Dubai: The Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) will be seeking an entry for its annual ‘Al Gaffal' dhow race into the Guinness Book of Records.
Sport | Sailing
Dubai dhow race to seek Guinness record title
DIMC will be seeking an entry for its annual ‘Al Gaffal' dhow race into the Guinness Book of Records
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:00 May 29, 2011
- Image Credit: Supplied
- A dhow catches the breeze towards the end of the “Al Gaffal” Sir Bu Na’air 60ft dhow race on Saturday off Dubai’s Mina Seyahi.
"We have all the elements for Al Gaffal to be included in Guinness World Records.
"We will be formally applying to the Guinness Book office in the near future seeking an entry," Saeed Hareb, CEO, Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), told Gulf News on the sidelines of the season's end Al Gaffal dhow race for 60ft, which ran from Sir Bu Na'air Island to Dubai on Sunday.
"Since the past few years we have been getting a lot of media attention from across the world.
"We have a strong media in the UAE and this has helped people from other parts of the world to become aware of what we have been doing in the world of watersports.
"Last year, we had the BBC and CNN following this race. But now it is clearly time to take this event to the next stage," Hareb said.
For the first time this year, the Al Gaffal 60ft dhow race achieved a participation log of 100 dhows, up by seven boats from last year's 93 dhows.
Organisation
Close to 4,000 people, including organisers, media, paramedics, coastguard, police, civil defence and catering were involved in the organisation and helping out on the day of the race.
"We started small with around 500 people involved and we have come a long way since then," said Hareb. "There is of course, always the demand to grow this event further, but then we would never want to compromise on the safety aspect of organising this race," he noted.
"Twenty years has been a long time. The sailors who had participated at the beginning now have their sons and grandsons racing. This is perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of organising such an event," Hareb added.
Multimedia
Sport Editor's choice
-
Arabian racing takes centre stage in Toulouse
Fourth annual conference to culminate in a pair of races at city’s Hippodrome venue
-
Etherington shocked by Pulis’ exit from Stoke
Benitez is the early favourite to take over as the club manager
-
NBA: Spurs hold off Grizzlies in overtime
Tim Duncan plays key role as San Antonio open up 2-0 lead in Western finals series