Forty-nine entries in the first heat of the Traditional Rowing Championships meant a challenge not just for the rowers but also for the organizers. Dubai International Marine Club decided to run two separate races to reduce the number of boats on the start line. In exciting but tough races with a strong current running and 13 knots of cross wind Ghaleb, skippered by Arif Ahmed Ali and Al Zahab 1 skippered by Mahmoud Hassan Mohammed arrived over the finish line first.

The races, fought just off the Jumeirah 1 coastline took a grueling 18 minutes to complete and included teams from the four men’s colleges of Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah and also a team from the Oman. Ghaleb, meaning winner in English won the overall championship last season and will be hoping to retain his title over the five heats to be run this season.

The 3.5km race started just outside the entrance to Dubai Offshore Sailing Club harbour and as the ten rowers in each boat strained to gather forward momentum and speed the coxswain at the back of each boat guided the way with a mixture of steering and in some cases extremely animated vocals to the finish.

Second places went to Al Qadri Group, skippered by Younes Habib Abdullah and Shanas from the Oman, skippered by Majid Amir al Mua’mri, with Al itihad and Inad skippered by Rashid Badar Al Za’abi and Elsa Khalifa Al Za’abi respectively taking third places. The next heat will be on National Day as part of the National Day Parade.