Dubai: The Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) will be hosting 10 exciting events over a five-week period as part of the Majid Bin Mohammad Watersports Championships.
The Championships will embrace the four fundamentals of sailing: tradition, modernity, speed and a link with the sport's heritage.
Things will get under way with the Maktoum Rowing Race, the fourth and final heat of the UAE Wooden Powerboat Championships.
This will be followed by the Dubai Traditional 22ft Sailing Dhow Race that incorporates five rounds, the sixth round of the UAE Jet Ski Championships that has attracted competitors from ten nations and ending with the Dubai Traditional 60ft Sailing Dhow Race from Sir Bu Naair on May 21.
"Each year we strive to do things a little bit differently," said Saeed Hareb, CEO, DIMC. "And it is the continuous support of Shaikh Majid that has been a constant in our endeavour to take the watersports programme to a different level."
The organisers have put special emphasis on promoting watersports among the youth of the nation.
"We have been encouraging UAE youngsters to embrace the finer qualities of various water-related activities so that they understand our heritage," Hareb said.
"In addition, they have to understand that the link between heritage and modernity will never be broken.
Huge fleet
"The 22ft dhow racing is the future for the continuation of our heritage and we have been watching its development closely.
"The fleet now has over 70 boats with approximately 350 participants and is extremely popular with the younger sailors and this is a huge encouragement.
"Rowing is well-liked by young adults and we manage to get more than 400 competitors for each race.
"These are healthy pastimes to be encouraged, while the wooden powerboat and jet-ski races bring an added diversity and international component to the activities."
The first events will be held this weekend beginning with the Maktoum Rowing Race at 3.30pm tomorrow followed by the UAE Wooden Powerboat Championship at 11am on Saturday.
The entire watersports championships will be held under the patronage of Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
