Musandam heading home

5:41 AM Tue 24 Mar 2009 GMT

'Frustrating conditions as the crew anticipate first sight of land' Oman Sail

Mohsin Al Busaidi is poised to be the first Arab to sail round the world non-stop.
A new page in the history books looks set to be written on Wednesday afternoon local time in Muscat, Oman. A Petty Officer in the Sultan's Navy, Mohsin Al Busaidi, has faced the biggest challenges of his life in the circumnavigation that has taken 74 days to date.

Since leaving Muscat on the 8th of January, Mohsin and the four international crew on board the racing trimaran 'Musandam' have faced near freezing temperatures in the inhospitable Southern Ocean with gale force winds as well as sweltering days as they cross the doldrums in dead calm seas. In all those days they have seen land twice, once in the Cook Straits and again on rounding the Cape Horn, but they have not set foot on shore or seen another person in all that time.

Day 73, the Arabian Sea - 21st March 2009 - Oman Sail

In Muscat the anticipation is building as the public get wind of the scale of the achievement that Musandam has almost completed. Pictures of Mohsin and Musandam are seen on posters around town as well as on a daily basis in the newspapers, both Arabic and English language. On the waterfront of the old harbour an official welcome has been organized with the Minister of Tourism officially welcoming them home in front of an anticipated crowd in the thousands as well as local, regional and international press.

Mohsin and the international crew of skipper Loik Gallon, Thierry Dupres de Vorsent of France and Nick Houchin and Charles Darbyshire of the UK will step ashore for the welcome ceremony before seeing friends and family and the first good nights sleep since they left.

Musandam and crew are currently in Omani waters and sailing up the coast of Oman in moderate winds and, on current weather models, are expected to reach Muscat on Wednesday.