By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter, Gulf News. Al Merri and Al Hamli open powerboat series with a win in an incident-filled round at Mina Seyahi breakwaters.

Rashid Khalifa Al Merri and Salem Fadil Al Hameli, in their Extreme Marine boat, won an incident-filled opening round of the 2010 UIM X-Cat Middle East Powerboat Championship held at the Mina Seyahi breakwaters of Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), on Wednesday.

The race — the first of four to be held this month as part of the Middle East Championships — was red flagged in the very first lap due to a false start by one of the boats.

Problems

In the re-start that occurred after a long break, pole position leaders Fazza 3 with Nader Bin Hindi and Arif Saif Al Zafein at the helm, started experiencing problems allowing Grant Bruggemann and Gary Ballough in their PRO Marine boat to take the lead.

Extreme Marine and the PRO Marine duo of Bruggemann and Ballough started a tussle at the top that was eventually won by the team from Abu Dhabi. From then on, there was no looking back for Al Merri and Al Hameli as they went on to establish a lead of nearly 300 metres from the Lux Media Offshore team of Mike Seebold and Michel Karsenti, who managed to edge the PRO pair into fourth, even as the brotherly duo of Ahmad Ali Jaber Al Hameli and Rashid Jaber Al Hameli nestled into third place.

Salem Rashid Al Rumaithi, Managing Director Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC), IOTA President and UIM Commissioner Mohammad Al Jaidah and Ahmad Ebrahim from the UAE Marine Sports Federation presented the trophies to the winners.

"We are happy with the way the first race went without any incidents. Though we did have some instances, the new safety procedures in place ensured that we are prepared for any sort of eventuality," Sid Bensaleh, DIMC General Manager stated.

Al Merri and Al Hameli were pleased to open the season with a win.

"The conditions were rough out there and we have not had enough time to even test this boat.

"But we are pleased that we could get maximum points in this one due to our superior knowledge of the waters around here," Al Hameli told Gulf News.

Results: 1. Extreme Marine (Rashid Khalifa Al Merri/Salem Fadil Al Hameli); 2. Lux Media Offshore (Mike Seebold/Michel Karsenti); 3. Abu Dhabi Racing Team (Ahmad Ali Jaber Al Hameli/Rashid Jaber Al Hameli); 4. Westerlund Racing (Joakim Kumlin/Daniel Svenson); 5. Qatar Team (Mohammad Adnan Al Rais/Mohammad Al Nasser).

Ahmed Rizvi, The National, DUBAI // The big cats will be roaring into action on the waters just off the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) today. And Rory Power, the race director for the XCat Middle East Championship, has promised a gripping show when the extreme version of powerboat racing gets underway. More than 21 teams from around the globe will line up in their rebranded Class 3 powerboats at the DIMC breakwater for the first race of the four-round Middle East Championship. The second race will be held at the same venue on Saturday before the action moves to Abu Dhabi for the final two rounds on April 25 and 29. A Wooden Powerboat Championship will be held the day before all four races and spectators can view the action

free of charge. “You can expect probably the biggest international competition in powerboat racing we have seen for a while,” said Power, also

the race director of the World Professional Powerboat Association (WPPA), which is promoting the series. “You’ve got a lot of new teams from overseas coming in, but the local pilots have got some new boats and equipment, too. The technology has moved on quite a bit since the last round. “There are a lot of very competitive drivers in this year. We’ve got seven local drivers in there and they should do well. “We’ve got teams from France, Sweden, Italy, the UK and the US. There is quite a wide spread, really.” Despite being fourth fastest in testing, reigning world champions Arif Al Zafeen and Nader Bin Hendi will start as favourites. The world’s No 1 powerboat pairing in both Class 1 and Class 3 (Six Series) will team up in the all-new Fazza 3 in a two-pronged attack for the title alongside teammates Talib Al Sayed and Abdullah Al Mehairbi in Fazza 33. But while they come into the event fresh from a double triumph at the opening round of the Class 1 season in Brazil, Al Zafeen and Bin Hendi will need all their renowned skills in what is a brand new boat.

Twenty plus XCat teams to race in the first round of the 2010 Xcat Middle East Championship organized by Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) on Tuesday 6^th April. The rebranded Class 3 powerboats have proved extremely popular with twenty-eight teams registered from all over the world. ‘There are a lot of new teams who have entered and the interest in this class is continuing to grow,’ said Saeed Harib, Chairman of the World Professional Powerboat Association (WPPA) and Managing Director of DIMC. The boats, which are smaller than their Class One counterparts are easy to transport and cheaper to run, have found their niche within a newly structured UIM governing body and WPPA promoter. Fruitful talks last year between the UIM and the WPPA resulted in a sound working relationship for the Series. ‘To have the UIM as the governing body and the WPPA as the promoter and manager of the Xcat Series is the perfect combination,’ said Sid Bensalah, WPPA General Secretary.  The four round ME Championship will include two rounds in Abu Dhabi in collaboration with Abu Dhabi International Marine Sailing Club on the 25^th & 29^th April with a second round in Dubai on the 10^th April. Each of the rounds will host a race of the Wooden Powerboat Championship on the preceding day.

The 2010 Xcat Series was delayed from its original start date in January after the tragedy which struck the Class One World Powerboat Championships at DIMC in December last year when two pilots sadly lost their lives in an accident during the first race. New guidelines and rules have been developed and implemented as a result of the investigations into the accident.

The Xcat Middle East Championship Race will be at 15:00 Tuesday 6^th April and can be viewed from the DIMC breakwater which is open to the public.

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.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Markus Wieser and his team from the United Arab Emirates win the match race title of the Al Maktoum Sailing Trophy RC 44, ahead of No Way Back (NED) and Artemis (SWE).

February 24, 2010 – Unbeaten after seven flights, Markus Wieser and his Team Sea Dubai only had to avoid a penalising collision today to win the match race title of the Al Maktoum Sailing Trophy. That’s what they did, winning in the mean time a difficult race against Puerto Calero and loosing the last one to BMW ORACLE Racing.

However the real action was behind, in a tough contest between six teams for the second and third places overall. Leader of this “secondary ranking” ahead of the last day, Terry Hutchinson’s Artemis - rejoined today by owner Torbjorn Tornqvist - started in the worse possible way by loosing the first race to Team Austria. Pushed to the right of the course during the first beat, the Austrians seemed to benefit from a better pressure: they took the lead and increased it slightly throughout the match.

The points were particularly precious at this stage, and No Way Back went from a potentially difficult situation – loosing their start against Team Aqua – to a sudden solid option on the overall ranking’s second place when they overtook Cameron Appleton’s Team Aqua during the first downwind leg. Rod Davis (Ceeref) also won an important point against BMW ORACLE Racing, rejoining Artemis and No Way Back in the group of candidates to second overall ahead of the last race.

Sailing the last race against Islas Canarias Puerto Calero, Pieter Heerema and Ray Davies - joint helmsmen onboard No Way Back - managed to block the Spaniards on the wrong start of the Committee boat at the moment of the start. Team Aqua did the same to Katusha five minutes later. Observing this, Rod Davis obviously liked the idea and tried to inflict the same fate to Artemis; however the trick didn’t quite work and Terry Hutchinson just managed to squeeze in between the Committee boat and Ceeref’s bow whilst Davis remained stuck head to the wind during long, long seconds, finally crossing the line one minute late.

No Way Back and Artemis finish the event on a tie, however the Danish team gets the second rank overall thanks to their victory in the direct confrontation. Ceeref finishes fourth on a tie with BMW ORACLE Racing.


Match-race, final results after nine flights:

(Ranking, name of team, helmsman, No of victories / defeats, points)

1) Team Sea Dubai (Markus Wieser), 8/1, 8 points
2) Team No Way Back (Pieter Heerema / Ray Davies), 5/3, 5 points
3) Artemis (Terry Hutchinson), 5/3, 5 points
4) CEEREF (Rod Davis), 4/5, 4 points
5) BMW ORACLE Racing (Adam Minoprio), 4/5, 4 points
6) Team Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (José Maria Ponce), 3/6, 3 points
7) Team Aqua (Cameron Appleton), 3/6, 3 points
8) Katusha (Paul Cayard), 3/6, 3 points
9) Team Austria (Christian Binder), 2/7, 2 points

DUBAI, U.A.E., 17^th January 2010 – Dubai was today unveiled as the Middle East venue selected to host the Louis Vuitton Trophy, a two-week carnival of elite sailing which will put the global spotlight on the UAE.

Four spectacular 85-foot long America’s Cup Class yachts – sailed by world champions, Olympic medallists and round-the-world sailors – will be the focal point of the event which will firmly establish Dubai on the sport’s map.

The prestigious Louis Vuitton Trophy – a true test of the crews’ ability with teams racing identical yachts - is one of the most coveted events in sailing and Dubai joins established premier regatta venues, including Auckland, Sardinia and Hong Kong, as 2010 hosts.

It will be held at Mina Seyahi, the home of Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) next to the Palm Jumeirah, while Emirates Airline – a leading sponsor - will be flying in many of teams and their armies of support staff, as well as race officials and spectators from around the globe.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman DIMC, and Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: “This is a real coup for Dubai. We are honoured to be part of this fantastic event which has rapidly emerged as a renowned spectacle of sport followed by millions around the world.

“As well as thrilling spectators both here and on TV, it will consolidate Dubai’s status as a venue capable of hosting major international sporting events.

“We are also looking forward to welcoming our very own Emirates Team New Zealand back to these shores and, having won the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in Auckland last year, confidence will be high coming into this event.

“Emirates has a great affinity with sailing and it is exciting to be strengthening our commitment to the sport further by supporting a race which will bring the world’s finest sailors to Dubai.”

The event – which gets under way on 13^th November and will feature on-shore entertainment and a host of other activities - is also expected to put wind in the sails of the UAE tourism industry.

Businesses throughout the UAE are expected to benefit after the organisers of the 2009 Louis Vuitton Pacific Series reported that the 14-day festival injected US$12 million (Dhs 44 million) into the Auckland economy.

As well as Emirates Team New Zealand - featuring sailing great Dean Barker – and Artemis (Sweden), with the legendary Paul Cayard pulling the strings, the line-up is also expected to include: BMW ORACLE Racing (USA); Azzurra (Italy), TEAMORIGIN (Great Britain); Mascalzone Latino (Italy); Synergy (Russia); All4One (France/Germany); and Aleph Sailing Team (France).

Yves Carcelle, Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton, said: "Louis Vuitton has been present in Dubai for more than 10 years. In 2010, we are thrilled to maintain this relationship through a great sailing event, while reinforcing the age-long Dubai tradition for regattas."

Saeed Harib, President of the UAE Marine Sports Federation and CEO of DIMC, which will host the race, is delighted to be helping the growth of the sport in the region.

“Dubai was host to the Emirates Team New Zealand Pro Am Series in 2006 and Alinghi and Victory Challenge boats during the winter of 2007,” said Harib.

“With the Louis Vuitton Trophy, DIMC and our partners Emirates Airline are continuing that relationship and in doing so creating a new platform for the development of modern sailing in the region.”

Paul Cayard, Chairman of the World Sailing Team Association and skipper/strategist of Team Artemis, said: “I have been sailing in Dubai on several occasions. The conditions are ideal, the course is next to the shore and the atmosphere is exciting. DIMC is a fantastic host and I am sure our event here will open many eyes to this fantastic racing venue.”

The Louis Vuitton Trophy – which is split into two five-day rounds, followed by semi-finals and the finals run over two days each - will mark the start of the Sea Dubai Watersports Festival, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The festival – now in its third year - will feature: the Dubai Shamaal World Surf Ski Championship; Oakley Riot World Wakeboard Tournament; UAE National Day Watersports Parade; Mina Mile Swimming Competition; Open Water Swim; Jet Ski Competition; Traditional 43ft Dhow Sailing Championship; and finishes on 11^th December with the final round of the Class One World and XCat Powerboat World Championships.

December 12th 2009. On a day, which should have seen the conclusion of the 2009 Class One season and end of the Sea Dubai Watersports Festival, the skies stayed grey and the mood sombre. Over night the festive flags were removed as DIMC was engulfed in mourning for two of it’s own, Mohammed Al Muhairi and Jean Marc Sanchez the Victory team pilots who met tragedy yesterday in a fatal high-speed crash during race one of the Dubai Grand Prix.

Mohammed was laid to rest early this morning and the teams followed to Mohammed’s home to pay their respects to his family. It was a day for quiet times and personal remembrances and working towards a final tribute lap to the two pilots by friends, colleagues, teammates and loved ones.

At two o’clock Fazza, Victory 7, Wellmax 90, Maritimo 11, Foresti & Suardi-Roscioli Hotels 8, Sea Dubai-C.A.M 10 and Giorgioffshore 18 left the dock, cockpits open and pilots and teams on the deck. More boats filled with everyone involved in the organisation and friends followed in an armada of grief and headed to the site of the crash. On board with Saeed Harib, Managing Director of DIMC and President of WPPA, was Sara Sanchez, the wife of Jean Marc. At the crash site flowers were given to the sea and the sad flotilla applauded the memory of their friends, lost to a sport, which they loved and had lived for. Sara Sanchez waived to the crowd and bravely acknowledged the warmth and support for her and the respect and love shown to her husband Jean Marc Sanchez and Mohammed Al Muhairi.

Sea Dubai kept the best till last and proved what they can do and how well they can do it today. It was promising from the start; the wind came in early sending a great buzz around the event village and down to the dock. Racing started on time with the wind blowing 12 – 15 knots from the land. The first race started in a choppy sea with Sea Dubai seventh at the top mark but the team sailed a great race catching up and over taking three boats to finish third behind No Way Back. In the second race the team came sixth behind No Way Back again after starting out in fifth place, dropping to seventh and then passing Katusha to get a sixth place. But the piece de resistance was the last race; on home ground the home team raced a superb race that left the rest of the fleet standing. They made a good start, second across the line behind Team Aqua and stayed in second place for the next two marks, then the fleet divided, Sea Dubai went wide out to sea playing the tide and current, going high and reaching the top mark for the second time in first place. From there the team continued to sail their own race, holding their line and nerve with confidence and finished very proudly ahead of the rest of the fleet in front of a happy home crowd. ‘The last race was obviously a good race for the team and I think the best way I can put it is that it signifies how we’d like to start next year, on a really good note,’ said Hartwell Jordan, the Sea Dubai mainsheet trimmer. ‘I went out today full of fight, wanting to win and believing we could. Saeed Harib, Managing Director of Dubai International Marine Club, our owner, gave us a really good pep talk last night, he believes in us and told us that he’s sure we can win and go on winning. The team were all full of fight today and the final race was good, the team spirit on the boat across the victory line was the best,’ said Yousef Lahej, fleet race skipper. ‘It was a really great finish to a great regatta in our home town and namesake,’ said Markus Wieser, tactician and match race skipper. The Gold Cup ended today and the boats will now be stored in Dubai International Marine Club for the winter and some of the teams will make the most of the fantastic winter conditions to train here. The 2010 RC44 Championship Tour will hold its first round in the Maktoum Sailing Trophy on February 21^st.

As heat 1 of the Traditional 22 ft Dhow Sailing Championships takes to the water on Saturday 24^th October it will be interesting to see who wins and to take a good look at the design of their boat and sail. The 22 ft dhow is the training boat not just for new sailors but it is also the prototype for the 43 ft & 60 ft racing dhows and a real family affair. Fathers look to the boat to teach their sons how to sail but also they use it as a tool to test improvements to the increase the effectiveness of their larger racing dhows.

The UAE Marine Sports Federation supports and encourages the sailors to think about not just their sailing but also about the design of the boat and sail as long as they keep within certain guidelines. There is fierce competition between the teams that must include two sailors less than seventeen years of age. Most of the training is done during the racing. The programme has been a success and the fleet has flourished since its inception in 1999 and now boasts a start line of over 70 boats. Dubai International Marine Club runs a Championship through the year and a series of match races to put the sailors through their paces.

The boats, with their shallow hulls and keels are portable and easy to store, cost around US$ 4,000 to make and made mostly in the families back yard with the sails sewn by local tailors. It is an evolving family industry and will be interesting to see how it develops in the future. A new inclusion for this season is that sand bags that have traditionally been used for ballast in the keel and for stability in stronger winds has been banned as an environmental measure. The result will surely be a change in design and a fascinating race on Saturday.