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Hamdan bin Mohammed received thanks from the people of the sea and the organization (AlGaffal30)

06 June 2021

The Organizing Committee of the 30th Al Gaffal Long Distance Race (Sir Bu Na'air to Dubai Coast) would like to expressed its thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, for his patronage and support of the Al Gaffal Race on its 30th edition which achieved a great success and expectations. 

The boat owners, sailors and racers expressed their deep gratitude to His Highess, the Crown Prince of Dubai for directing to organized the great heritage race as continuation of the message and path of the heritage sports founded by the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is behind the insightful idea and the development of the Al Gaffal race since in 1991, which is held annually for more than three decades now.

The Organizing Committee was also keen to thank His Highness Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Hatta Cultural and Sports Club, who attended the big event last Friday to crowned the champion of the 30th Al Gaffal Race, the boat no. 211 “Nimran” owned by Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan and led by Ali Abdulla Juma Al Marzouqi followed by boat no. 96 Al Shaqi on the second place, boat no. 55 Al Tabr on third place, boat no. 120 Zayurikh on fourth and Zilzal boat no. 120 at fifth place. In addition to that the top 3 winners receive the car keys and the top 5 boat to cross the moon island received their commemorative shield.

The organizing committee of the event congratulated the participants, owners, racers and sailors for the great efforts before and during the race in their cooperation to follow all the instruction made by the organization pertaining to adhering the precautionary measure and all the regulation for the events.

The organizing committee is headed by Ahmad Saeed bin Meshar , Chairman of DIMC  with  the Vice Chairman Saif Juma Al Suwaidi  with the membership of Rashid Thani Al Ail DIMC Board Member, Mohammed Harib CEO of DIMC and Hazeem Al Gemzi , the Director of Sports Department at DIMC praised the effort s and cooperation of the club’s partners from the government department and national institution that worked with the organizing committee for the success of the event.

The big event took nearly two weeks of preparation from the organizing committee with the great efforts and support from the General Command of Dubai Police in its various department such as the Vital Facility and Coast Protection Authority, the Dubai Media Incorporation, Dubai Maritime City Authority, Dubai Municipality, RTA, Sharjah Police, Sharjah Environment and Nature Reserve Authority, Dubai Ambulance, VIP Doctor, DHA and Dubai Harbour , the new tourist port destination.


Happiness

The owners, sailors and racer participated in the 30th Al Gaffal Long Distance Race expressed their great happiness with the generous support and continuous follow up from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, for his kindness to sponsor the event and his directives to continue the message of the late Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who founded the race in 1991.

After the end of the great race everyone expressed their happiness in completing the 30th Al Gaffal and celebrated the heritage that everyone awaits. The race embodies the past culture of their forefathers in pearl diving and the sea that provided them an abundant livelihood.


55

Mohammed Suhail Khalfan Al Muhairi, the skipper of the boat no. 55 Al Tabr owned by Rashid Mohd. Rashid Bin Ghadir thanked the wise leadership and continuous support for the traditional dhow sailing race as well as to the organizing committee of the Dubai International Marine Club for the success of the event.

He also congratulated all the participants from the owners to the sailors of first place winner and expressing the happiness that everyone felt to be part of the race. He extend his thanks and appreciation to the owner of the boat no. 55 Al Tabr , by Rashid Mohd. Rashid Bin Ghadir for his support and as well as for the effort of the crew to overcome all difficulties win the third place at the race.


Ain Dubai “Dubai Eye”

The 30th Al Gaffal Race set a new record at the arrival time of the boat no. 211 Nimaran owned by Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, led by the captain Ali Abdullah Juma Al Marzouqi  who arrived at the finish line in  4 hours and 58 minutes  from SirBu Nair Island to Dubai Eye which is 53 nautical miles.


Moon Island

At the first stage of the race is the mandatory crossing point at the Moon Island which the boat no. 199 Hasheem owned by Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and led by the captain Hassan Abdullah Mohammed Al Marzouqi reached it at 2 hours and four minutes with a distance of 26 nautical miles from Sir Bu Na’air Island.


Speed 

The speed of the participating boat in the  30th Al Gaffal varied in all stages due to the continuous change in speed and direction of the wind as well as the wave in depth of the sea reaching as it lowest up to 7km per hour and 13.4 km at some point.

 

Message

The Organizing Committee of the 30th  Al Gaffal Long Distance Race , the Dubai International Marine Club was keen to send a congratulations message via SMS to all the boat owners and sailors for the success of the great event and in celebration of the heritage, witnessed as they reached the finish line.


Mohammed Harib : Premium Version

Mohammed Harib , CEO of DIMC and member of the Supreme Organizing Committee for the 30th Al Gaffal Race said that the current version of the race was indeed an exceptional one at any circumstances.

He added that the race witnessed new record of reaching the fastest time of arrival in the finish line of the boat no. 211 Nimran in just four hours and 8 minutes which reflects the continuous development of the race and influence to the new generation of the vision and thought of being a rational leaders, that contribute greatly in supporting the heritage

Harib said “No words can explain how much happiness that everyone felt during the event whether it might be the participants or the committee’s. As the boat reached the finish line that signifies the light in all the challenges and difficulty they overcome during the race. Thanks to the encouragement of the official and the adherence of all the participants to the precautionary measure implemented for their safety. No cases were recorded during the race and most of the participants have obtained the vaccine and the mandatory PCR Test prior the race.