A 23-year-old merchant navyman from Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, UK, has won a VIP New Year’s break for two to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, after scoring the fastest time in a sail grinding competition held during the island’s famous Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week regatta.

Sam Ayres, who spends his working life servicing ships which lay fibre optic cables, beat off a host of other competitors who tried their strength at the grinding contest staged at the Abu Dhabi heritage tent in the regatta village, to raise the sail in 9 minutes and 8 seconds.

Now Sam is eagerly looking forward to the New Year when he will join visitors from around the world that will be in the UAE capital to welcome the Volvo Ocean Race fleet as it arrives for a two-week stop-over on its third leg break in the ‘Everest of Sailing.’

“This is fantastic. I have never been to the Middle East before. I saw Abu Dhabi’s ‘Azzam’ Volvo Open 70 yacht sailing here at Cowes and it looks really cool – I will now follow its fortunes during the race and will be supporting it,” said Sam.

As to who will accompany him on his New Year’s break, Sam was somewhat non-committal. “I haven’t decided yet. Depends who is nicest to me in the weeks ahead – but it could well be my father,” he said.

Plans for Abu Dhabi’s purpose-built, state-of-the-art ‘Destination Village’, which will host the race fleet, are well progressed with a huge visitor activation programme planned around the fortnight.

The ‘Destination Village’ – which is the size of eight football pitches - will open free-of-charge to the public daily from December 30 this year to January 14, next year. ADTA – which also has a team in the race, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing - anticipates welcoming more than 100,000 visitors through its gates.

The highly interactive village, which will leverage the maritime theme, will be packed with activities and entertainment including exhibitions, shows, simulators, hospitality, game zones, food & beverage outlets and merchandise shops. ADTA is working with international tour operators, hotels, airlines and other stakeholders to develop compelling New Year-Volvo Ocean Race packages to the emirate.

Stay up-to-date with all Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing news, exclusive competitions and content via
• Facebook (www.facebook.com/abudhabioceanracing);
• YouTube (www.youtube.com/abudhabioceanracing) and
• Twitter (www.twitter.com/abudhabioceanracing)

Or visit: www.volvooceanraceabudhabi.com for all the latest updates on the team and Abu Dhabi’s plans for hosting the Volvo Ocean Race this New Year.
 

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