Scott Colebrook, Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron New Zealand and Sid Bensalah, General Manager, Dubai International Marine Club

A delegation of representatives from Dubai International Marine Club, (DIMC), Emirates Airline, Starwood Hotels and Louis Vuitton Middle East has returned to Dubai from Auckland, New Zealand where they attended the Louis Vuitton Trophy. The purpose of the delegation was to gain first hand knowledge of the event as well as to meet organisers, media and the teams to continue preparations for the Louis Vuitton Trophy, Dubai which will be staged at DIMC from 13 – 28 November 2010.

Whilst in Auckland the delegation witnessed the host team, Emirates Team New Zealand win the Trophy and the team will no doubt be hoping to achieve the same result on their sponsors’ home ground in November. The two eighty five foot Americas Cup boats will now be shipped from Auckland to Dubai whilst two other Americas Cup boats will be shipped from Europe after the next event in La Maddalena, Sardinia in May. Ten teams are expected to race in the four boats in Dubai, bringing some of the worlds top sailors to mingle in the event village, which will be constructed on the breakwater at DIMC and will be open to the general public.

‘We want to create something unique for the Louis Vuitton Trophy and will be working with Emirates Airline, Le Meridien and Westin Hotels, Louis Vuitton and the World Sailing Teams Association to do this,’ said Sid Bensalah, General Manager of DIMC. ‘At the same time we are planning a new initiative during the LVT in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre to bring the first SailDubai Expo to the region from the 25 – 27 November showcasing the latest products and services for the sailing industry.’

Whilst in Auckland representatives met with the Commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Scott Colebrook and exchanged gifts whilst making plans to work together to develop youth sailing programmes in the two countries.