Round-the-world yachtswoman Tracy Edwards MBE has won a landmark ruling
in her legal battle in Qatar to clear her name after her Oryx Quest 2005
yacht race was left with £2.6m of debts.

The ruling from the Civil Court of Qatar, in Doha cleared Edwards of financial responsibility following the compulsory liquidation at the end of 2005 of her company Quest International Sports Events Ltd, which ran the Oryx round-the-world
yacht race. Tracy Edwards, 43, of south-west London, is now free to
pursue a personal injury claim against the Qatari Government in the
International Court of Justice at The Hague.

Edwards’ company went bust after £6million of sponsorship was not paid
by Qatar Sports International (QSI), which was set up by the now Crown
Prince of Qatar, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Khalid Al Thani, to promote the
image of the Gulf State. QSI was then dissolved at the beginning of
2005.

The £6million was promised in a legal agreement as part of a four
year £38m sailing programme in the Gulf state.When QSI reneged on the
deal, Edwards, who won Sportswoman of the Year and was awarded an MBE in
1990, was left with the seven-figure debt, which included $500,000
(£286,200) prize money to the winner, Britain1s Brian Thompson, and the
second place prize of $350,000 (£200,340) to Tony Bullimore.

Edwards personally borrowed $14.5 million (£8.3 million) to ensure the
success of the event, believing that agreements with QSI would
ultimately be honoured. When they were not she was forced into bankruptcy
and lost her £1million home in Reading.