Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments BFD 2024 Leaderboard

Al Gaffal Traditional 60ft Dhow Sailing Race preview

by Alice Ekonomou on 23 May 2012
Al Gaffal traditional 60ft Dhow Sailing Race 2012 DIMC
The 22nd Al Gaffal Traditional 60ft Dhow Sailing Race, from Sir Bu Nair island to Burj Al Arab, is being held on Saturday 26th May 2012. An entry list of 99 dhows have confirmed their participation in the race.

When entries closed on Tuesday, Sid Bensalah from organizers the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) announced that 99 dhows had confirmed their participation in this year’s race that is meant to be the annual season closing race of watersports in the UAE.

'We are all set for a great race day. Everything is in order and Dubai Sports Channel will be showing the race live,' disclosed Sid Bensalah.

'The first fleet of boats has already left for Sir Bu Nair island to set up and prepare the various facilities for the race there,' he added.

The area surrounding the DIMC is being transformed into a festival mood place with traditional tents and kiosks being set up in preparation of the family day activities that coincide with the race this Saturday.

The organizers have been targeting families to attend the event so that they can dip into the culture and heritage of the UAE. 'Our idea is to engage the communities living in the UAE, so that they can be part of an event that has been one of our main activities at the DIMC. We want the youth to come and experience the heritage of this country and we want the entire family to engage and bond with this event,' Sid Bensalah said.

The annual race is one of its kind that sees the revival of an ancient heritage that involves 60ft traditional dhows sail from the island of Sir Bu Nair, 54 Nm off Dubai. It was on this island that fishermen and pearl divers made their final stop before the last lap heading home just before the summer set in.


The entry list in this race has gone on increasing over the past few years with last year's 100 dhows the best participation recorded so far. The race received a huge boost when Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance decided to be the patron.

Saturday's start of the race is scheduled for 6.30am with the first of the dhows, depending on the winds, expected to cross the finish line at the DIMC by 12 noon.

'Great sailing conditions have been predicted and we are expecting some exciting sailing on Saturday,' Bensalah said.

DIMC website

Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeZhik 2024 DecemberPredictWind - GPS 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

The Ocean's Logbook amplifies global voices
A digital survey that looks beyond cold statistics to capture real stories A powerful new campaign designed to capture the world's emotional connection to the ocean is being launched today ahead of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France in June.
Posted on 27 May
SP80 kiteboat reaches a top speed of over 58 knots
100 km/h barrier is smashed in Leucate The SP80 kiteboat has reached a top speed of over 58 knots, or 108 km/h. This new personal best makes SP80 the second fastest sailboat ever recorded, behind Vestas Sailrocket II and its 68.01-knot top speed.
Posted on 27 May
Italian SailGP Team acquired by investors
The consortium includes Hollywood royalty, Anne Hathaway SailGP has today announced that the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team, has officially been acquired by a consortium of accomplished investors and sports industry leaders, including Hollywood royalty, Anne Hathaway.
Posted on 27 May
Armstrong Foils: On tour - Home of Armstrong II
Join America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders on the tour of NZ's Far North Join three times America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders Olivia Jenkins, Naumi Eychenne, Bowien van der Linden, Cash Berzolla, and Reo Stevens, on the Home of Armstrong Tour II, as they explore NZ's Far North.
Posted on 27 May
America's Cup entries open on Sunday
A Cup in turmoil - has Grant Dalton dodged a bullet with the new Cup organisation? America's Cup gets underway in Rome with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. Emirates Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton apprears to have dodged a bullet with the formation of of new AC organising body.
Posted on 26 May
Italian PM welcomes America's Cup in Rome
Prime Minister Meloni set out a bold vision for the regeneration planned around AC38 The magnificent setting of the Casino del Bel Respiro, commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1644, in the grounds of Villa Pamphilj, was the outstanding and historic setting for the formal presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup.
Posted on 26 May
Kai Marks Dasent completes 38.1nm fundraising sail
Raising Funds for Union Island Secondary School and Vincy Sailing On Saturday, May 24th, 14-year-old sailor Kai Marks Dasent completed an impressive solo sail from his home St. Vincent to Union Island, covering 38.1 nautical miles in 6 hours and 3 minutes, with an average speed of 6.3 knots.
Posted on 26 May
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta preview
Sørvind to debut at this edition, in Sardinia The Mediterranean superyacht racing season will kick off on 27th May with the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta, organised annually by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda since 2008 and supported by title sponsor Giorgio Armani since 2022.
Posted on 26 May
J/105 NE*NE blitzes Elite Keel Regatta
Tim Russell's super hot and quick NE*NE team rolled to a fairly easy win The San Francisco YC hosted its annual springtime favorite event, the Elite Keel Regatta- for a huge fleet of twenty-six J/105s.
Posted on 25 May
Edlu Distance Race at Larchmont Yacht Club
One of the "must-do" events on western Long Island Sound Last weekend, Larchmont Yacht Club held its EDLU Distance Race, the first of the major offshore races that take place on Long Island Sound all summer long.
Posted on 25 May