Following their recent class success in the Jumeirah Regatta, the Team Duboats Below 18 sailors will have their sights set on another racing title when they take to the water for the EPI Regatta at Dubai Offshore Sailing Club on March 13-14.
As suggested by their name, the Below 18 sailing team features a determined group of sailors all under the age of eighteen. Skippered by Belgian Frederic Jacobs, they enjoyed title winning success at the Jumeirah Regatta sailing off with the Division Three title ahead of much older and more experienced crews.
Actually aged from 13-15, the multi-national crew consists of Jacobs (15), the UAE’s Ahmed Ismail and Taher Al Taher (both 15), German Alex Buerger (14), British pair James Bywater (14) and Nik Froud (13) and Belgium’s Olivier van Durme (14).
The boys competed directly against each other in single handed sailing events in Optimists and Lasers. With the support of Duboats’ Chairman Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan and the management of Christophe Vanek, they were brought together under one sail to compete as Team Duboats Below 18 – arguably the youngest sailing crew in the region.
And with three times UAE Optimist National Champion Jacobs as skipper, the boys underlined their undoubted ability by lifting their first title at the Jumeirah Regatta thanks to back-to-back race victories.
“The Jumeirah Regatta was our first big challenge as it’s a serious event that gets a lot of exposure,” said Jacobs, the youngest cruiser skipper in the Middle East. “We finished fifth in the first race and won the second before the results were thrown out because of a protest against the committee. It meant we had to win both races on day two to be sure of a place on the podium.”
Crewing the 21ft, French-built Archambault cruiser Surprise, the Below 18 team secured wins in those two races to finish overall winners on the count-back.
“It was one of the best moments of my life, “added Jacobs. “To win my first regatta as a skipper was unbelievable but none of it would have been possible without the fantastic crew. We also have to thank our sponsors Duboats, Marinepool, BMW, Operation 608 and North Sails as well as all the adults who supported and believed in us.”
Although the recent DOSC Open Winter Series saw the boys miss out on a podium place - divisional changes saw their 21ft craft up against boats of up to 37ft in length – they did manage to secure a win on the final day to maintain their impressive progress.
“We are learning all the time and the experience is invaluable,” said Jacobs. “Not only does the programme improve our sailing skills, it’s a great way for four different nationalities from four different schools to work as a team and share responsibilities. Hopefully we can continue to grow together and help encourage even more young people to get involved in sailing.”
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