MEDIA INFORMATION
2015 UIM XCAT WORLD SERIES
Cascais Grand Prix, round 3 – June 14-16
TEAM ABU DHABI’S AL-TAYER AND AL-MANSOORI QUALIFY
IN SECOND FOR SUNDAY’S CASCAIS GRAND PRIX
Pole position for X Dubai’s Al-Zafeen and Bin Hendi; Yacht in third
CASCAIS (PORTUGAL): Saturday, June 13th: Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashid Al-Tayer and Faleh Al-Mansoori qualified in second position for Sunday afternoon’s Cascais Grand Prix, round three of the 2015 UIM XCAT World Series, off the Portuguese coast at Marina de Cascais.
X Dubai’s Arif Saif Al-Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi snatched pole position in the dying seconds with a lap of 2min 33.70sec after the thrilling session was delayed because of inclement weather conditions. Yacht finished third and T-Bone Station claimed fourth place. Marine Investimenti Sud were fifth and the American duo of Jay Price and Shaun Torrente qualified in sixth in Lady Spain.
“It was important to be in the top group but the conditions were not easy and we did not want to take any risks,” said Al-Tayer. “We wanted to keep the boat in good condition to ensure that we are in a good shape for the race on Sunday.”
Thirteen XCAT boats lined up for the first visit to Cascais and Videx, crewed by Joakhim Kumlin and Alfredo Amato, set the pace in Friday’s first official practice session that preceded the all-important pole position on Saturday morning on the 3.49Nm course. Team Abu Dhabi ran for 11 laps and recorded the fourth quickest time. Dubai and T-Bone Station were second and third. Raheeb was the only boat not to take to the course.
A top finish in the Emaar Pole Position stint was crucial and Hoorsenbuhs laid down the gauntlet with a lap of 2min 47.70sec. That was soon eclipsed by the 2min 47.23sec tour set by X Dubai. T-Bone Station slotted into an early third place with a lap of 2min 47.32sec. Al-Tayer’s and Al-Mansoori’s first run ended with a time of 2min 50.10sec and that moved them into sixth. Hoorsenbuhs snatched provisional pole soon afterwards with a lap of 2min 46.21sec before the red flag was raised while a turn buoy was replaced.
In calmer conditions, X Dubai set a stunning time of 2min 40.31sec to snatch the fastest time and Marine Investimenti Sud moved up to sixth as the front-runners swapped and changed in the improving water conditions. Team Abu Dhabi slotted into second behind XDubai and then stormed into provisional pole with a time of 2min 39.89 sec. Swecat Racing survived a high-speed scare, as the session entered its final stages and the rain began to fall again in deteriorating conditions. But the weather improved in the closing stages. Hoorsenbuhs climbed into fourth with a lap of 2min 41.03sec and X Dubai snatched provisional pole position from Team Abu Dhabi with a lap of 2min 38.75sec.
But Al-Tayer and Al-Mansoori hit back with a sensational lap of 2min 35.46sec to regain provisional pole and X Dubai just missed out on regaining the advantage with a 2min 35.95sec with nine minutes of the session remaining. But the Dubai crew was not to be denied and the last boat out on the course claimed pole position in the final seconds with a lap of 2min 33.70sec.
Team Abu Dhabi is based at the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) and is supported by Etihad Airways as official carrier and sponsor. The team runs under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan, advisor to the Head of State and chairman of the board of directors of the ADIMSC.
After a stint practising the start procedure from 10.00hrs on Sunday morning, crews will be permitted one hour of official practice from 11.30hrs, before the Cascais Grand Prix gets underway at 15.00hrs (18.00hrs UAE time).
2015 Cascais Grand Prix – Emaar Pole Position result:
1. X Dubai 2min 33.70sec
2. Team Abu Dhabi 2min 35.46sec
3. Yacht 2min 36.89sec
4. T-Bone Station 2min 37.23sec
5. Marine Investimenti Sud 2min 38.03sec
6. Lady Spain 2min 39.73sec
7. Hoorsenbuhs 2min 40.42sec
8. Videx 2min 41.86sec
9. Swecat Racing 2min 44.53sec
10. Dubai 2min 45.96sec
– Ends –
For further media information and information about Team Abu Dhabi:
Please contact: Khalid Al Saadi, Media Incharge, Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, P.O. Box 45656, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Mobile Telephone: + 971 50 768 6761, E-mail: alsaadi@adimsc.ae.
www.xcatracing.com
www.adimsc.ae