Atlas ends winning streak of Maqasas in dhow race

Dubai: A win for Atlas scuppered the winning streak of Maqasas in the Traditional 43ft Dhow Sailing Championships in Dubai on Saturday.

In the race, which saw shifting, temperamental wind conditions and a trip around the World Islands, Atlas skipper Ahmed R. Al Suwaidi gave much of the credit for his first place to his new sail but said, “My crew worked really well together, they are good team, we were lucky and made the right choices.”

He added, “The wind was up and down, around ten knots, at the top of the World Islands the wind was really fickle and we had to concentrate hard and make no mistakes.”

The race took two hours for the winners to complete and the first three boats crossed the line within three minutes of each other.

In second place was Barraq, sailed by Rashid M. R Al Rumaithi, winner of the last seasons Championships, who was happy to beat his brother Khalid, skipper of Maqasas who has dominated the last two heats.

In third place was Ahmed Saeed Salim Al Rumaithi on Toufan, who was much happier with this result than his thirteenth place in the last heat.

The start was delayed by half an hour while marks were moved to accommodate inconsistent conditions but it made a treat for observant aircraft passengers arriving on their way to Dubai International Airport with over a hundred 43ft dhows spread out directly under the flight path.