So what will it take to float Gulf News' boat?

Dubai: The old English idiom "sink or swim" is playing heavily on the minds of eight Gulf News staff members.

This weekend they will compete in the second "Whatever Floats Your Boat" race at Dubai Festival City. The event, which is being held by Intercontinental Hotels Group in association with Island Global Yachting and Dubai Festival City, will feature dozens of teams from local companies and schools all racing along Dubai Creek in rafts constructed from recycled materials.

Gulf News has entered two teams in the competition. Paper Chase, comprising Lena Moosa, features editor of InsideOut; Christopher List, staff photographer at ANM Magazines; Aya Lowe, copy editor/writer for Freehold Monthly and Alexandra Westcott, copy editor/writer for Friday magazine will be looking to secure bragging rights over Gnus, comprising Dawn Montgomery, managing editor for supplements and contract publishing; Felice Marcuccilli, business process excellence manager; Marclino Fernandes, business application manager, and Kelly Crane, tabloid! reporter.

Innovative engineering

The two teams were busy constructing their vessels at Gulf News' Dubai headquarters on Saturday with a wide range of recyclable materials including polystyrene, wood, barrels and tyres.

Paper Chase team captain Moosa said: "There is a bit of friendly rivalry between the two Gulf News teams. But I'm sure we'll help each other out along the way because the event is for a bigger cause. We see ourselves as the underdogs who are going to rise to the top."

Confidence wasn't so high on team Gnus where Crane said: "I fear I'm going to lose a limb." But Marcuccilli was in a more positive mood as he, perhaps mockingly, said: "I actually think my whole career at Gulf News has been building up to this moment."

A donation of Dh10,000 has been provided by each competing company with all proceeds raised going to the Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG).

The EMEG plans to use the money donated from this year's race to help protect the critically endangered Hawksbill turtles. Their natural habitats in the Arabian Gulf are disappearing. The money raised will fund study of their biology, behaviour and population structure.

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