Red flag raised after Muburak Marine crew are thrown off their boat.

Dubai: New powerboat safety rules went into practice again yesterday during the first heat of the Dubai Wooden Powerboat Championship held at Dubai International Marine Club.

The red stop flag was raised when the crew of Mubarak Marine was thrown from their boat as they rounded a mark. The pair were picked up quickly by rescue teams and returned to shore unhurt and the race was restarted. However, the delay meant a quick turn around for the top three teams Delma Marine driven by Ahmad Ali Al Hamli and Ahmad Ateeq Al Qumzi, Extreme Marine with Salim Fadel Al Hamli and Ahmad Mohammad Hassan Al Suwaidi and Al Fajar Marine raced by Khalifa Humaid Bin Thaiban and Ahmad Humaid Bin Thaiban who all needed to ready themselves for the Xcat Middle East Powerboat Championships practice session.

Al Hamli is throttle man with driver Rashid Al Marri in Extreme Marine, who won heat 1 of the Xcat Middle East Powerboat Championship

"I've gained so much experience driving the wooden powerboat that it's helped me with driving the Xcat," said Al Hamli, who drives Abu Dhabi Racing Teams Xcat. "I enjoy both the Xcat and the wooden powerboat and I'm really pleased with our win today and hope I can improve on my placing tomorrow in the Xcat heat 2."