Team Dahees won the first race of the 2011/12 watersport season, crossing the finish line 30 seconds ahead of Al Sharid in the Traditional 22ft Dhow Sailing Race and in third place was Al Zeeb

Organised by the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) off the Mina Seyahi, the Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed Al Marzouoqi skippered Dahees rounded the first mark in the lead and managed to stay in front until the finish.

“We got a good position on the start line and found clean air which helped us a lot.

“We were looking forward to sailing again and we are really happy to win,” said Al Marzouoqi.

Last season’s winner, Al Zeeb, seen as the favourite on the day finished third despite encountering some problems at the start.

“It was very frustrating on the start line,’ said Ebrahim Ismail Al Marzouqi, Al Zeeb skipper. “We got caught in the ropes of the boat next to us and it really cost us time, but in the end we got a good result.”

Two late entries meant a total 57 boats competed in the first of the four-round championship, and with winds gusting west-northwest at speeds of up to 14 knots with a fairly flat sea it turned out to be a quick race with the first boats finishing in less than 30 minutes.

“The conditions were very good, not too difficult and we kept the course quite short,” said DIMC CEO Saeed Hareb. “It has given the sailors an easy start and it wasn’t too daunting for any newcomers to the sport.”

The 22ft dhow sailing race can have a maximum of five and minimum of three crew on board and skippers had opted for a complete mix on their vessels. It meant those with less crew had to work harder, hiking out to keep the boat flat for optimum speed.

The next 22ft dhow race will be held again off the Mina Seyahi, on October 8.

Results

1st - Dahees - Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed Al Marzouoqi

2nd - Al Sharid - Majid Ahmed Khadim Al Muhairi

3rd - Al Zeeb - Ebrahim Ismail Al Marzouqi