Dhow sailing off Dubai. Image copyright Dubai International Marine Club.
by Sharon Allison
Dubai Traditional 43ft Dhow Sailing Championships. Turn back the clocks this Friday 14th January to an era of wooden dhows and cotton sails and watch the time-honored boats of the region compete in the second round of the seasons Dubai Traditional 43ft Dhow Sailing Championships. Up to seventy boats will congregate beneath the iconic Burj Al Arab at 13:30 in stark contrast to two different worlds and be towed by their support boats to the off shore start line depending on the direction of the wind. A gentle northerly easterly breeze is predicted which will take the boats along the coastline for a race lasting approximately two hours.
The winner of the last round, Majid Ahmed Al Muhairi on Al Shared will be busily plotting the wind and any shift patterns he can see. ‘The position on the start line is important,’ said the skipper, ‘especially as the weather is changing and unsettled at the moment. The wind is expected to be light but it could change and whoever wins on Friday will have to be very alert as well as skillful.’
Dhow sailing off Dubai. Image copyright Dubai International Marine Club.
Dubai International Marine Club has been organizing the dhow races since the early 1990s and has seen a steady increase in the numbers of boats on the water and a serious interest in the technical aspects of the boat. Cotton sails have been replaced with polyester although the shape has remained unchanged in order to comply with the regulations and the sleek vanished hulls are polished to slip easily through the water.
The race will start at 14:30 and can be seen from the Jumeirah coastline.
Dubai International Marine Club
