Interest in the Australian-built Bladerider foiling moth is gathering momentum in Dubai.
As anyone involved in business development in Dubai can verify, it is very hard to use international trends to predict how the local market will move. It is very much a case of Dubai writing its own rules when it comes to market choice, forces and desires.
In sailing this is even more exaggerated; purchasing decisions are often based more upon local reputation and trust built with the principal vendor.
This is clearly evident from the massive Beneteau fleet supported by the respect and reputation for Christophe Vanek, and ART Marine’s charismatic CEO Alessio Tumbiolo for their Azimut-Benetti yachts. Behind every successful marine business in the UAE is a true personality.
For Moth sailing you need to be physically fit, an experienced dinghy sailor and less than 80kg.
The same principal applies for the two new ‘small boat’ fleets that appeared last year. The success of the Volvo Laser SB3 Middle East Championship brought a significant presence of new SB3s to DOSC, and a very competitive one-design class.
Also, over recent months, everybody will have seen the Bladerider Moth, flitting around the moored yachts in Mina Seyahi like a foiling dragonfly, or skimming above the waves off DOSC.
First brought into Dubai by Glenn Raphael, the Bladerider is quickly proving itself as the next one-design class for the athletic sailor – a great step up for those wanting to move out of dinghies.
The reception the Bladerider has had here has just been great,” said the quiet-spoken Aussie. “I originally just bought one for myself, I never thought they would take off like they have.” Typically modest, Glenn is quick to point out the contribution of others to the growing presence of Moths in the region.
“With the enthusiasm of Chris Graham and Jonathan Peats from the very beginning, we saw we were onto something.” From humble beginnings however, the future of Moths in the UAE looks set fair.
Glenn continues, “Now we have eight boats getting ready for the new season, the next step is to set up a UAE International Moth Class Association and get out on the water racing.”
These high performance hydrofoils make highly competitive racing machines, and the conditions here in the UAE are perfect for training on them. At the Moth World Championships in Weymouth, UK this July, Glenn fought his way into the top ten – his ninth place in 2008 improving on his 17th position at his first attempt in 2007.
Both Chris and Jonathan also put in impressive performances, placed 17th and 57th respectively – despite both still being in their rookie year.
Keen to maintain the momentum Glenn commented, “We will be planning a series of events from October through to May. Potentially we could have the first UAE Championships, some promotional racing and at least one international event.”
So what is the appeal of the Bladerider? What attracts seasoned professional sailors such as the Kiwi five-time America’s Cup veteran and 2008 Alinghi champion Peter Evans; round-the-world French offshore, Vendee Globe and VOR racer Sebastien Josse; and Swiss Olympic Sailing Team member Florence Beal all to keep a Bladerider in their garage for extreme thrills, when many would classify their normal sailing as the ultimate in sailing as it is?
Visually, sleek and unique styling of the Bladerider makes it very easy on the eye, and the way the hull rises out of the water onto its foils gives it futuristic appearance.
Darting around any anchorage or harbour, the Bladerider, when sailed well, has the agility and speed of a windsurfer, allowing the sailor to quickly react and avoid any traffic.
The FX’s vacuum-infused GRP construction, instead of the X8’s carbon layers, comes out only seven kilograms heavier.
Using the same X8 rig there is little difference in speed and it still foils in six knots. The concept of the FX is for one-design racing, not the more extreme (and expensive) box rule of the Moth development class.
To keep costs down and racing close, FX racing class owners are encouraged not to upgrade or tweak their craft – that’s precisely what the X8 is for!
The haunting silence of the Bladerider – with only the thin carbon foils in the water – is another appealing attribute. There is no noise as it passes, no slap of water on the hull and with the hull flying cleanly up to a metre over the sea’s surface, it flies over the sharp chop we often get inshore in the UAE.
So how does the Bladerider sail? “Basically you have to start to learn to sail again,” says Richard Palmer, marketing manager for Seaquest Yachts in Dubai and a new Bladerider owner.
“You can’t compare it to any other type of dinghy – it is completely different. It’s a real athletic work-out too as there is never any let up – you have to be constantly reacting as if you’re in a racing environment. It’s intense, you’re working your body position, mainsheet, trim and foil height just to keep sailing!”
This ‘back-to-basics’ was echoed by Ben Graham, who is more used to grinding on Team Aqua’s RC44 campaign, but often steals his brother’s boat whenever he has the opportunity.
“You have to throw everything you have learned out of the window to get the Bladerider to really fly,” Ben explained.
It is so responsive you have to be at one with the wind, anticipating how it will affect your speed. If you get it wrong and don’t correct the ride height, that’s when you see the spectacular nose dives!”
“It’s the ease of the Bladerider that appeals in my opinion,” said Chris Graham. “The simple construction means you can go sailing whenever you want; you don’t need to organise crew or a launching vehicle.
It just takes 15 minutes to rig, you can launch it single handed. Plus it is perfect for the Gulf as you only need six knots of breeze to be foiling. But it is not a boat for everyone – you have to be physically fit, an experienced dinghy sailor and less than 80 kilos. The Bladerider is all about agility and positioning.”
The potential of Dubai, as both a new market and sailing venue, is not one any of the current Dubai Bladerider family are keeping close to their chest. Last year the undisputed Bladerider and Moth world champion, Rohan Veal, came out to foil around The World in just 1hr 29min 37seconds.
This was then followed just before the summer this year with a get-together of six of the world’s best Bladerider sailors – they all flew out of DOSC to test the waters ahead of Dubai being awarded the hosting of the 2010 Moth World Championship – credit there goes to Chris and Glenn.
While looking forward to the 2010 World Championship, and building a large UAE contingent to compete in them, Glenn has a slight reservation. “The only problem with it being two years away, is you never know what construction will be built off the coast.
Construction projects could potentially affect courses and venues, and a lot happens in Dubai in two years! We certainly want to keep strong relationships with all the venues in Dubai, particularly the Mina Seyahi Sailing Club and DOSC, as these are the locations we hope to be launching our race campaigns from.”
With more boats on the water and a class association in the pipeline, Glenn and Chris have also arranged the first Bladerider regatta – to be held in February, after the Maktoum Sailing Trophy when interest in the sport of sailing should be on a high in the area.
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