Sport | Sailing
Hareb stays committed to sailing
The top official from the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) has reiterated the club's commitment to sailing despite bringing in high-profile water sport events to the region.
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:01 April 2, 2008
- With the likes of Alinghi using Dubai as a winter training base for the America's Cup, Saeed Hareb hopes part of the event will one day be held here.
- Image Credit: EPA
Dubai: The top official from the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) has reiterated the club's commitment to sailing despite bringing in high-profile water sport events to the region.
"We are committed to sailing in whatever form, be it the traditional or the modern disciplines that we are being used to seeing in recent times here," Saeed Hareb, Managing Director of DIMC, told Gulf News.
Last month, the DIMC successfully conducted the Maktoum Sailing Challenge and the opening round of the RC 44 World Championships. Later this month will be the Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum Sailing Challenge.
"It is important to organised these high-class competitions here. These not only give local sailors the opportunity to rub shoulders with the best in the sport, but also gives Dubai a lot of value on the world stage," Hareb said.
The Maktoum Sailing Trophy, held in memory of the late Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, attracted a record field of more than 30 boats in three separate classes.
The RC 44 World Sailing Championships is the brainchild of America's Cup winner Russell Coutts. The competition had a successful opening season last year taking in eight rounds, the last of which was held in Dubai.
Besides Coutts, other high-profile names attending the Maktoum Sailing and RC 44 Challenge were Robert Weight, Andrea Zafein, Matt Allens, Alexander Mercier and Marcus Wieser along with UAE-based talent Kristian Tzanov, Mike Jelfs and Christophe Vanek.
"Our attention is on the future. We want these experienced sailors to come here so that our sailors benefit. It also helps take sailing here at a different level," Hareb said.
The DIMC official also admitted that he would eventually like to see at least an Act of the America's Cup being held in Dubai in the not too distant future.
"That would be the normal logical progression for us and the sport. We have a vision for modern sailing, and yet at the same time we want to hold on to what has been passed down to us by our ancestors."
The entry of professional sailors on the Dubai sailing scene has helped the sport tremendously.
"The professional sailors have been the ambassadors for Dubai. Not only have they imparted their knowledge to us, but they have given us a professional direction to the sport," Hareb said.
The DIMC official pointed out that top teams from the America's Cup had used Dubai as a winter training base last year.
"Eventual champions Alinghi came and Victory Challenge too came and set up their base here. They did it because they believed we qualify to fulfil their aspirations as a sailing venue."
Going by this success, Hareb is keen to follow an ambitious programme to take sailing to the next level. "We want to have at least an Act of the America's Cup in Dubai. It will not be easy, but it will not be tough too," Hareb said.
"We have a strategy in place. Things will work out."
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