Dubai: The 23rd edition of the Al Gaffal Traditional 60-foot Dhow Sailing Race will attempt an entry into the Guinness World Records when the annual event is held on May 18.
Ali Bin Gulaita, Acting CEO, Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), the organisers of the annual dhow-sailing race, told Gulf News about the proposed world-record attempt.
“We are in talks with officials and we now just need to decide which category we are to seek an entry given the uniqueness of this race,” Bin Gulaita said.
“We have already received the green light to host the race from our patron Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, and now we are deliberating in consultation with the officials from the Guinness World Records about which category would be suitable for us to attempt the record.
“We have options before us. We can either enter for having the most number of dhows in a race or enter for having the most number of participants entered in a single sailing race,” Bin Gulaita said.
This annual dhow-sailing race for 60-foot, traditionally-made dhows attracts a huge entry list vying for prize money in excess to Dh10 million each year.
Last year, the race attracted 103 dhows, with Al Sahel, owned and skippered by Saeed Salem Saeed Al Rumaithi, winning the event ahead of Al Zeer, owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council. Al Wasl, owned by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and skippered by Khalaf Butti Mosabah Al Ghashish, came third.
“This year is going to be special for us and we are hoping for a huge response from the sailing community in the UAE and beyond so that we can set a record,” Al Gulaita said.
