Sailors from the Dubai International Marine Club [DIMC] dominated at the end of the opening round of the 4th UAE National Sailing Championship last weekend.

Jasem Ehab led the DIMC onslaught as he clinched the Laser 4.7 junior title ahead of the Emirates Sailing School [ESS] duo of Hamdan Obaid and Mohammad Saif.

Adel Khalid was his usual steady self as he dominated the Laser 4.7 senior class. Ammar Hassan of ESS took second and Khalid Mohammad from DIMC clinched the third spot.

In the Laser Radial class, it was Yousuf Khalid from the DIMC walking away with the title, leaving ESS sailors Sunhaib Yousuf and Nasser Omran in second and third places.

The Optimists juniors was won by Taher Adil from the DIMC even as James Bywater from JASC came in second, while DIMC’s Frederic Jacobs had to settle for third place.

Hamed Khalid completed the DIMC domination for the weekend as he stood in the way of ESS sailors Khalifa Awad and Abdulaziz Al Obaidly for the Optimist seniors title.

The Optimist cadets category had two winners from the organising club, with Freddie Grogono and Andrew Bywater finishing first and third, respectively. Hamood Salem from ESS came in second.

The JASC round of the championship was the first one of the three-round series competing in six classes and 13 fleets.

The JASC event was sponsored by Insure Direct Brokers LLC.

The next round of the Championships will be on April 28-29 April at DOSC, concluding with the third and final event at the DIMC on June 16-17.

“It was encouraging to see children as young as six years showing a very healthy ability and attitude in sailing,” commented Brian Hooper, Officer of the Day for the Optimist and Laser fleets.

Results:

Optimists Juniors: 1. Taher Adil (DIMC); 2. James Bywater (JASC); 3. Frederic Jacobs (DIMC).
Optimist Seniors: 1. Hamed Khalid (DIMC); 2. Khalifah Awad (ESS); 3. Abdulaziz Al Obaidly (ESS).
Optimist Cadets: 1. Freddie Grogono (JASC); 2. Hamood Salem (ESS); 3. Andrew Bywater (JASC).
Laser 4.7 Juniors: 1. Jasem Ehab (DIMC); 2. Hamdan Obaid (ESS); 3. Mohammad Saif (ESS).
Laser 4.7 Seniors: 1. Adel Khalid; 2. Ammar Hassan (ESS); 3. Khalid Mohammad (DIMC).
Laser Radial: 1. Yousuf Khalid (DIMC); 2. Sunhaib Yousuf (ESS); 3. Nasser Omran (ESS).
Topper Juniors: 1. Joe Palau (DOSC); 2. Nik Froud (JASC); 3. Penny Hook (DOSC).
Topper Seniors: 1. Alexa Soar (JASC); 2. Ben Butler (JASC); 3. Robyn Smith (DOSC).
Laser Standard: 1. Dan Larkens (JASC); 2. Richard Wood (JASC); 3. Douwe Sickler.
Big Cats: 1. Jon & James Hemingway; 2. Glyn Kilsby; 3. Simon Fielder & Bob Bennett.
Small Cats: 1. Rob Weight & V Mitchell; 2. Klaus Muller & Jane Nicolson; 3. Dan & Mathew Kilsby.