RS Sailing is pleased to announce that Oman Sail, the delivery arm of the Governing Body for the sport of Sailing in Oman, has taken delivery of a fleet of 6 RS Venture Connect SCS (Seated Control System) sailboats.
Marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3rd, bp Oman, the Oman Paralympic Committee, and Oman Sail officially unveiled their fleet of RS Venture Connect sailboats, specifically designed for use within the Gulf region’s first para-sailing initiative, SailFree. The boats were unveiled under the patronage of His Excellency Rashad Al Hinai, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture for Sports and Youth.
The RS Venture Connect boats are being used in the delivery of the newly formed SailFree Para Sailing programme, a first-of-a-kind national level inclusive sailing initiative which is being supported by the Oman Paralympic Committee and sponsored by bp Oman. The programme objective is simple, with the aim to develop an Omani national para sailing team which will represent the Sultanate in international para sailing events.
When asked to comment on the decision to use the RS Venture Sailboats, Khamis Al Anbouri, Oman Sails’ Commercial Director stated… “We are delighted to be the first country in the Middle East to adopt the RS Venture Connect boat in our own ambitious SailFree programme. The boat is especially-designed for people with disabilities with features that help athletes sail and build a career in the sport with confidence and excellence”.
Speaking of this news, Massimo Dighe, Para World Sailing Manager commented: “Oman Sail’s ‘SailFree’ programme is an excellent opportunity for our sport to develop and grow in Oman. We are looking forward to working with Oman Sail on plans to host a World Sailing Para Development Program (PDP) clinic in Oman which will support us in our work to inspire neighbouring nations in the region to also grow this discipline. I thank Oman Sail, RS Sailing and their partners for the continued support of our work and I look forward to welcoming Omani sailors to Para sailing events in the future.”
The award-winning RS Venture Connect SCS, an official Para World Sailing class of sailboat at the last two World Sailing Para World Sailing Championships, makes it possible for almost anyone to get afloat. With a number of plug-and-play options available, including an innovative sip/puff electronic control system for servo-assisted steering and sheeting controls, the RS Venture Connect can be configured to suit a very wide range of sailors with disabilities.
Speaking as to the impact that an addition of a dedicated fleet of Para Sailboats will have on the sport in Oman and further afield, Rob Holden, Training Delivery Manager for World Sailing added: “RS Sailing has been a long-term partner of World Sailings’ Para Development Program and I am very pleased to see Oman Sail select the RS Venture Connect for use in their national sail training program. From a regional perspective, the presence of this new fleet of specialised Para Sailboats will enable World Sailing to further develop Para Sailing Programs within our Member National Authorities (MNAs) in the Gulf and also further afield. I am excited by this prospect and thank Oman Sail for their support of our Para Sailing objectives at the international level.”
This is not the first time that Oman Sail have chosen RS Sailboats for use in their programs, having previously selected the non-Para sailing version of the RS Venture, the Venture SE which has a ballasted centreboard for extra stability. Oman Sail opted for these versatile boats to help deliver World Sailing accredited sail training for Omani sailors, ranging from total beginners to those wishing to learn more advanced techniques.
For more information on the RS Venture Connect SCS, please visit the dedicated page of the RS Sailing website or contact us directly via info@rssailing.com
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