We leave SA on the night of Monday, 8 December, flying on Etihad Airways to Abu Dhabi. We arrive very early Tuesday morning and plan to spend the day sightseeing.
We connect with the event on Wednesday, 10th and also have the day to relax and check kit.
The team meeting, administrative checks are on Thursday, 11th.
The race course incorporates three elements: the sea, the desert and the mountain.
Friday, 12th is the first stage, a prologue. It includes mountain biking, running and sea kayaking in downtown Abu Dhabi; a lovely show-and-tell adventure tourism punt.
At the end of the day we're transported by bus to the camp on Sir Bani Yas Island. The event provides the camp and food (we sleep in our own tent).
Saturday, 13th is our first big stage. It includes 50km mtb on the island. We then continue with 30km sea kayak to reach Kirkum Island, where we will spend the night. We need to be off the water by 18h00 until 06h00. We're planning to have a fun picnic and a good sleep.
Sunday, 14th is the HUGE paddle stage we've been preparing for. We sea kayak 80-odd kilometres from our overnight island to Mirfa. Race organisation kindly provides a meal on this night.
We will have to visit checkpoints during the paddle stages. We all wear the SportIdent wristbands and have to punch in within a minute of each other.
Monday, 15th and Tuesday, 16th constitute days 4 and 5 of the race. This is the big desert trekking/orienteering stage. Yes, 110km during two days and two nights. We're on our own except for water provided by the organisation. During these two days we have to take a compulsory 6-hour rest time at a checkpoint. I get the impression that the in-between parts include a rogaine-like structure. We carry our own food for the entire trekking stage, being rewarded with a meal from the event at the end of the section.
At the end of the section we're transfered by bus to the Green Mubazzarah camp near the Djebel Hafeet, the mountain where the final stage will take place.
Wednesday, 17th is the final stage. It includes activities in a dry canyon, rope activities, mountain biking and trail running. We spend the final race night at the Hilton Hotel in Al Ain. We'll really appreciate the comfy beds and showers by then.
We have the day to chill on Thursday, 18th and we fly home Friday, 19th, arriving home at night.
And that's it.
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