South African businessman Vijay Valjee is daring to turn a dream into a reality by staging a unique yacht race from Durban and Dubai.
A fourth generation Indian settled in South Africa, Valjee's dream visualises a race that charts the old spice route through the Indian Ocean.
Vijay Valjee |
"It's very much a dream at this stage. But we've already begun pursuing it in earnest," Valjee told Gulf News yesterday. "It's just a matter of getting the jigsaw pieces to fall in place."
This ambitious project has taken Valjee to Seychelles where the Ministry of Tourism and Transport have given him the go-ahead to stage the race.
The authorities of Durban have also been solidly behind his unique concept with Obed Mhlaba, the Mayor of Durban, offering all assistance to Valjee.
"The government welcomes this proposal... and we also have a flourishing tourism industry," states a letter from ER Belle, the Principal Secretary from the Ministry of Tourism and Transport in Seychelles.
"Mauritius has been cautious in their approach to this race. But we are hopeful they will respond positively once we get into the advanced stages," said Valjee.
"We expect at least 15 yachts to participate. The first one will be the most difficult race. But after that, it will be smooth sailing."
With the initial groundwork in place at these two cities, Valjee has now turned his attention to winning support in the UAE for the race that he hopes will take place in the summer of 2006, at the latest.
"What we need is a positive response from Dubai now as we want to end the race here," Valjee stressed.
Valjee's idea for a yacht race took shape some years back when he approached the Dubai Government to host the popular Durban Beach Festival.
"What I saw in Dubai was amazing. In fact, the spurt of changes have not ceased to amaze me," he added.
"I agree we are all expatriates here. But the leadership of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Minister for Defence, has given me and my partners the right motivation to pursue this dream.
"We believe in Dubai's vision and this race is our way of saying so."
Valjee's company, Grand Emirates Projects CC, consists of four members. Aubrey Brooks is the project director, Tanya Van Agthoven handles the marketing and public relations, while Valjee himself looks after the legal, financial and international liason affairs.
Chris Parkin, a fourth member who used to handle the logistics, died tragically in a motorbike accident recently.
