With the Atlantic stage of the 2012 Tour de France a la Voile now completed following the final technical race in Talmont Saint Hilaire yesterday, Team BAE Systems is lying in fourth place overall and champing at the bit in anticipation of the light Mediterranean breezes.
Cedric Pouligny's crew have flourished in the light airs but their progress in the stronger winds has raised both motivation and expectation levels among the crew especially the Omani sailors Mohammed Mubarak, Momo Al Makrini, Ahmed Al Marmari and Majid Al Mageni whose racing careers so far have been limited to more benign conditions.
Since the start of the first stage in Dunkirk, Team BAE Systems has shown a marked consistency posting 11 podium places in 21 races. In the past eight races, this has been highlighted with seven podium places including three seconds and four thirds. Their worse result from the start has been seventh in the 14-strong fleet of M34s.
In the first technical race in Talmont Saint Hilaire on Sunday they finished fifth but capped off their exhausting Atlantic test with two consecutive seconds in the inshore races in front of the marina of Port-Bourgenay.
These latest technical courses were closely contested, but Team BAE Systems were in the mix throughout, never dropping out of the leading pack.
Yesterday in the light breeze, their performance was slick and speedy, especially round the marks where the hours of training produced a sequence of smooth and seamless manoeuvres, reflecting a high level of teamwork and good communication among the Omani, French and English members of crew.
Their performances had raised hopes of finishing the Tour de France a la Voile on the podium, said skipper Cedric Pouligny.
"These great results are very motivating for everyone," he said.
"Our goal today was not to make any mistakes so we could hang on to fourth place overall ahead of the next three stages in the Mediterranean. If we could make a podium place on the Tour, it would be the icing on the cake!"
Leigh McMillan, tactician added: "What a team! Everyone gets along and we are seeing some fantastic progress especially with our bowman Momo, a brand new crewmember whose skills are developing right before our eyes. This is a great discovery. Every day he is showing us what he is capable of - he has huge potential."
Mohammad, known as "Momo", from Oman is one of the newest recruits to Team BAE Systems. While working at the new marina Mussanah, north of Muscat, Oman Sail selected him to race in the Sailing Arabia - The Tour 2012 earlier this year. It was a valuable experience that is now benefitting both Momo and Team BAE Systems.
"I am really enjoying being part of the BAE Systems Team," he said.
"I learn a lot thanks to the great professional sailors like Cedric and Leigh. I also ask a lot of advice to better understand the regatta. I'm really lucky to be here on this incredible race. I loved the start of Dunkirk because it was all new to me. I was very excited, I wanted to do well. What strikes me most at the moment is how we have improved at the inshore regatta of Talmont. Before it was taking me one minute to tack but today I calculated I had that down to two seconds!"
Last night, the boats were loaded onto trailers for the 800kms transfer by road to Roses in Spain, the starting point of the next three stages in the Mediterranean.
Overall standings:
1: Courrier Dunkerque (599 pts)
2: TPM COYCH (592 pts)
3: Britain Elite Credit Mutuel (564 pts)
4: BAE Systems Team (551 pts)
5: City of Geneva (538)
From : Oman Sail
Credit : Oman Sail
Cedric Pouligny's crew have flourished in the light airs but their progress in the stronger winds has raised both motivation and expectation levels among the crew especially the Omani sailors Mohammed Mubarak, Momo Al Makrini, Ahmed Al Marmari and Majid Al Mageni whose racing careers so far have been limited to more benign conditions.
Since the start of the first stage in Dunkirk, Team BAE Systems has shown a marked consistency posting 11 podium places in 21 races. In the past eight races, this has been highlighted with seven podium places including three seconds and four thirds. Their worse result from the start has been seventh in the 14-strong fleet of M34s.
In the first technical race in Talmont Saint Hilaire on Sunday they finished fifth but capped off their exhausting Atlantic test with two consecutive seconds in the inshore races in front of the marina of Port-Bourgenay.
These latest technical courses were closely contested, but Team BAE Systems were in the mix throughout, never dropping out of the leading pack.
Yesterday in the light breeze, their performance was slick and speedy, especially round the marks where the hours of training produced a sequence of smooth and seamless manoeuvres, reflecting a high level of teamwork and good communication among the Omani, French and English members of crew.
Their performances had raised hopes of finishing the Tour de France a la Voile on the podium, said skipper Cedric Pouligny.
"These great results are very motivating for everyone," he said.
"Our goal today was not to make any mistakes so we could hang on to fourth place overall ahead of the next three stages in the Mediterranean. If we could make a podium place on the Tour, it would be the icing on the cake!"
Leigh McMillan, tactician added: "What a team! Everyone gets along and we are seeing some fantastic progress especially with our bowman Momo, a brand new crewmember whose skills are developing right before our eyes. This is a great discovery. Every day he is showing us what he is capable of - he has huge potential."
Mohammad, known as "Momo", from Oman is one of the newest recruits to Team BAE Systems. While working at the new marina Mussanah, north of Muscat, Oman Sail selected him to race in the Sailing Arabia - The Tour 2012 earlier this year. It was a valuable experience that is now benefitting both Momo and Team BAE Systems.
"I am really enjoying being part of the BAE Systems Team," he said.
"I learn a lot thanks to the great professional sailors like Cedric and Leigh. I also ask a lot of advice to better understand the regatta. I'm really lucky to be here on this incredible race. I loved the start of Dunkirk because it was all new to me. I was very excited, I wanted to do well. What strikes me most at the moment is how we have improved at the inshore regatta of Talmont. Before it was taking me one minute to tack but today I calculated I had that down to two seconds!"
Last night, the boats were loaded onto trailers for the 800kms transfer by road to Roses in Spain, the starting point of the next three stages in the Mediterranean.
Overall standings:
1: Courrier Dunkerque (599 pts)
2: TPM COYCH (592 pts)
3: Britain Elite Credit Mutuel (564 pts)
4: BAE Systems Team (551 pts)
5: City of Geneva (538)
From : Oman Sail
