Above charts describe the typical weather at the Muscat International Airport (Muscat, Oman) weather station over the course of an average December 2. They are based on the historical records from 1974 to 2011. Source WeatherSpark.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Oh Man!
Only 529 days until the start of the Laser Masters Worlds 2013 which will be held in Oman from Dec 2 to 8.
Average hourly wind speed (black line) with percentile bands (inner bands from 25th to 75th percentile, outer bands from 10th to 90th percentile).
Average hourly temperature (black) with percentile bands (inner band from 25th to 75th percentile, outer band from 10th to 90th percentile).
Above charts describe the typical weather at the Muscat International Airport (Muscat, Oman) weather station over the course of an average December 2. They are based on the historical records from 1974 to 2011. Source WeatherSpark.
Above charts describe the typical weather at the Muscat International Airport (Muscat, Oman) weather station over the course of an average December 2. They are based on the historical records from 1974 to 2011. Source WeatherSpark.
17 comments:
Looks really light huh...might be time for the little guys to shine!!!
True. I will be very tempted to sail as an over-age Grandmaster so I can sail with a Full Rig, rather than with the Great Grandmasters in a Radial. I am not a "little guy"!
I think one of the keys to success in our senior years is knowing how to choose our battles. This looks like a much more civilized place to sail a Laser than along the iconic waterfront of San Francisco.
I wonder if they have an amphitheater.
Great choice for a venue. Oman is a nice country with very friendly, laid-back people. And they are really pushing sailing. I saw one of their training ships at a tall ships shindig in France about 5 years ago and they have their boats in the extreme races and they have recently had an all women team. You will enjoy the Muscat (a good souq, but no amphitheater). December is lovely time of year, especially compared to Rhode Island.
If you have time, drive over to Abu Dhabi and sail with us - about a 5 or 6 hour drive over very modern 4 lane highway through some fascinating countryside.
Sounds wonderful Keep Reaching. I might just do that drive and come and sail with you. Are you considering sailing in the Masters Worlds in Oman yourself?
Good point O Docker. As I get older I have discovered that sea water temperature is a very good measure of how "civilized" a place is.
I would like to - but have never done anything like that and am only middle of the fleet in our club. How does one go about it? Do you have to qualify or something? Do they furnish boats?
I'm not even middle of the fleet. But I have been to half a dozen Masters Worlds.
The Laser Masters Worlds does attract some of the top Laser sailors in the world over 35, some of whom were world champions or Olympic medalists in their youth. But there are also very many average sailors like me who just go because it makes for a wonderful vacation, often taking our spouses with us and doing some extra traveling before or after the regatta.
Whether or not you have to "qualify" depends on how many places there are, how many people want to go, and what the rules of your own individual country or region are. It used to be a first come, first served system. In recent years there has been a bit more of a ranking system by many countries in an attempt to prevent total novices from going to a regatta where they may not even be able to sail in the conditions, especially if it will be a place with big winds and waves. Suffice to say, I have never had any trouble in qualifying and if you have read this blog you will realize what a useless crap Laser sailor I am.
Places are allocated by country or region initially (depending I think on the number of class members in each country) but some countries don't take up all their allocation so, after that, their places get reallocated to others.
Will there be charter boats? Ah ah. Very good question. In the past, yes. Usually these were the same charter boats supplied to all competitors in the senior ("real") worlds usually held at the same location a few days before. This has provided enough boats for people traveling to the masters from overseas and then, when the regatta has been held somewhere like Europe or USA or Australia, many other sailors have driven to the masters event with their own boats.
But things have changed. LaserPerformance (the manufacturer for Americas and Europe) recently announced they are going to stop supplying brand new boats to all competitors at the senior worlds. But then Oman is in Asia isn't it? So perhaps the Australian manufacturer will supply boats for Oman.
And given that almost everyone who wants to go to Oman will have to fly there, it seems to me that they will have to provide charter boats. I don't see how they could run the event any other way. Whether there will be enough charter boats for the 400+ sailors that usually go to a Master Worlds, I don't know.
So, if you are a Laser sailor in Abu Dhabi with your own boat, my guess (and it is only a guess) is that you will be very welcome at the Masters Worlds if you are prepared to throw your boat on a trailer or on the top of your car and do that "fascinating" 6 hour drive to Oman. You might even find that some enterprising local businessman will offer to ship the whole Abu Dhabi fleet to Oman.
See you in Oman in 529 days.
Hmmm - the graph look the same as Lake Eustis , Fl at that time of year.... could save yourself a few grand and come here.
Do you have a souk or a sheik?
I think any weather forecast for over 500 days out must not be given too much weight. These be the days of global climate change...you may find yourself sailing in quail-egg sized hail (quailhail to the initiated).
Also there could be another shortage of bitters.
A shortage of bitters? Will there be rum?
Rooster Rig?
Alcohol in Muslim countries, especially in the Gulf, is a delicate subject. Depending on the locale it is not a problem as long as one doesn't flaunt it. Except in places like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and some of the smaller Emirates sensible use is tolerated. All major hotels have bars and serve alcohol with meals. As far as buying your own bottles, you can do so legally only if you are a resident and have a liquor permit (available to non-Muslims who have a good salary – which excludes the immigrant labor force). There is a black market, but not advisable. The best thing to do is buy the maximum at the airport on arrival (I think it is 2 liters a person currently in Oman). After that runs out, just head to the bar.
And do NOT drive under the influence, which is good advice anywhere.
Great. There will be rum. I think 4 liters will be enough for Tillerwoman and me for a week.
Doc, please wash out your mouth with soap and water. The Laser Masters Worlds is a serious Laser regatta run by serious Laser officials for serious Laser class members with serious measurers and serious umpires to make sure we all follow THE RULES. The Rooster 8.1 Rig is not sanctioned in the Laser Class Rules and so will not be allowed at a serious event like the Laser Masters Worlds.
Might be fun in those winds though.
Oman is in Asia, and wind speeds of 6 to 10 mph are great to sail in, coz the water is warm.
Yeah, right.....
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