Dubai Traditional 43ft Dhow Sailing Championship 43ft champion crowned

by Alice Ekonomou on 26 Feb 2012 His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s boat 'Al Zeer' was crowned the new champion at the end of the third and final heat of the Dubai Traditional 43ft Dhow Sailing Championships.

The Championships were organised by the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) and on Saturday unsteady sailing conditions due to shifty winds swept across the Emirates.

The race lived up to its fair share of excitement as it was Toufan who threw the race for the championship wide open by winning the third and final heat. But the hard work done by Al Zeer under skipper Mohammed Rashid Bin Shaheen by winning the first two heats was sufficient as it landed the title with 12 points against its name.

Saturday's race was dominated by Toufan, owned and skippered by Ahmed Saeed Salim Al Rumaithi, as it did enough to take the chequered flag between the Palm Island and Burj Al Arab to pick up maximum points. Burraq, owned by Ahmed Mohammed Rashid Al Rumaithi and skippered by Rashid Mohammed Rashid Al Rumaithi, was placed second, while Khalaf Butti Al skippered Wafi came in third during yesterday’s race. With Al Zeer cementing its position at the top of the overall standings, it was Toufan that had to stay content with the second position with 14 points and Burraq finished third with 15 points.

Al Zeer skipper Mohammed Shaheen put down his boat’s success down to Sheikh Hamdan and his constant encouragement. 'Our team deserve this win as we have put in a lot of hard work during the course of this season,' Mohammed Shaheen said. 'It is just correct that we dedicate this victory to Sheikh Hamdan. Nothing would have been possible without his backing and support,' added the Al Zeer skipper.

The trophies were presented by Ahmed Mohammed Bin Thani, the new Chairman of the Board of Directors at DIMC along with Ali Nasser Bin Habballa and Huraiz Bin Huraiz, both new members on the DIMC Board.