Dubai's shore will host a significant marine sports heritage event this afternoon with the launch of the 60ft Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing Race, marking the first round of the Dubai Championship 2024-2025. Organized by the Dubai International Marine Club, this event is part of the new season's calendar.
The race holds special significance for owners, captains, and sailors, as it marks the official opening of the season for this category. The championship consists of four rounds, starting today with the first round. The second round will take place at the end of this month, followed by the third round next month. The season will culminate in the fourth round, the Al Gaffal Long Distance Race, which runs from Sir Bu Nair Island to the Dubai coast and is scheduled for May or June of next year.
Over 70 dhow boats will gather at noon in the Arabian Gulf, parallel to Dubai Islands and Umm Al Hatab Island. Once the green flag is raised, the boats will unfurl their white sails against the stunning backdrop of the blue Gulf waters, heading towards the finish line near the iconic Burj Al Arab Hotel on the Jumeirah beaches.
Mohammed Al Marri, Director of the Sports Affairs Department at the Dubai International Marine Club, confirmed that all preparations have been finalized to ensure the success of this highly anticipated event. This has been achieved through close coordination and consultation with key partners and government agencies that consistently support the club's initiatives.
Al Marri expressed his sincere gratitude to the owners, captains, and sailors for their enthusiasm at the season's start and their ongoing cooperation with the organizing committee. He noted that the club communicated the latest conditions and instructions to the participants in an online meeting held on Friday.
He added that the race distance exceeds 20 nautical miles and is expected to take place under favorable weather conditions, with reports indicating wind speeds of 5-9 knots and wave heights of around one foot. The anticipated temperature will be 32 degrees Celsius. Al Marri extended his best wishes for a successful race to all participants.
