Challenge of A Lifetime..

NEW TRAINEE SAILORS WANTED !

Are you an Omani national aged between 17 - 26 years old who has a love of sport and a good fitness level? Oman Sail will be recruiting new trainee sailors in 2009 to join this exciting project.

To ensure your application is considered, please provide us with:

1. your full name

2. date of birth

3. 2 x recent passport photographs

4. a contact telephone number and email

5. ID Card Copy6. A photocopies of your school certificate (Thanuiya Amma certificate with an overall percentage of 70%, 75% in english & maths).

7. Include any prior sailing experience (not essential).

Send your CV to:

Oman Sail LLC Selection Board,

PO Box 2394, Ruwi

PC 112

Sultanate of Oman

or email it to info@omansail.com

Overview::

The Oman Sail Team is made up almost exclusively of sailing novices. Initially recruited from the Sultan’s Armed Forces, The Royal Oman Police and the Sultan’s Special Forces.

Forty volunteers underwent a brutal selection process in February this year with one week in the desert and mountains of the Sultanate and one week at sea. They were tested against the criteria of physical and mental endurance and the ability to learn quickly. Eight remarkable young men were selected. Over the next few years the team will be increased in size by broadening the selection field to all walks of life and, in particular, developing a sailing programme in The Sultanate to identify and develop young sailing talent.

After selection the team had three weeks on Toppers and Hobie 16s; all eight qualified as sports divers and completed a basic first aid training. They then moved up a notch by sailing a 40’ monohull in the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea for three weeks.

On the 26th May the team started training in earnest. Based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight off the Southern coast of England, the team are now undergoing an intensive, tailor made course until the end of August when they will move back to Oman. The course is based on a special package provided by the UK Sailing Academy. It includes the full RYA Yachtmaster syllabus; sea survival; first aid; and VHF radio qualifications. In addition they will also train on the Oman Sail Team’s Nacra F18, Extreme 40 (Masirah), and a large trimaran (Musandam). The trimaran has had an illustrious heritage having previously been the B&Q/Castrorama boat that sailed Dame Ellen MacArthur into the history books as the fastest round the world solo voyage under the direction of Offshore Challenges Group.

In the autumn the team will train in Omani waters and the Indian Ocean on it’s Oman Sail branded boats, with professional help, to prepare them for the challenges of 2009.

Fancy the challenge?

Oman Sail is looking to recruit more further members of the Oman Sail team and a second selection process will take place in Oman towards the end of the year.

Oman Sail needs young Omanis who are prepared to be physically and mentally challenged and who are able to work as part of a team. While you do not need any prior sailing experience, you do need to arrive with an open mind and be prepared to both train hard and work hard.

Dates of the selection process will be posted on the website shortly.

www.omansail.com