Round the World Record 2009
76 days
01 hours
12 minutes
42 seconds
Start/Finish: Muscat Oman
Boat: Musandam, Irens 75′ tri
Distance Sailed: 24,287nm – (44,979km)
Average Speed: 13.3 knots
Round the world sail attempt leaves from Muscat January 8 2009
An epic journey is about to start from and to Omani waters. Oman Sail’s giant 75-foot trimaran “Musandam” will set sail around the world in an attempt to mark a first Omani Round the World circumnavigation of the globe.
Mohsin Al Busaidi, the first Omani attempting a round the world journey, along with four international sailors will attempt to circumnavigate the globe starting from Muscat and sailing non-stop all the way across the Indian Ocean, passing the Equator to Cape Leeuwin, then going through Cook Strait and heading towards the notorious Cape Horn, the Atlantic Ocean and pass by Cape of Good Hope when they head back to Muscat.
12 voyages have succeeded in circumnavigating the globe on fully crewed multihulls and Oman Sail’s trimaran had already succeeded in circumnavigating the globe in 2005 when it was sailed by Dame Ellen MacArthur who solo circumnavigated the globe in 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds. Musandam’s goal is now focused on circumnavigating the globe in under 80 days, and set a new record reference time, Round the World, Muscat – Muscat via the three great capes.
Musandam’s departure from Muscat will be broadcasted in Al Jazeera, Oman TV and Oman FM when leaving Bander Al Rawdha escorted by two traditional Dhows and a Coast Guard boat.
Success as Round the World attempt arrives in Muscat
As part of a wider project to help reignite Oman’s maritime heritage and inspire youngsters to take up sailing, Mohsin Al Busaidi left Muscat, Oman on an attempt to sail non-stop around the world on January 8 2009. 76 days later, the Sultanate of Oman has welcomed him home as a hero.
‘This is an incredible achievement for Mohsin who a year ago had never stepped on board an offshore racing multihull before and now he is the first Arab to circumnavigate the globe. Mohsin and the entire Musandam crew are to be congratulated.’ said Dame Ellen MacArthur who previously set a new world record in the same boat when it sailed under the colours of B&Q/Castorama. As well as Mohsin, Musandam was crewed by an international crew of Skipper Loik Gallon (FR), Thierry Duprey Du Vorsent (FR), Charles Darbyshire (UK) and Nick Houchin (UK).
Up until 15 years ago, no one had ever completed a non-stop round the world journey onboard a racing multihull and still today it remains one of the hardest challenges a sailor can ever dream of tackling.
Musandam sailed over 24,000 nautical miles during which Mohsin sailed deep into the harsh and hostile Southern Ocean as he passed the legendary capes of Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope. Since the start day on 8th January, 2009 the crew have endured storms, freezing conditions, a diet of only freeze-dried food and, unless it rained, no showers and the tiny cramped conditions of a racing multihull.
Mohsin Al Busaidi, who grew up in Al Khoud, a village north of Muscat said: ‘I am so happy, so proud for my country, it has been the most amazing experience of my life. Although the voyage has only taken 76 days, I have loved sailing and the sea for a long time. This round the world journey has been the key focus for the newly formed Oman Sail project and we wanted to show quickly what could be achieved to inspire others. We’ll continue the voyage of our ancestors who sailed the seas and we’ll build boats and masts, so our children continue the journey after us.’
Before winning the adulation of the population of Oman, Mohsin first had to earn the respect of skipper Loik Gallon, Thierry Duprey Du Vorsent, Nick Houchin and Charles Darbyshire. The first stage of his selection began with several gruelling weeks of intensive physical and mental tests in the heat of the Oman desert: ‘It was harder than the Special Forces training’ said Mohsin, who had a career in the Oman’s Royal Navy prior to joining the Oman Sail project. Once he was selected he underwent summer training in the UKSA centre in Cowes before doing the delivery sail on Musandam from the UK to Oman.
The arrival of Musandam back into Muscat was a momentous occasion with thousands of fans, supporters, family and friends lining the waterfront straining for a sight of Oman’s new hero.
International, regional and local press were present and Mohsin was kept very busy with live interviews for television, internet, radio and print media from the very moment he set foot on dry land. The Minister of Tourism, Her Excellency Dr Rajiha Bint Abdul Amir bin Ali, who attended the special celebrations in Port Sultan Qaboos said: ‘We are happy to see our crew and boat home safely. To have Mohsin accomplish this voyage and enter the history books is very exciting and I know young Omanis will be inspired by this. As Tourism Minister, I also see today as an opportunity for Oman to demonstrate how it is reigniting maritime heritage.’
Day 19
We crossed the 1/4 way point and our first cape last night Cape Leeuwin, it
could have been a time to have a bit of a celebration, but it was dark,
rough, chilly, and 2/5 of us were asleep….
Day 20
the last 24 hours have been good to us. We managed to change the rudder as
you have probably seen in the video
Day 21
Since yesterday at this time we have covered nearly 430nm – we have been
sailing in a pretty straight line, where we want to go in wind, and sea
conditions we dared not have chosen for ourselves.
Day 22
We are at 47d42′ south and 141d33′ E and the tempreture in the cabin is
22.5 degrees, the tempreture on deck is 17 degrees, and the overnight low
was 10 degress – how nice is that – how lucky are we.sailing in a pretty straight line, where we want to go in wind, and sea
conditions we dared not have chosen for ourselves.
Day 23
Just been spending some time at the chart table, and once again with our
electronic charting software. We have the 80 day pace boat plotted and now
for sure we are 3 days ahead of schedule.
Day 24
I was filming some of the waves this morning, and have so far been quite
diappointed with the look of them through the lens – they seem so much
smaller – so next time you see some footage of big waves – remember that
they were totally enormous
Day 25
Our manic push to be ahead of the high pressure is over, now that the wind
have started to ease – now down to 18kts from a peak of nearly 30.
Day 26
Theirry got a fish ( and landed it)
We’ve seen a cruising yacht ( first sign of life for ages)
We’ve seen a fishing boat
We’ve got through a very light patch to get into much more favourable wind
We’ve seen New Zealand