A new helmsman joins the Sea Dubai Sailing Team for the fleet race in the RC44 Austria Cup, April 29 – May 4, in Lake Traunsee, Gmunden. German born Harm Muller Spreer, famous for his TP 52, Platoon and the Dragon class hopes to carry his success to the team and add to their winning streak this season in the Al Maktoum Sailing Trophy. Spreer brings a vast amount of experience to the established team under the skilled leadership of match racing skipper Markus Wieser.
Already in town for four days to assemble the boat and gain valuable time on the water the Sea Dubai Team have been focused on getting their new fleet racing skipper up to speed at the helm. ‘The boat is a racing machine and it takes time to get used to the handling of it,’ said Markus Wieser. ‘We expect to meet all kinds of conditions on the lake this week and we want to be ready for anything. Last year we broached when we lost the spinnaker in strong winds here on the lake, it was one of our worst moments so we are preparing for all conditions.’
Under the Fly Emirates, Edox Swiss Watches and MarinePool flag the boat is one of an ever-increasing number of sailing initiatives the UAE. Over the last year the Emirates has spread its sailing portfolio to include the Louis Vuitton Trophy in November and the Volvo Ocean Race stop over in 2011. ‘Sailing is a wonderful sport and traditionally inherent in our country, it seems a natural progression to support and be part of the development sailing internationally,’ said Saeed Harib, CEO of Dubai International Marine Club.
The RC 44 Austria Cup Match Race lasts for two days with a spare day on the third day to finish any incomplete matches and then it will finish with three days of fleet racing. The Championship Tour will then head Copenhagen, Demark in June, Valencia, Spain in July, Puerto Calero, Spain in October and Miami, USA in December. The RC44 class is now recognized by ISAF and will hold its first World Cup in Puerto Calero.
