XCAT Kuwait 2025 begins with dramatic Victory Team win

The penultimate round of the UIM XCAT World Championship opened in Kuwait with a hard-fought victory for the Victory Team, the long-established Emirati outfit. In challenging conditions, Salem Al Adidi and Eisa Al Ali steered a steady course to secure the win, finishing just ahead of the Kuwait team, who impressed with a confident home-water performance.

Day one of the Kuwait GP was defined by strong winds and a very rough sea. Local familiarity with this stretch of the Gulf proved crucial, with teams forced to balance pace with caution. For Victory Team, a measured approach ultimately delivered the advantage.

There was disappointment for several top crews. The mixed American-Russian pairing of Team Sharjah, featuring champion Shaun Torrente and Mikhail Kitashev, dominated much of the race before retiring with a technical issue. Their exit reshaped the contest, opening the door for the Emirati leaders. The Italian world champions, the Schiano di Cola brothers, saw their hopes end immediately after suffering a broken engine mount.

Crowds lined the waterfront as Kuwait hosted its first XCAT event, setting the scene for an energetic weekend of racing. With two races scheduled, anticipation now turns to day two and whether the home team or any of the leading contenders can shift the championship momentum.

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