Volvo Ocean Race - UAE national candidates down to three

by Volvo Ocean Race on 28 Feb 2011 Volvo Ocean Race,

120 Volvo Ocean Race national candidates from the UAE after months of rigorous fitness, psychometric and endurance assessment, were finally cut down to three aspiring sailors in the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team’s final phase selection for its Emirati crew member.

In true ‘Apprentice’ fashion, the finalists twenty-six year-old Butti Al Muhairi, twenty-seven year-old Abdul Aziz Abdulla and twenty-two year old Adil Khalid - were grilled in one-on-one interviews by ADTA’s Director General, His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi and leading UAE sailing personalities, His Excellency Saeed Hareb, President of the UAE Marine Sports Federation and CEO of Dubai International Marine Club and His Excellency Ahmed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yachting Sports Club.

The selection process came to a climax with an awards ceremony in front of more than 150 dignitaries, personalities and VIPs at the opulent, sea-front Emirates Palace hotel, where Adil Khalid, an Olympian sailor, was named as the first Emirati to compete in the Volvo Ocean Volvo Ocean Race