Sports | Sunday 5 April, 2015 12:49 pm |

Emirati sailing star competes in GCC Sailing Championships in
Abu Dhabi as part of training regime

Khalid aiming to get back onboard Azzam for Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race


Emirati sailing superstar Adil Khalid, from Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (ADOR) – the emirate’s Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) contesting squad – is fit and raring to get back in the race after recovering from illness.

The UAE trimmer and helmsman was forced to miss out on both Leg 4 and Leg 5 of the round-the-world epic after being struck down with severe food poisoning on the eve of the fleet’s departure from Sanya, China on February 8.

Since then, the 27-year-old has embarked on an intensive rehabilitation and physical training programme in his home city of Abu Dhabi, including a 7-day camp on Sir Baniyas Island The regimen has brought him back to full fitness. He has also signed up to compete in the GCC Sailing Championships in an effort to regain his sealegs ahead of rejoining his crewmates aboard Azzam for the start of Leg 6, which departs Itajai, Brazil for Newport, USA on on April 19.

“As part of my recovery plan, I stayed on Sir Bani Yas Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi, where I had a rigorous fitness plan.. I did six hours in the gym every day and had a nutritionist and physical trainer on hand to monitor my progress,” said Khalid. “It was tough but I’m now fully cleared for action and right back up to the levels I have to be at to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race.”

Khalid, who was also attending the GCC Championships in his role as coach and mentor to the region’s young sailors, was also itching to get back into VOR action, especially with ADOR currently leading the overall race.

“The guys are doing brilliantly at the moment,” he added. “They’re on a strong and consistent streak with 9 podium finishes in the last 10 in-port and leg races - and were leading on Leg 5 the last time I checked the race tracker. And don’t forget the new IWC speed record for the 2014/15 Volvo Ocean Race!

“I’m desperate to get back to the boys and help keep this g stretch going. I want to be onboard for all the remaining finish lines to raise the UAE flag, hopefully in triumph.

“The next Leg I could compete in, Leg 6, is a really quick Leg; straight sailing from Brazil up to Newport. Twelve to 15 days of fast, fast sailing, so I’m eager to get back for the excitement of that stage!”

ADOR has recently rounded the infamous Cape Horn with minimal damage, and is currently leading Leg 5, in the race north up the coast of Brazil. It is expected to cross the Leg 5 finish line in Itajaí on April 5th or 6th and fans can follow the team’s progress via the race tracker at www.volvooceanrace.com.

Follow ADOR’s progress on Twitter @ADORlog, Facebook through facebook.com/AbuDhabiOceanRacing, on the Volvo Ocean Race Abu Dhabi website volvooceanraceabudhabi.com, on the Volvo Ocean Racing website volvooceanracing.com and through the online tracker volvooceanraceabudhabi.com/en/follow-the-race/race-tracker


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• The next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race will be the 12th running of the 40-year-old event, which started in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race.
• The race started on October 4, 2014, day of the first In-Port Race in Alicante, Spain, and finish with one last In-Port Race on June 27, 2015 in Gothenburg, the Swedish home of Volvo.
• The 38,739-nautical mile route will also include stopovers in Cape Town (South Africa), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Sanya (China), Auckland (New Zealand), Itajaí (Brazil), Newport, Rhode Island (USA), Lisbon (Portugal) and Lorient (France). A 24-hour pit-stop in The Hague is scheduled between France and Sweden.
• The next two editions will be contested in a new high-performance boat, the Volvo Ocean 65, designed by Farr Yacht Design in the United States and built by a consortium of boatyards in the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Switzerland.
• The new 65-foot (19.8-metre) monohull racing yachts will be strictly One Design and delivered “ready to sail” for the next two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race. The boats incorporate the latest video, satellite and content production facilities to further enhance the Onboard Reporter programme that has been in place since 2008-09.
• Seven teams are taking part. The all-female Team SCA is the first all-women's team to compete in the race since 2001-02. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing is once again skippered Britain's twice Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker. Dongfeng Race Team come from China and is backed by Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle. Team Brunel from the Netherlands is skippered by race veteran Bouwe Bekking. Team Alvimedica, the youth challenge will be led by All American Ocean Racing and carry a double Turkey/USA flag. A Spanish entry, MAPFRE is also taking part, skippered by Iker Martinez but Team Vestas Wind, who started the race in Alicante, ran aground on Leg 2, and is yet to rejoin the race.
• The previous Volvo Ocean Race started in October 2011 in Alicante and was won by Groupama sailing team, skippered by Frenchman Franck Cammas, in July 2012.
• The previous Volvo Ocean Race started in October 2011 in Alicante and was won by Groupama sailing team, skippered by Frenchman Franck Cammas, in July 2012.