London, UK – The British Omani Society, in collaboration with leading maritime publisher Imray and the Royal Cruising Club, hosted the launch of Sailing Oman: A Yachting Guide at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in London last week.

The event celebrated the publication of the first comprehensive cruising guide to Oman, a landmark work that opens one of the world’s largely unexplored cruising destinations to the international yachting community. Guests from the maritime, diplomatic, cultural and business sectors gathered to mark the occasion and hear from the book’s authors – Reem Askalan and Jaoudat Kazoun.

Sailing Oman: A Yachting Guide provides practical and reliable information for mariners navigating Oman’s coastline while also offering readers insight into the sultanate’s rich maritime heritage, coastal landscapes and seafaring traditions. Drawing on years of firsthand exploration, the publication documents anchorages, passages and points of interest along a coastline that has played a significant role in trade, exploration and cultural exchange for centuries.

At the launch, Reem and Kazoun shared the inspiration behind the project and reflected on the extensive research and sailing expeditions that informed the guide. Their presentation highlighted both the navigational challenges and beauty of Oman’s coastline, as well as the opportunities for sustainable marine tourism within the sultanate.

An Omani urban planner, researcher and sailor, Reem spoke about the significance of documenting Oman’s maritime landscapes and preserving knowledge of the sultanate’s relationship with the sea.

“Why did we do it? Yes, for the challenge, yes for the adventure, but what really kept us going is our love for Oman. Outside Muscat we were mostly always the only yacht around surrounded by untouched, majestic beauty that left us with a profound sense of humility. We wanted to show the story of Oman that starts from its three seas and two monsoons,” Reem said.

 Reflecting on the years spent surveying Oman’s coastal waters, Kazoun said, “A book like this begins before one writes the first sentence. It begins with journeys, with conversations, with places discovered almost by accident, with shallow coral and rocks too close for comfort, with anchorages that look inviting on the chart and turn out to be even better in reality – and occasionally, with places that look perfectly straightforward on paper and prove rather more challenging once you get there.”

The event underscored the significant role maritime heritage continues to play in Oman’s national story and highlighted the growing international interest in the sultanate’s coastal environment.

The British Omani Society extended its gratitude to Imray, the Royal Cruising Club, the authors and all attendees whose support helped make the event a success.