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A very special welcome awaited the crew of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (ADOR) – the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) entry for the 2014/2015 Volvo Ocean Race - when it gathered in the UAE capital last week. On hand to meet them was TCA’s Chairman, His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, who gave the crew a personal update on the destination and its future plans.
A highlight of the update was the model of the Qasr Al Sarab (Mirage Palace) Desert Resort by Anantara which rises surprisingly out of the towering dunes of the Liwa Desert.
Spotting a waterhole on the model, Justin Slattery ‘Irish’ asked “Is that real?”
“No, it’s a model,” responded Sheikh Sultan as the crew responded with laughter to his quick retort.
During the meeting Sheikh Sultan passed on his best wishes to the whole team before ADOR departs for Europe for several months of boat testing and practise racing ahead of the October Volvo Ocean Race start in Alicante, Spain.
“The team is looking good – we have only one member yet to announce and that will come shortly. We have here experience and determination – which reflects the name of our Azzam yacht. We are all extremely confident that the crew will give of its best and represent Abu Dhabi well as they venture around the world,” said Sheikh Sultan.
ADOR’s skipper, Britain’s double-Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker thanked TCA Abu Dhabi for its continued support of the team.
“We have much to thank His Excellency for. His unstinting support saw the emirate host to the most spectacular stopover of the 2011/2012 race. That experience has stayed with me, all the ADOR team members who were a part of it and all of the other teams. We can’t wait to see what Abu Dhabi has in store when the race fleet returns here later this year.
“Sheikh Sultan took time with the team to show us a lot of Abu Dhabi’s plans, and we talked a bit about our plans also. It was an insight into what the future holds for Abu Dhabi, and we tried to give him an insight into what the future holds for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.
The ADOR crew was on on a three day familiarisation trip to get a better understanding of the UAE capital and enjoy some of the its many activities. Their programme included four-wheeled racing at Yas Marina Circuit F1 Grand Prix venue, thrills and spills at the award-winning Yas Waterworld aqua park and a visit to the Arabian Nights Village in Abu Dhabi’s Al Khatem desert.
“In many ways the ADOR crew are ambassadors for the UAE capital and it’s important they have a great feel for the destination,” explained Walker. “Obviously the lads have heard a lot from their Emirati crew members Adil Khalid as well as Butti Al Muhairi who is on the shore team – but you can beat seeing it first hand – the stories and experiences then come to life.
“To say everyone’s been impressed is a bit of an understatement. I think you”ll find they’ll be singing Abu Dhabi’s praises to all who will listen from here on in.”
Sightseeing over, next on the agenda for the ADOR sailors are safety tests and sea trials aboard the team’s new Volvo Ocean 65 racing yacht, which is nearing completion in Southampton, UK. The trials are expected to be completed by the beginning of March when the team will sail to its training base near Lisbon, Portugal.
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