Special Report: Past co-exists with the future
The dhow has been an effective vehicle for Arab culture. Today, traditional dhow sailing serves to remind Arab youth of their rich heritage as they progress towards the future.
The dhow has been an effective vehicle for Arab culture. Today, traditional dhow sailing serves to remind Arab youth of their rich heritage as they progress towards the future. M. Satyanarayan finds that the past and the future are existing in perfect harmonyMuch water has flown down the Arabian sea since the dhow made it's appearance as an Arabian boat during a period prior to the early civilisations.
The sea-faring Arab traders used the dhow, a boat with lateen sails during their voyages along the coasts of Arabia, India and eastern Africa. The early pearling expeditions and fishing trips were also undertaken on the dhows which today has become an icon of Arab culture.
Pearling in the UAE has dwindled and so has the presence of these enchanting boats with their sails flying high on trade and fishing missions. But the UAE have ensured that this symbol of Arab culture and tradition is kept alive and throbbing in the hearts of the modern youth.
Dhow sailing boat races were the answer and today apart from the thrilling spectacle of watching these traditional craft in action, dhow-building has also been on the increase. The dhows have played such an important role in not only facilitating trade between the countries in the region and those stretching far and wide, but have also resulted in the birth of a film festival in Africa for dhow countries!
Appropriately so too, for it was the dhow which was an effective vehicle of transporting the Arab culture to countries in the region and up to Africa. Thus the Zanzibar International Film Festival gave birth to the concept of Dhow Region and Dhow countries - Festival of Dhow countries takes its name from the sailing boats which connected the countries bordering the Indian Ocean.
The President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan has time and again reminded the UAE youth that - "A people who do not know their past have neither a present nor a future". Tradition and culture have been given the highest priority by Their Highnesses The Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates. This has resulted in traditional dhow racing receiving top attention and support while construction of dhows is still very much a living tradition with at least as many traditional craft being constructed now at the beginning of the 20th century.
Craftsmanship
Every dhow has a sail called the lateen. Arabs developed the lateen which was a highly effective triangular sail. The Arabs also developed the kamal, a navigating device that enabled them to determine latitude by gauging the height of the Pole Star above the horizon.
In the UAE, traditional dhows are built in various areas though Bateen in Abu Dhabi, Ajman and Umm Al Qaiwan are more prominent. Dhow builders in the UAE are noted for their ability to work entirely without plans, judging everything by eye and experience.
Teak is the chosen wood for the Dhows while the tools are very simple such as hammer, saw, chisel, adz, bow-drill, plane and caulking iron. The building of a large Dhow can take up to a year while a smaller one can be finished in one to four months.
Dhow sailing as a sport
The Emirates Heritage Club (EHC) and the Dubai International Marine Club have in the last decade been in the forefront of organising races for traditional boats and today more and more UAE nationals are taking to it.
The Marine Races Department of the Emirates Heritage Club organises most of the traditional boats races and also ensures that these boats are of the specifications and in line with the shapes and sizes of the olden days.
While organising races for 43-feet and 60-feet boats, the EHC has succeeded to a large extent in creating more awareness of this traditional sport. The foundation for traditional dhow sailing however lies with the 22 feet dhow which was essentially used along the coastlines and has today become an integral part of the sport.
Dhow sailing races are organised at regular intervals with the big races held on National Day and other Public Day holidays. In Dubai, the Dubai International Marine Club organises races for traditional boats.
In organising these races for traditional dhows, the UAE has succeeded in keeping an age-old tradition and culture alive even today. With more and more local youth joining in, traditional dhow racing in the UAE has only one direction to sail - forward or (upward).
