Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing Race (22ft) - Heat 1

Today marks the exciting return of the water sports season along Jumeirah Shore in Dubai as the Marine Sports Season 2023-2024 kicks off. This exhilarating event, organized by the Dubai International Marine Club, is set to run from today until next April.

In the afternoon, we will witness the first round of the Dubai International Marine Club, which is the opening race of the season, bringing together an elite group of young sailors competing in two categories: juniors under 16 years old and youth under 21 years old.

This season, DIMC will organize two rounds of the Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing Race, with the first one held today and the second round in November. This race serves as an academy to train young and junior sailors, preparing them for bigger races, as well as to preserve the legacy of their forefathers.

The race will start on Jumeirah Beach with a large participation of Dhow boats, lining up near the World Island. They will navigate the race course as soon as the green flag is raised, marking the start of the race, and the finish line will be near Burj Al Arab, covering a total race distance of 5 nautical miles.

21

Toofan 21 displayed exceptional performance, surpassing all other boats in the Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing Race (22ft) in both categories the youth and junior last season. They secured the top position with an impressive 15 points accumulated over three consecutive rounds. During this competition, they achieved first place in first rounds, and in the remaining two rounds, they finished seventh.  

1999

In 1999, the Dubai International Marine Club organized the first Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing Race (22ft) on October 1st. The event featured 16 participating boats, with the crew of the boat 'Hayaf,' owned by sailor Rashid Mohammed Rashid Al Rumaithi, successfully crossed the finish line first and claimed the victory.

This race was established as a translation of the vision of the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with the aim of creating an academy to train young and junior sailors, preparing them for a bigger races.

Over the years, the rules and conditions have evolved, culminating in the recent season's inclusion of two categories: the juniors under 16 years old and  the youth under 21 years old.

16

Dubai International Marine Club organized the first Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing Race (22ft) on October 1st featuring 16 boats wherein the crew of 'Hayaf,' a boat owned by sailor Rashid Mohammed Rashid Al Rumaithi, successfully crossed the finish line and claimed the victory.

Zilzal boat no. 77, owned by Marwan Abdullah Al Marzouqi and captained by his son Abdullah, was crowned the champion in the opening round of the Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing Race (22ft), hosted by the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) for the new 2023-2024 season.

In the junior category competitions (under 16 years), the crew of Falah 25, owned by Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Hammadi and led by Mohammed Abed Mohammed Al Hammadi, secured the top spot after a fiercely contested race covering more than 5 nautical miles.

The event's remarkable success was attributed to the organizational efforts of the Dubai International Marine Club, in collaboration with government and national institutions. The race brought together 40 dhow boats, which assembled at the starting line near World Island and sailed toward the finish line near the iconic Burj Al Arab Hotel.

The young sailors showcased varying levels of competitiveness that reflected their preparedness for the forthcoming season. This season promises numerous stops along the shores of the Emirates. In this exciting race, the crew of Zilzal 77 claimed the top spot and excelled in the youth category. They outperformed the crew of Barq 85, owned by Hamad Hadi Al Mansouri, and captained by the sailors Khamis Ibrahim Al Hammadi, who secured the second position. Following closely behind in third place was the crew of Sultan Al Khair 32, owned by Nasser Sultan Al Marzouqi and captained by Al Nokhatha Muhammad Saleh Jassim.

In the junior category for participants under 16 years of age, Falah 25 emerged as the leader, leaving the second position to its competitor, Al Khayai 49, owned by Mohammed Abdul Rahim Al Marzouqi, and captained by Saif Khaled Al Marzouqi. The third spot was claimed by the crew of Al Fahad 79, owned by Sheikh Nasser bin Isa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and led by Rashid Jassim Mayouf.

Mohammed Al Marri, Director of the Sports Affairs Department at the Dubai International Marine Club, expressed his appreciation for the successful race. He commended the sincere efforts of the organizing committees, the valuable contributions of the event's partners, and the cooperation of the boat owners, captains, and participating sailors.

He remarked, "We are delighted by the enthusiastic participation of the future champions and the upcoming generation in marine races. These sailors are determined to carry forward the legacy of our fathers and grandfathers. They have showcased impressive skills in navigating the sea's conditions and adapting to changing wind speeds."

During the event, Mohammed Al Marri, along with Essa Arif, presented awards to the top three winners in each category. These included the boat captains of the Youth Category : Zilzal (77), Barq (85), Sultan Al khair (32), as well as the Junior category Junior: Falah (25), Al Khayai (49), Al Fahd (79).

RESULTS :

• Youth : Zilzal (77), Barq (85), Sultan Al khair (32), Shayem (89), Al Saii (133)
• Junior: Falah (25), Al Khayai (49), Al Fahd (79), Al Faid (71), Al Maqta (128)