Abu Dhabi: The sea is an integral part of the UAE's heritage. In the years gone by, almost all the people used to draw their sustenance from the sea for their livelihood, either by working as fishermen or as pearl divers. For trade and navigation, the sea was the means of transport to other countries. During summers, the sea was also the place for leisure and relaxation.
Thus marine sports are deeply rooted in the culture of the region in general and the UAE in particular. The deep foundation of marine sports clubs in the country is a proof of the love Emiratis have for these sports.
One such club is the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC). It was founded in 1993 and in the following two decades it achieved tremendous success on and off the fields.
"We were established basically to specialise on marine motor sports," Salem Al Rumaithi, Director of ADIMSC, told Gulf News.
"We started by hosting the Formula One Powerboat World Championships. We have been awarded the trophy for the best site and organisation many times by the UIM (the International Marine Sports Federation) during the past years as Abu Dhabi became the most popular site for all drivers.
"We went on to host and organise local, regional, continental and international championships in different marine sports like jet ski, offshore Class I, F2, offshore Class II and the Xcat which is a unique competition that is organised up till now only in the UAE, in coordination with the marine clubs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. A large number of foreign drivers take part in these events.
Lasting impression
"This year, the ADIMSC became a new site in the UIM Offshore Class I World Championship and we have already hosted the opening race last month. We are proud and happy with the impression we left on the drivers who were very grateful and appreciated our hospitality and organisation," Al Rumaithi said.
"One of our biggest successes off the field was the fact that Abu Dhabi became the headquarters of the International Promoter of both the UIM World Championships for the FI and the Offshore Class I."
Nicolo de San Germano, the UIM promoter for both championships, has decided to make Abu Dhabi his headquarters.
"Also in our success off the field we should mention that Ahmad Al Rumaithi, the member of the ADIMSC Board of Directors is the Chairman of the FI Committee in the UIM and myself is a member of that committee.
"Our policy and vision was to introduce, spread and improve the marine sports among our youngsters and at the same time promote our country in general and the Capital in particular. We are happy with our achievements in that respect.
"We have formed teams to compete in almost all the different marine championships in FI, offshore, jet ski, F2 and others. The UAE FI Team have won the World Championship title five times in the past two decades and the individual drivers title three times when American Scott Gillman was flying our flag before his retirement.
"We have at the moment a pure UAE team with Thani Al Qamzy and Ahmad Al Hamly taking part in the FI World Championship in which Al Hamly has won the Pole title last year. We are expecting the team, which finished runner up in 2010, to achieve a better result this year.
"We also have a promising team in the Offshore World Championship led by Rashid Al Tayer who finished fourth last year despite missing the first two rounds of the competition.
"We also have a sailing school to teach children modern sailing - optimist, catamaran and laser. We cooperate with schools in this respect," Al Rumaithi said.
