MOTHING THE ARABIAN GULF

While I sit here feeling sorry for myself with the flu I thought i’d do a form guide, its only a month away afterall.

1) Scott Babbage: Scott has been the nearly man since Garda. He was on a troubled boat in Weymouth but was right on the money in the USA, barring gear failure would have been in the top three. He says he has not been doing a lot of sailing on his moth since the Worlds. There is no pressure on him and it should not be windy enough to break any gear in Dubai.

2) Simon Payne: Light airs flier, won the last worlds that were sailed in light stuff. I think his knee might hamper him a bit if there is borderline conditions. But then again it all might be a red herring and he might be lapping us all. Plus he is yet to enter. Keeping his powder dry.

3) Arnaud : Always there on the money. Very nearly snuck into second on the last couple of races in the USA. He could also easily win it, but then again so could anyone in the top five.

4) Bora Gulari: Bora has not won any big event overseas before. Maybe he does not travel well or just a bit unlucky. Rumour is that he can take off in a gnats fart now. If thats the case he could again just blow all before him away. I do think his downwind mastery will not be as pronounced in Dubai.

5) Dalton Bergen: Only behind Bora because he got beat by Bora in the PCC’s first day, and thats the latest I have got. He could easily win though. Really helping to push the American fleet along at a rapid pace.

6) Amac : Winning everything in Australia so far in 2010. Very dangerous and hard to place, I feel like i should put him higher up, especially with his new super sail that he is developing. I have only ever seen him go in big air, not sure what he is like in lighter stuff.

7) Rob Gough : Just got his Mach Two and learning quickly how to sail it. Another consistent performer and pretty lightweight.

Ricky Tagg : Word is he is going very well in the Mach Two and has been putting the time in. Can see him causing the big boys some problems.

9) Mark Robinson : Mark showed he has got it in the lighter races in the USA coming up with some top 5 results. I think he will come back into the fold in Dubai and show some good skills. No idea how much time he has put on the water though.

10) Adam May : Always a dangerous customer, I feel like he should also be higher up in the pecking order. We will see.

I wanted to put Bear in the top ten somewhere as well as Martin Gravare and Glenn MacDaddy Raphael. Glenn has got some serious pace going on when he is foiling, but he will loose at least a couple of races to not being able to get on the foils early.

I also think that by having a full Jury here and having a light air regatta we will actually see the Jury penalising people for breaking rule 42 when trying to get onto the foils.

Where do I wanna finish? Anywhere around the outskirsts of the top ten will do.