Second round of traditional dhow sailing set

Dubai: The second and penultimate round of the 2008 Traditional Dhow Sailing 60-feet series named Mina Seyahi, will be held off the shores of Dubai today from 3 pm.

This race will almost certainly decide who will go with this year's overall title. It is the showdown event before the Sir Bu Na'air race due to take place on May 31 this year.

The three-race series organised by the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) under the aegis of the UAE Marine Sports Federation, is expected to feature over 50 dhows from the different Emirates in a show of national pride and prestige.

Other rivals who could give the reigning teams a run for their title are the ever dominant Al Zeer captained by Mohammad Rashid Bin Shaheen and Atlas skippered by Mohammad Majid Al Room among others.

Calendar

The 60-feet dhow sailing race has a minimum crew of 12 members, 50% of which have to be nationals and the remaining from GCC countries only. The dhows' hull has to be of 100% wood and there are certain specifications that have to be met with regard to the size and weight of the sails and ballasts.

There are three types of dhows that are permitted in this race; they are the Al Sambouq, Al Jalbout and Al Samaa.

The famous Sir Bu Na'air race, which follows the second round brings down the curtain on the watersports calendar organised by DIMC.

This annual race known as Al Qaffal, marks the 'journey home' reminiscent of the pearl traders of old who stopped at this island of Sir Bu Na'air to rest before they returned to the UAE with their pearl diving catch.