Dubai: Dalma Marine, skippered by Mohammad Rashid Bin Shaheen and owned by Khalifa Rashid Bin Shaheen, powered through the top corner of the finish line to win in the Dubai Traditional 60 foot Sailing Dhow Race on Saturday.
In the penultimate heat of the Majid Bin Mohammad Watersports Championships, the seasoned helmsman had strategically positioned his team on the starting line and judged the wind conditions with integrity to earn full points for the 75-minute race.
Al Wasl, with Khalaf Butti Musabeh Gashish, came second and Ghazi, skippered by Ahmad Saeed S. Al Rumaithi, was third in a field of 74 competitors.
"This is a sight I can never tire of," said Saeed Hareb, chief executive officer of Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), who has been involved in organising dhow races for over 30 years.
"These boats are unique in the modern world and represent so much of what is important in our culture. The crews are all families racing together and sharing experiences. Winning is important but it is so much more than that as well."
