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MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015 SPORTS Riding the waves on a futuristic trampoline COWES: The initial fear of being on a huge trampo- coast of Ireland. Morale is high after Musandam- constant and intense concentration and activity As the massive boat powers up, the coast sliding line net the size of a tennis court as it tilts at 45 Oman Sail were first over the line in the annual from the crew to pre-empt any high-speed inci- past at impossibly high speed emphasises sailing’s degrees is quickly replaced by the sheer exhilara- Artemis Challenge race around the Isle of Wight last dents in the crowded waters of the Solent, one of jump into the future with radical new multihull tion of flying across the water at more than 30 knots week against 16 of the biggest ocean racing yachts the busiest shipping areas in the world. “You have yacht designs, which were used for the first time in (55.56 km per hour) in one of the world’s fastest after taking advantage of two helpful wind shifts. to think one step ahead, if not you’re too late. It’s the prestigious America’s Cup race in Valencia in boats, the 70-foot trimaran Musandam-Oman Sail. “It was perfect to show off a bit, it’s what this very dangerous,” Gavignet said. 2010 to make the sport more exciting for a wider The multihull flagship yacht of the Sultanate of boat was made for, to keep eyes on Oman. We are Average speeds of more than 30 knots and a audience. The key operators on the state of the art Oman’s fleet, part of an ambitious sailing pro- doing something to make sure people are looking maximum of 42 knots give Musandam-Oman Sail boats are the sailors, who are pushed to their limits gramme designed to restore the country’s maritime at us,” Gavignet said. trigger-like responses to any movement of the tiller, to keep moving at top speeds, especially in higher heritage and boost tourism, has been competing in Gavignet, who steers the massive 16-metre wide making it difficult to maintain balance and hold on wind and offshore waves. Cowes Week. yacht with a tiller from a reclining office-like chair as the high performance boat accelerates in sec- “The ratio of power and weight is greater on this The famous regatta on England’s south coast on top of one of the boat’s three hulls that can fly onds to speeds relatively few sailors have experi- boat. It’s a machine,” Gavignet said. The toughest caps a successful season for the team of Omani and up to 10 metres above the water, is helping Oman enced. conditions for the crew are beating or sailing into European sailors. Skippered by French yachtsman to create a core team of sailors who are rapidly The mast, which is as thick as a man’s body, the wind or reaching across the wind which whips Sidney Gavignet, they were getting ready for the gathering experience and expertise. rotates to give the best angle to the wind. The huge water into their faces and they often have to wear famously tough bi-annual Rolex Fastnet Race, aim- mainsail, which is so heavy that it needs a lock to masks or goggles to avoid eye damage. ing to win the 46th edition of the 603-mile race IMMENSELY POWERFUL hold it up, is adjusted by two huge ‘coffee grinder’ “It’s like being smashed in the face,” said sail trim- from Cowes to the Fastnet Rock off the south west Sailing the immensely powerful yacht requires winches which need two crew to operate each. mer Fahad Al Hasni. — Reuters No plans for viral tests at Rio sailing waters RIO DE JANEIRO: Sailing’s world gov- pollution),” said American wind surfer erning body said Saturday it does not Farrah Hall. “If we’re out there thinking plan to conduct viral testing in Rio de we were going to get sick every time we Janeiro’s polluted Guanabara Bay, the sail, we probably would get sick because venue for sailing and wind surfing at we are thinking about it too hard.” next year’s Olympics. Dr. Nebojsa Nikolic, Governing body the ISAF is adamant top medical official for the International about racing in Guanabara Bay, which Sailing Federation, told The Associated offers a postcard setting with Rio’s Press “we will certainly not do this” until famous Sugarloaf Mountain in the back- the World Health Organization comes ground. The location puts sailing in the out with what he called a “firm state- heart of the city, offers ISAF possible ment.” commercial benefits, and will delight tel- The WHO told AP in an interview evision rights holders that pay billions to Friday it “would support additional viral the International Olympic Committee. testing to further inform the risk assess- “The fact is, the sailors all want to be ment by authorities.” here,” said Alastair Fox, the head of com- The issue of increased testing for Rio’s petitions for ISAF. “It’s a rarity for us in the polluted waterways - and what to do Olympics. We’re always two hours away, about it - has drawn attention since an or two hours by plane. So we really want independent five-month analysis by AP to have it in the heart of the Olympic published July 30 showed dangerously environment.” high levels of viruses from human Peter Sowrey, the CEO of ISAF, ruled sewage at all Rio Olympic water venues. out moving the event to the nearby Dr. Nikolic agreed with the position resort of Buzios, about two hours north taken earlier in the week by Olympic of Rio. “We’re really not thinking about Games Executive Director Christophe Buzios,” he said. “They’ve written us, to Dubi, who said WHO guidelines called for my president and me. Really, it’s a ‘no’. only bacterial testing. Dr. Nikolic said We’re focused on Rio.” experts in the field had not agreed on The AP commissioned Brazilian virolo- what viruses to test for, and how to test. gist Fernando Spilki of Feevale University “This is not a simple question,” Dr. to test Rio’s waters for three types of Nikolic said. “Every diagnostic method human adenovirus, as well as rotavirus, has its own value and experts are still not enterovirus and bacterial fecal coliforms. agreed what to do, or how to do it.” The viruses can cause stomach and BRAZIL: Athletes of the Finn class practice a day before the sailing test event ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Guanabara Bay in Rio More than 330 sailors and wind respiratory ailments that could easily de Janeiro. — AP surfers from 50 nations are in Rio for an knock an athlete out of competition. The Olympic test event that opened viruses can also cause more serious, Saturday. They know the water is pollut- though rarer, ailments including heart ed, and sailors over the last several years and brain inflammation. An expert who have repeatedly called the bay “an open examined the data for AP said it was Chen defeats Lee sewer.” almost certain athletes would be infect- But most this time seem determined ed by viruses. That doesn’t automatically to compete, ignore the risks and zero-in mean an athlete will fall ill. That depends on a chance for an Olympic gold medal. on numerous factors, including the “It’s scary, but we don’t focus on it (the immune system. — AP in world defence JAKARTA: China’s Chen Long produced a fitting nating when he attacked and coming off second 56 minutes. “I didn’t think I would be here when I IAAF suppressed display for a top seed and defending champion best in the tactical rallies. Once he took the lead was struggling with my injuries but my coaches to claim a second straight world title with a pul- at 11-10, Chen looked unstoppable and reeled said I should keep training and try to play at the study of admitted sating 21-14 21-17 victory against Malaysian off 16-of-20 points to claim the opening game world championships and just do the best I nearly-man Lee Chong Wei yesterday. before storming out of the blocks in the second could in the tournament,” Marin said. Lee has topped the world rankings for a to forge a six-point lead by the interval. Lee bat- “I knew from the beginning it was going to dope cheats - report record 298 weeks during a long and illustrious tled gamely as Chen’s intensity levels dropped be a very tough match because Saina is really career but once again came up short against a but the Malaysian was unable to get any closer good but I kept fighting until the end and am LONDON: World athletics’ governing research group as confirmed by high- Chinese player at the top of his game in a fourth than within two points of his opponent in the very happy with my performance today.” body (IAAF) has suppressed a 2011 profile experts in social science who world championship final defeat in as many second game as a packed Istora Senayan roared Earlier, top seeds Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei survey that reveals that up to a third reviewed the publication on our matches. in approval. stormed to a third mixed doubles world title of the world’s top competitors admit- request,” it said. “The IAAF submitted Chen has replaced Lin Dan as the top male “Lee is a good player but I was better today,” with a comfortable 21-17 21-11 victory over ted using banned performance- those concerns to the research group player following his breakthrough world title tri- Chen said in a courtside interview.

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