse and challenging course.  Onboard will be Mohsin Al Busaidi who became the first Arab to sail non-stop around the world.  En route the boats will be stopping at the Maldives, Cape Town, Fremantle and Singapore before returning to Muscat. As part of their ongoing training campaign for Omani sailing recruits, accompanying ‘Majan’ will be Oman Sail’s 75ft multihull ‘Musandam’ who has already circumnavigated the globe.

Five Capes, 1 Indian Ocean…29th January 2010

Oman Sail’s new A100 ‘Majan’ will be tracing out the new Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race course - a challenging new playing field linking the Middle East, Africa, Australia and Asia.  Find out more in Race News & Features below….

Long-term plans for this new event…24th October 2009

As the class of large ocean going trimarans like Majan (sistership to Thomas Coville’s Sodebo) grows, it is planned to develop the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race as a recurring event on the ocean racing calendar.

Pro racing’s unchartered territory…23rd October 2009

Other than the recent traverse of the Indian Ocean by the Volvo Ocean Race fleet, current traditional oceanic courses only exploit the southern part of the Indian Ocean and above 40 degrees South it remains the most unchartered territory as far as professional racing is concerned, yet it offers a wide variety of tactical challenges and conditions.