The Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) is getting spruced up to stage the third round of the 2012 UIM X-Cat World Series to be held in the capital later this week (February 8-9).

Under the direct supervision of Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nehyan, Chairman ADIMSC, race organizers toured the club premises and ensured that everything is in a state of readiness to host this third heat of the X-Cat Series.

“There is so much of a willingness to do everything possible to ensure the X-Cat heat is a real success later this week,” noted Sid Bensalah from the UIM.

The third heat of the X-Cat Series that was to be held last weekend at the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) had to be postponed for the first week of April due to rough seas and gusty winds last Saturday. And with the annual UIM Awards Ceremony scheduled to be held in Monaco this weekend, race organizers voted in favour of conducting the Abu Dhabi race a couple of days early.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the race committee will be visiting Fujairah on Monday to ascertain the state of preparedness of the Northern Emirate in staging such a race for the first time at the Fujairah International Marine Sports Club (FIMSC) under the leadership of Ahmed Ibrahim.

“There are so many small things that need to be taken care with safety of paramount importance before such a prestigious race,” added Bensalah.

After the first two rounds of racing held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi last month, the Qatar Team is at the top of the overall standings with 600 points, followed by the Swiss-American boat Mouawed with 450 points and Extreme Marine with 422 points. Fazza, winners of the opening round, are in fourth with 417 points and Spirit of Abu Dhabi in fifth position with 191 points.

The mandatory practice session will be held from at 2 pm on Wednesday (February 8) followed by next day's Pole Position run (10 to 11.30 am) and the race at 3.30 pm.

The latest updates can be obtained at www.xcatracing.com or through Twitter at XCATracing.

2012 UIM X-CAT World Powerboat Series

Revised Calendar

1st Heat       Dubai              12th – 13th January 2012
2nd Heat      Abu Dhabi        19th – 20th January 2012
3rd Heat       Abu Dhabi        8th – 9th February 2012
4th Heat       Dubai              6th – 7th April 2012
5th Heat       Fujairah           12th – 13th April 2012

Race organizers announced the postponement of the third round of the 2012 UIM X-Cat World Series citing bad weather at the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC).

The race did start with 13 of the 14 boats lining up off the Mina Seyahi waters on Saturday afternoon. However, with winds circling between 12 to 15 knots racing became a bit tricky with the Extreme Marine boat of Rashid Khalifa Al Marri and Salem Fadhel Al Hameli flipping over and landing upside down forcing the race to be stopped the first time.

After the boats started again, the Sky Dive Dubai boat of Eisa Al Ali and Sultan Al Dhaheri stopped bang in the middle of the course, reportedly due to a blown engine forcing the red flag for a second time.

During the morning Pole Position run, the Qatar Team boat of Mohammed Al Nasser and Hamad Jasim Mohammed had also flipped and landed with both pilot and throttleman unhurt.

Considering all this and keeping the safety of the crew in mind, the race organizers led by Race Director Mohammed Hareb decided to postpone the race. The race will now be held on April 5-6, a week before the final round in Fujairah (April 12-13).

After two rounds of racing held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi last month, the Qatar Team is at the top of the overall standings with 600 points, followed by the Swiss-American boat Mouawed with 450 points and Extreme Marine with 422 points. Fazza, winners of the opening round, are in fourth with 417 points and Spirit of Abu Dhabi in fifth position with 191 points.

The next round of the 2012 Series will be held in Abu Dhabi on February 8-9.

A total of 14 boats have confirmed for the third heat of the 2012 UIM X-Cat World Powerboat Series to be held off the Mina Seyahi waters of the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) this weekend (Friday/Saturday).

Led by the Qatar Team of Mohammed Al Nasser and Hamad Jassim Mohammed at the top of the standings with 600 points, the 14-boat field is headed towards an exciting round of action with a clutch of other boats in contention for honours.

Prominent among the challengers is former champions Extreme Marine who are currently in third overall with 422 points and the Swiss-American duo of Omar Danial and Gary Ballough in their boat Mouawad in second position with 450 points.

The home team of Mohammed Al Marri and Arif Al Zafein in Fazza will also be a force to reckon with, especially after they picked up maximum 400 points in the opener at the same venue earlier last month.

"This race will be decisive for a few teams as it will throw forward those who are serious contenders to the title and those who are not," said Extreme Marine driver Al Marri.

"Besides these boats there are a few more that look competitive, especially the Americans who can adapt well in rough water. So we will be going all out for maximum points in an attempt to consolidate our position and be genuine contenders for the world title this season," he promised.

Today, the mandatory official practice was held between 2-3.30 pm followed by the drivers' briefing. The Spirit of Abu Dhabi pair of Ahmad Al Suwaidi and Ahmad Mohammed Hassan topped the time chart with a beat time of 2 minutes, 17.49 seconds, while Sky Dive Dubai was second best with 2:17.67 and Fazza was in third with a time of 2:17.90.

"It can be anyone's race on Saturday, depending on what sort of start they get," Sid Bensalah of DIMC said.

"Tomorrow (Friday) the weather is going to be gusty with winds going up to 20 knots, so our decision to have the race on Saturday is a wise one. It's an even field and we can expect some good excitement among all the boats on the water," Bensalah added.

On Saturday, the Pole Position will be run from 09.30 to 11.00 am followed by the start of the race at 2.30 pm. Meanwhile, on Friday there will be a Safety Seminar conducted by Bob Wartinger and Paul Hicks from 2.30 to 5 pm.

The Extreme Marine duo of Rashid Khalifah Al Marri and Salem Fadhel Al Hamli will be the team to beat when the third round of the 2012 UIM X-Cat World Series is held off the Mina Seyahi waters of the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) this weekend (Saturday, February 4).

Al Marri and Al Hamli, who have been regulars in this championship over a prolonged period of time, once again teamed up to clinch the top spot in Abu Dhabi leaving the Qatar Team pairing of Mohamad Al Nasser and Hamad Jasim Mohamad in second and Omar Danial and Gary Ballough in Mouawad in third position in Abu Dhabi last month.

Over a period of time, the pairing of Al Marri and Al Hamli has worked themselves into a winning combination in this category of powerboat racing. “This is a race that will decide the course of the overall standings and that is why it is very important for us to win,” Rashid Khalifah Al Marri admitted.

“There are a few boats that we will have to be watching during this race particularly the American ones (Mouawad and Abu Dhabi Racing Team). It is very important that we go out on the water and win this one so that we can be the front-runners for the overall crown,” he added.

With two rounds gone, the Qatar Team are at the top of the overall standings with 600 points after collection two second place finishes, while Mouawad is lurking around in second with 450 points closely followed by Extreme Marine in third with 422 points and home team Fazza in fourth with 417 points.

“Any of these boats are in a position to win this weekend. At Extreme Marine we have a plan and this involves winning the race as it will be decisive in ultimately having a winner,” Al Marri said.

With nearly 15 boats confirmed for the third round of the competition, the race organizers are expecting a tough tussle on the water this weekend. “It has been a good two rounds in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and we think there will be plenty of action at the third round too,” said Sid Bensalah from organizers UIM and DIMC.

On Saturday, the official Pole Position run will be held from 10.00 to 11.00 am followed by the start of the race at 2.30 pm.

The 2012 UIM X-Cat World Series got under way with the opening round on January 12-13 in Dubai followed by the second race in Abu Dhabi on January 19-20. The five-round series will conclude with the final race in Fujairah in the middle of April.

$1m worth of X-treme powerboat action

The 2012 season of the spectacular UIM X-Cat World Powerboat Series kicks off this week with the Dubai Grand Prix at Mina Seyahi, off the shores of the Dubai International Marine Club.

Yet again, some of the top powerboat teams and racers will be joining the Series for $1 million, one of the biggest prize funds in powerboat racing.

This year’s line-up will be packed with experienced drivers and throttlemen from all parts of the world, providing spectators with the most breathtaking and adrenaline-fuelled racing spectacle.

Approximately 20 boats will form the 2012 grid, with back-to-back X-Cat Champions, Extreme Marine, Fazza and Spirit of Qatar being among this year’s X-Cat contestants.

The 2012 Calendar will consist of 6 heats organized in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Khor Fakkar and Fujairah.  Spectators in Dubai will be able to view the X-Cat powerboat action from the DIMC Mina Seyahi breakwater with free access, while the race will also be visible from the Palm Jumeirah close to Zabeel Saray Hotel.

The Dubai Grand Prix will start at 15:30 on Friday 13th. Official practice will take place on Thursday 12th from 14:00-16:00 and Pole Position will be judged the following day at 10:30.

Gulf News, Alaric Gomes Dubai: The Spirit of Qatar 96 duo of Shaikh Hassan Bin Jaber Al Thani and Steve Curtis have thrown down the challenge to leaders Victory Team 3 of Dubai at this weekend's Sky Dive Dubai-Dubai Duty Free Grand Prix — the final round of the 2011 UIM Class One World Powerboat Championship.

After six races from the three rounds held so far, the Victory Team 3 pair of Arif Saif Al Zafein and Mohammad Al Merri are at the top of the overall standings with 103 points after four wins.

Spirit of Qatar 96 is in second with 77 points, with their single win coming at the Norwegian Grand Prix in Arendal, while Spirit of Qatar 95 is third on 63.

But Shaikh Hassan and Curtis set the fastest time of three minutes 4.18 secinds during yesterday's official practice at the Mina Seyahi waters of the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) ahead of the start of the GP today.

Perfect conditions

"This is just fine for us. We love these sort of conditions and hopefully they will remain like this and we can have a good race," Shaikh Hassan told Gulf News.

"It will be interesting to watch what happens tomorrow. I only hope the conditions stay the same, as this is how we love the water."

Victory Team 3 had a bit of a hitch as they announced a change in their pairing, with veteran and former two-time world champion Al Merri replacing Nader Bin Hendi at the throttles for driver Al Zafein this weekend.

But the pair did well to finish with a second-best time of 3:04.28, while Ali Al Meama and Matteo Nicolini of Qatar 95 were third best with 3:06.09 followed by Poliform (3:06.85) and debutants Luca F. Fendi Racing Team (3:08.23).

"We didn't want to push the boat too much," Al Zafein said. "We need to first know each other and gel as a team. We will see how things work out tomorrow."

Huraiz Al Mur Bin Huraiz, chairman of the DIMC sports committee, is entrusted with the overall responsibility of races held at DIMC. He insisted that the change in the team set-up is normal.

Fun weekend

"It's pretty much an internal issue for Victory Team," he said.

"I doubt it is anything major. I hope we will have a fun weekend of racing for the boats and the spectators so that this event is the best on the calendar this year."

The action will start at 9.30am today with the Edox Pole Position run, followed by the first race at 2pm. There will be a second race at 2pm tomorrow. Entrance is free and spectators are more than welcome.

Sport 360 - Patrick O'Brien - The final round of the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship takes place in the salubrious Mina Seyahi this weekend, with some mightily impressive sea vehicles doing their thing at the Sky Dive Dubai & Dubai Duty Free Dubai Grand Prix.

Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) will welcome the Class 1 Powerboat drivers back to town, after they began the season in Abu Dhabi back in April. They have since taken in races in Arendal, Norway, and Cernobbio, Italy, and will finish the season off here in the UAE this weekend.

Dubai’s Victory team leads the championship with 103 points, led by Arif Saif Al Zafeen and Nadir Bin Hendi. Next in the overall standings is Qatar’s Spirit of Qatar 96 with 77 points driven by HH Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al Thani and Steve Curtis, and they are followed by Spirit of Qatar 95 with 63 points with Ali Al Neama driving and Matteo Nicolini at the throttle.

Spectators can get a prime viewing spot - free of charge - at the breakwater at DIMC, where a close of view of these superb looking boats will be possible. The racing is a real case of man against sea, and riders will be hoping for calm sea conditions off the coast of Dubai this weekend.

Thursday December 8 at 2pm is the official start of the race weekend, and first up is a practice session, where the drivers will get the feel of the racecourse and make final checks on their boats. Qualifying will start at 9:30am on Friday morning, with Race 1 at 2pm that afternoon, followed by Race 2 on Saturday 10th December, also at 2pm.

“This is the largest fleet we’ve had racing for some time with ten boats racing,’ said Mohamed Hareb, from the DIMC Sports Committee. "This will close the 2011 Class 1 season and we are very happy to be hosting the race here in Dubai. Class 1 racing was bought to the UAE in 1992, which makes this our 20th anniversary and it has been a very interesting and unique journey since the inaugural race start line in the Dubai Creek.”

Indeed since 1992, the event has become a worldwide event, with the diversity of nationalities claiming the World Drivers’ Championship swelling in numbers, and including UAE, America, Great Britain, Italy, Monaco, Norway and Saudi Arabia.

Schedule: Sky Dive Dubai & Dubai Duty Free GP Class 1

Thursday
14:00 Practice

Friday
09:30 Qualifying
14:00 Race 1

Saturday
14:00 Race 2

What: Final round of the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship

When: This weekend, 8-10 December.

Where: Dubai International Marine Club, viewing from the breakwater.

23 Nov 2011

by Sport 360

The Dubai International Marine Club is the perfect place for beach and boat lovers.

When you think of Dubai’s Mina Seyahi area, which translates as ‘Port of Travellers’, you think of two things: Le Meridien’s Barasti Bar and on the other side of the fence, one of Dubai’s oldest and most respected clubs, The Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC).

We’ve visited DIMC many times before to witness and experience a wide range of fantastic boating events, from the grit and glamour of the Louis Vuitton Trophy to the stunning, and traditionally and historically significant, Al Gaffal Dhow Race.

And now that the season’s kicked off again, boating and water sports enthusiasts will be lining the pristine shores for exciting races, such as the hugely anticipated UIM Class 1 Grand Prix next month, and the more traditional rowing race on Friday; just two of over 20 events the rest of the season that also include wooden and XCat powerboat, dhow, and jet-ski racing.

The DIMC has for years provided a safe, secure and exclusive home for local and expat boat owners with its 300-capacity electricity and water-equipped berthing area on the marina.

It’s now completely full, and as a result, more berths are on the way for super-yachts. They also have craning facilities, a slipway, re-fuelling services, an on-site workshop, and a large helipad for when helicopters are needed for media and special events.

Sometimes the helipad even becomes the site of big functions, such as the Air Show Gala Dinner and the annual Dubai Boat Show, or doubles as further parking for large scale events.

Right now, though, the main focus is about opening up to the public, as well as attracting more members to the Water Sports Club at the very end of the property.

Plans are under way to add renewed energy to the Water Sports Club, which at the moment has a very lazily-relaxed feel about it with a pool, a chilled barasti-type beach bar (now licenced) and beach-side seating.

Members have access to Lasers, Optimists, Catamarans, surf skis and Olympic rowing, plus they often take part in weekly races.

But the club wants to expand to include school programmes, ladies’ training, a Cadet Club for kids who want to further their sailing experience, and other sports such as the hugely hip Stand Up Paddling.

“This is the sort of place that people come down and spend their weekends at, meet with their friends and relax.

"They’ll take their boats out for races, and spend ages cleaning and tuning them up, or do early morning rowing. Plans are to eventually have a proper club house with a cafeteria, fitness facility and classrooms for the sailing school,” said a representative.

Meanwhile, the Sports Committee Chairman, Huraiz Bin Huraiz, has been reorganising the main racing at the club, targeting efficiency and consistency as his model to increase the popularity of water sports in the region.

Back over by the marina, a cafeteria caters to boat crew and staff, while visitors and members looking for food can hop aboard a dhow at the end of the pier for the freshest seafood at the Aprons and Hammers.

How can you forget the culinary experience of wearing aprons and smashing away at shell to get to fresh crab meat, while enjoying breathtaking views of the bay.

Another exciting development?  Contracts have already been signed to convert the existing club house into a restaurant and lounge with a pool out front.

And meanwhile, next to it, the attractive and airy two-storey Mina Seyahi Hall is open for member and non-member hire for all sorts of formal and informal public and private events.

We can’t say we’re not excited to see how it shapes up!

VENUE:  Dubai International Marine Club, Mina Seyahi

CAPACITY: The marina has 300 berths, while the Water Sports Club currently holds about 100 boats, but both are set to expand.

FACILITIES: 300-berth marina, events hall, Water Sports Club, and more on the way, including a restaurant and lounge, more berths and enhanced Water Sports Club facilities. There are also craning facilities, a slipway, re-fuelling services, a helipad and a workshop.

WHAT’S GOOD: There is a huge emphasis on re-introducing and keeping alive local boat sports. Facilities and customer service for members and boat owners are commendable. DIMC’s got a prime location too.

Sport360° VERDICT:  Rating out of five: 5

CONTACT: www.dimc.ae; 04 399 5777

8 October 2011 Totally back on form, Team Dahees took off like a rocket from the start line today to retain their lead all the way to finish first and notch up their second win of the season in the Traditional 22ft Dhow Sailing Championships organised by Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC). Shamardel came followed them across the line with Emaar filling the slot.

Taking up position in the mid section of the long start line, which had to accommodate fifty four dhows, Dahees sailed an amazing race getting clean air all the way with a convincing three to four boat lengths ahead of the fleet from the very early stages the race. The team looked confident and determined and were delighted to win again. ‘We had such a good start today and it was a really fast race, at times we felt a bit over powered and it was hard work, we needed a lot of concentration, but the result was great,’ said skipper Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed Al Marzouoqi.

Shamardel, skippered by Sultan Saeed Hareb also got off to a good start from the lower end of the start line in the boat owned by HH Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Ministry of Arts and Culture. ‘We are very happy with today’s result, ‘ said Sultan Hareb. ‘We came seventh in the first round, which was a bit disappointing so this has given us a real boost. The team worked very well together, it’s a great result but we still hope to do better in the next race.’

The start line was set at the top west side of the Palm Jumeirah with the race course being set towards Jebel Ali Port to the south east and covered about six nautical miles. The first boats finished the race within twenty-five minutes with the last boats taking up to thirty-five minutes.

The wind direction and strength was similar to the first race of the season two weeks ago but the sea was a bit more choppy so the race wasn’t without damages and mishaps. Boat number 2, Al Wasf finished with a broken boom and as one of the other boats crossed the finish line a crewmember fell overboard and had to be rescued but he was unhurt.

The next round of the championships is on 30^th December with the final race in on 25^th February 2012. Trophies and prize money are awarded for each race with the first three boats getting trophies and the first thirty awarded prize money. The next race to be hosted at DIMC is on Saturday 22^nd October and is the first of the traditional 60ft dhow sailing races. Spectators are welcome and more information can be found at www.dimc.ae.

Provisional Results:

1^st 18, Dahees, Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed Al Marzouoqi

2^nd 7, Shamardel, Sultan Saeed Hareb, Sh. Majid Bin Mohd. Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

3^rd 89, Emaar, Salim Ali Salim Adidi, Sh. Hamdan Bin Mohd. Bin R. Al Maktoum