Al Gaffal Traditional 60ft Dhow Sailing Race preview

by Alice Ekonomou on 23 May 2012 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