Yousuf Bin Lahej, the first UAE national to qualify for an Olympic sailing event, faces one of the most demanding spells of his young career over the next 10 days.
Bin Lahej will be a key figure as Dubai International Marine Club launches the second round of the Maktoum Sailing Trophy.
Today, Bin Lahej will steer DIMC's Exclusive away from the start of the 108-nautical mile Dubai-Sir Bu Naair-Dubai Race, second of seven rounds making up the Maktoum Sailing Trophy, the exciting new IRC class series.
Just over 24 hours later, he will turn his attention on the fleet of Optimist and Laser 4.7 dinghies needing to be set up and repaired prior to the start of next week's Dubai Junior Regatta.
"I'm certainly going to be busy," said Bin Lahej, a product of the youth sailing programme launched five years ago at DIMC where he is now the sailing department co-ordinator.
His achievement in qualifying to compete in the Laser class at last summer's Olympic Games serves as an inspiration to the UAE national team preparing to take on the world's best young sailing talent in next week's Emirates airline-sponsored Dubai Junior Regatta.
Forced to withdraw from the Athens Olympics because of a back injury picked up during a World Championship event, he has now set his sights on the 2008 Games in China, and experience gained in the Maktoum Sailing Trophy will help him on his way.
When he skippered Exclusive in last month's opening short course race, it was his first "big boat" test after stepping up from the dinghies.
After taking his crew to fifth place overall in the two-day, five-race event, he now faces another new examination as the series for 29-foot to 55-foot purpose-built racing yachts and cruisers sweep out to sea.
"This will be my first offshore race, and I'm looking forward to it," says Bin Lahej.
