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29 March 2024

Traditional 43 feet dhow race to promote Dubai Expo 2020 bid

The three-heat 43 feet championship begins at DIMC on October 26. (SUPPLIED)

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By Staff

The first round of the Traditional 43ft Sailing Dhow Championships organised by Dubai International Marine Club will be held this Saturday October 26.

The three-heat championship begins with the first being named as Expo 2020, which the organisers felt was the best way to support the Candidate city’s bid for the event.

With a fleet of over seventy odd magnificent racing dhows contesting for the overall top place and the honour to start next season as boat number 1, all boats will fly the special Expo 2020 flag.

"The first four boats have had consistently good scores for the last two races," said Ali Bin Ghulaitha, from the organising committee and Officer of the Day. "The skippers will be watching the weather closely over the next few days to make sure they get the best advantage. It is our job to make sure the race is run fairly and safely. Our offshore operation involves around 40 people and 12 boats from DIMC, we also have boats from the police and coastguard and a medical team in support. With 14 crew on each dhow plus the dhows support boat with two to three crew onboard, it means we have well over 1000 people on the water during the race, which is a lot of responsibility."

Unsettled weather conditions are set to continue although the weekend is expected to be warmer with winds from the north making the course likely to finish at the Burj Al Arab with the boats mustering in the lee of the World Islands waiting before the start.

The race on Saturday will start at 1.30 pm and is expected to last for around two hours.