Muzahim outmanoeuvres Dahees

Dubai: Atiq Mohammad Sabir Al Mazroui on Muzahim relished his win over Al Hur R.K. Muhairi on Dahees after a hard-fought battle between the two skippers in the second heat of the Dubai Traditional 22-foot Dhow Championships.

The race was organised by Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) as part of its youth development programme. With Race Officer Mohammad Abdullah Hareb in charge for the first time, the dhows crossed the starting line in a good steady ten-knot breeze.

Heading south along the coast from Port Rashid to Jumeirah One, the forty-eight dhows fanned out over the water and it was Al Iz who took an early lead. But Muzahim who was covered closely for much of the race by former winner Dahees caught up and then was dominant.

Wind

Dahees and Muzahim tussled for position around the breakwater where the wind died briefly as they gybed together to aim for the finish line. Dahees was windward of Muzahim but still could not get in front to take the lead and was outmanoeuvred by Muzahim who edged away and crossed the line in victory after 38 minutes leaving Dahees to contend with second place, followed by Rejam and Al Iz only seconds later. "It is good to see the level of competition that has developed in this class," said Saeed Hareb, CEO of the DIMC. "There are a lot of young sailors joining the racing who are taking it very seriously and learning a lot," he added.

"The win today means a lot to us," said Al Mazroui. "We had a breakage in the first heat of the season and we finished in fifteenth place, so we have a lot to make up. Our race today was great, at times it was so close but we were very careful not to make any mistakes."