Hareb inspires Shamardel to secure end-of-season honours

Dubai: Sultan Saeed Hareb led a tactical race to take Shamardel to a final flourish in the fourth and final heat of the Dubai Traditional Dhow Sailing Championships held off the Mina Seyahi waters of Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) earlier this week.

With perfect winds ruling the course, it was skipper Hareb's tactical brilliance that saw him lead from the start and clinch victory over the chasing pack of Al Iz, Ghalais, Al Liya and Mujahir in an entertaining race.

Mohammad Hareb, in charge of sailing and member of the DIMC Sports Committee, was the chief guest and presented the trophies to the winners after the race.

Upside down

The results turned the overall standings in the championships upside down with Shamardel also taking the end of season honours with 18 points. After a slow start to the season with seventh, second and eighth placed finishes in the earlier three rounds, the Saeed Mohammad Hareb-owned dhow totalled 18 points to take the champion's title despite having the same points as Majid Ahmad Khadim Al Muhairi's Al Sharid.

But in this week's final round held in perfect conditions, skipper Hareb was at his best guiding the dhow to an emphatic victory in the face of some stiff opposition put up by Al Iz, Ghalais, Al Liya and Mujahir who had to settle for second, third, fourth and fifth places respectively.

"This has been yet another fruitful season for us and we will try to make things better for the dhows for the next year," Mohammad Hareb remarked after the presentation of trophies.

Results

1. Shamardel; 2. Al Iz; 3. Ghalais; 4. Al Liya; 5. Mujahir.

Overall standings at the end of the four-round championships that concluded at the DIMC:

1. Shamardel (18pts); 2. Al Sharid (18); 3. Dahes (23); 4. Zilzal (33); 5. Muzahim (34); 6. Emaar (35); 7. Al Zeeb (38); 8. Khateer (41); 9. Salik (44).