In sport the phrase ‘name on the trophy’ is used to describe when an event or series of events occur to suggest one team or individual appears destined to win.
In the case of EFG Bank, who will be competing in the 2016 EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour event which gets underway in Dubai Monday, their name is actually already on the trophy.
Although they may be event sponsors, it will probably take something special to remove the vice-like grip EFG skipper Sidney Gavignet and his crew have on the trophy as they have won the last two editions.
And the Frenchman’s mission for the sixth installment of the competition is clear – he wants a hat-trick.
“I’ve told my team that the goal is to win, no doubt,” said the 47-year-old, who led EFG to victory in both 2014 and 2015.
“It’s a goal that’s been set by the sponsors, EFG, and that is our aim. It is important to do everything we can to win and if we are not winning then it means someone has been better.”
Many of the most successful sporting dynasties down the years have been built on familiarity and togetherness, but Gavignet has managed to achieve glory in his own, remarkable way, dismantling and rebuilding each year, without sacrificing that all-important winning feeling.
Every crew member aboard EFG will once again be a new edition to the team and Gavignet says it is a trait he is passionate about.
“Every year is a different challenge,” he said.
“Every year I’ve changed the team so that’s the first challenge and it’s a challenge I love, to build a team and bring personalities and skills together. I really like that. It’s great fun for me.
“In a long race like this where the rhythm is intense and people get tired and you can get frustrated and it can be very hard, but performance is always very important, so we have to work well together.”
This will be Gavignet’s fourth year competing in the event but he has been involved with organisers Oman Sail for the last five years, and he has enjoyed the growth of the SATT, which he feels is becoming a classic in terms of sailing spectacles.
“For a sailor to be here in the middle of winter sailing in these great conditions, discovering different cultures, it’s a fantastic adventure,” he said.
“The level is very good but you also have a tremendous mix of profiles in the teams which makes this event so special.
“Overall the organisation is holding its sixth race and it is becoming a classic. We can see the level of the organisation is raising which is very important.
“I see this race gaining that sort of classic stature because I’m not sure there is any race in the world like this now. A mix of adventure, it’s quite unique. Old teams are coming back and new teams are coming in too so I think it’s getting to a really, really interesting level.”
The level of teams competing this year means it is arguably the strongest ever field, although there are plenty of teams entering purely for the simple love of sailing.
Martin Felgenhauer is the skipper of Team Mangold, which will have two husband and wife teams aboard, including his significant other, Maria.
“I have sailed with my wife my whole life. Through every situation and every hardship I’ve faced in my life she’s the one I really trust to support me,” said the 53-year-old.
“We do this as an amateur team. We all have jobs so this is our vacation and I didn’t want to do the vacation without my wife.
“She’s a very experienced sailor and she’s also very tough in heavy weather and I know I can trust her, which is good. She’s an ideal team-mate.”
The other couple among the crew are team sponsor Helmut Mangold and his wife, Theresia.
“The idea behind it came up two years ago,” said Felgenhauer.
“Helmut said he wanted to participate in the Middle East as he’d never sailed there. He wanted me as skipper so I said, ‘ok, let’s do this’.
“We just to be part of it, discover this area, see the country, meet the people and to learn, and sailing against these teams is a great experience for us.”
So what would be a positive finish for Team Mangold?
“Simple. Not to be last,” he added.
