Ellen MacArthur's trimaran has joined the Oman Sail team

The boat has undergone a minor refit to accommodate a crew of up to five – all probably slightly taller than Dame Ellen - to live on board and sail her.

With over 3,000km of coastline spanning three separate seas, one of the principle objectives of Oman’s entry into the sailing world is to reignite the country’s maritime heritage and promote the tourism potential of the Sultanate of Oman, from the beauty of its rugged coast line, to its mountains, deserts and the warm hospitality of its people. The Oman Sail team will also play a pivotal role in developing a Festival of the Sea as part of the 40th National Day Celebrations of the Sultanate in November, 2010

The Oman Sail team are also currently competing in the iShares Cup in Europe this summer on their Extreme 40 catamaran “Masirah” - named after one of their islands famous for its white sand and the largest loggerhead turtle nesting site in the world.

A core team of eight Omanis, selected after an arduous land and sea assessment, are currently going through intensive sail training back in Cowes under the guidance of Offshore Challenges (part of Ellen MacArthur and Mark Turner’s OC Group), and with help from the UK Sailing Academy. The aim is that as the season progresses, the international crew on both boats will increasingly have an Omani presence.

”It is great to see the trimaran back sailing again, and with a real mission. The Omani team are really motivated to learn and are approaching this fast track training package with amazing enthusiasm and dedication” commented Ellen MacArthur.

Both Oman’s Extreme 40 and their new trimaran are currently in Cowes, UK and will be competing in the annual JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race this Saturday (28 June) and will be on show during Skandia Cowes Week in August before being sailed back to Oman at the end of the summer.