A major partnership between Oman Sail and BAE Systems was announced today during the final leg of the Extreme 40s Asia series in Muscat, Oman.

With the support and guidance of the Ministry of Tourism, Oman Sail was set up in 2008 to rekindle Oman’s maritime heritage and to inspire a new generation of young Omanis to take up sailing as recreation and as a competitive sport. This will help to restore Oman’s maritime eminence through competing at international level as well as supporting the development of events to support professional sailing in Arabian Peninsula.

BAE Systems has a long and well-established relationship with Oman, a trusted partnership which dates back over 30 years, and is a major provider of defence equipment to the country.? The partnership with Oman Sail is an important initiative for BAE Systems and is a demonstration of its commitment to this key market.?

BAE System’s partnership allows the company to have its branding on Masirah, the Extreme 40 boat currently at the top of the Extreme 40s Asia series leader board, and encompasses a wide range of activities, including sponsorship the development of the Oman Sailing School with apprenticeship programmes and sponsorship of a schools and education programme consisting of “Try Sailing” days for schools and young Omanis.

Speaking at the launch of the partnership, Guy Griffiths, Director International, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Oman Sail on this exciting initiative, particularly in a country as important to us as Oman.?

“At BAE Systems, we are committed to education and skills development throughout our global business, and to support young people in developing their leadership skills.? Through the Sailing School, Oman Sail’s aim is to make sailing accessible to the young people of Oman and this, in turn, allows them to develop the skills and experiences they need to create a sustainable sailing future for the country.

“I would also like to wishthe crew of Masirah the best of luck this week in their bid to become the champions of the Asian Series”.

David Graham, CEO of Oman Sail, added: “We are delighted to have BAE Systems as an official partner and thank them for their support. Their confidence in Oman Sail is extremely important to us and we look forward to having a rewarding partnership with them”.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is the premier global defence, security and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 105,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems’ sales exceeded ?18.5 billion (US $34.4 billion) in 2008.

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Source: BAE Systems

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