Sport | Sailing
Gazi emerges winner in penultimate heat
The second and penultimate race before the close of the season for the 60-feet Mina Seyahi traditional dhow sailing race held on Friday witnessed the battle of the season on a course set off shore from the world Island to finish at Mina Seyahi Dubai.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:08 May 18, 2008
Dubai: The second and penultimate race before the close of the season for the 60-feet Mina Seyahi traditional dhow sailing race held on Friday witnessed the battle of the season on a course set off shore from the world Island to finish at Mina Seyahi Dubai.
At the start of the race, Gazi took flight and was way ahead of the others. Staying his course, skipper Ahmad Saeed Al Rumaithi decided to sail through to the finish tacking once to finish ahead of the rest. Winds of 12-15 knots saw the race finish in just over an hour.
Brilliant start
Of the 50-odd dhows registered, just 47 made it to the finish. Gazi had a brilliant start when he was just 50 metres away from Al Zeer skippered by Mohammad Rashid Bin Shaheen followed close behind by Al Tef.
Large white sails billowed in the winds and made the bobbing dhows appear like a fleet of doves in flight. This race prepares the participants for grand finale of the Sir Bu Naair race held annually to mark the close of the dhow sailing season at Mina Seyahi Dubai.
Saeed Hareb, organiser and managing director, DIMC, described the race as a tough fight in the end between the first 10 boats. "It was pleasant to see how each boat struggled in their own way to keep up the pace to finish first.
This is a test of endurance before they go to the finals at the Sir Bu Naair race".
It was pleasant to see how each boat struggled in their own way to keep up the pace to finish first."
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