Abu Dhabi ILCA 4 Sailing Team Heads to Oman for Intensive Training Camp
The Abu Dhabi ILCA 4 sailing team has departed for the Sultanate of Oman, where they will hold a 10-day intensive training camp in Ras Al Hadd. This initiative is designed as a crucial part of the team’s preparations for the upcoming Oman ILCA Championship, and it falls within a broader technical programme aimed at equipping national sailing talents for future international competitions.
Ras Al Hadd was carefully selected as the venue due to its ideal maritime conditions—notably steady winds and favourable weather—which make it one of the top locations for modern sailing training. The ILCA class, and especially ILCA 4, relies on interaction with the natural environment, boosting the effectiveness of the chosen setting.
The team comprises eight of the UAE’s most promising young sailors in the ILCA 4 class: Abdullah Yahya Al Zubaidi, Abdullah Mohammed Al Niyadi, Omar Qais Qandil, Abdullah Fahad Al Muhairi, Saleh Hassan Al Hammadi, Abdulrahman Abdullah Al Hajri, Abdullah Yousuf Al Hammadi, and Saif Tareq Al Marzouqi. Patrick Lutomski serves as the team’s coach, and they are joined by media representative Khalid Al Saadi.
This training camp aims to sharpen the sailors’ physical and technical readiness, enhance their skills under real-life racing conditions, and simulate the environments of international regattas. Participation in the Oman ILCA Championship is a key objective for the team, as the event represents a significant milestone in the season’s competitive calendar.
Recognised by the Olympics, the ILCA 4 class is established as an important starting point for youth sailors, providing a foundation to progress into tougher classes such as ILCA 6 and ILCA 7. This class is valued for its technical challenges and high-level tactics, and is often considered a gateway to European and global sailing competitions.
The Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Academy—with the support of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and in close collaboration with the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation—continues to emphasise the development of national sailing talents by offering access to professional training in challenging, realistic environments. This approach matches the UAE’s ambitions for global excellence in modern sailing.
In the words of Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Academy:
“Our goal is to provide the best training environment for our young athletes. This external camp offers a vital opportunity to strengthen their abilities in real conditions. ILCA 4 is the entryway to the Olympic sailing world, and we are committed to equipping our national talents to rise to upcoming challenges.”
Team V.4-EM-UAE
