Traditional dhow sailing starts tomorrow

Dubai: After a lull of nearly four months, the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) gets set for a brand new season of watersports activities this weekend.

The first race of the season kicks off with the 22 feet traditional dhow sailing races scheduled for tomorrow.

The DIMC race calendar is abuzz with activity back to back starting September through to June next year with races from traditional dhow sailing to the traditional Class III powerboat, rowing to the culmination of the Class One season with the WPPA Class One World Powerboat Championship in the first week of December.

The powerboating season has had a successful start under the WPPA and with four more championships to go it is expected to pick momentum and win acclaim from both team members and spectators alike.

Besides these are the modern watersports activities such as the Open sailing Regatta in the beginning of October.

The jet-ski races are a delight for the spectators especially in the free-style category. For the second consecutive year, DIMC will be the venue for the Dubai Desert Challenge a place that has been much acclaimed for its infrastructure and facilities.

The International Boat Show held earlier this year was a resounding success and DWTC will see itself on the pits at DIMC for the third year in-a-row in March.

Come December and DIMC has in store some exciting surprises for those who are pro-water. The year is fun filled with action both on the traditional as well as the modern front.

'Exhilarating year'

"We are in expectation of a great season this year, with the amount of activities lined up. I and my team are looking forward to an exhilarating year of racing in the Gulf," said Saeed Hareb, Managing Director, Dubai International Marine Club and president WPPA.

"On a yearly basis DIMC organises as well as oversees over 168 events in one watersports season that starts September upto May of the next year when it culminates its season with the much awaited Sir Bu Naair races," he added.

The last season witnessed the untiring support of Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, both with his patronage as well as personal presence during the Shaikh Mayed Watersports Challenge.

"That was a great boost for us and we are looking forward to that partnership again this season on a larger scale," added Hareb.