Emirates Team New Zealand still UAE favourite
While Alinghi basks in their glorious win over Emirates Team New Zealand, many hearts are a flutter for the Kiwis. Speaking to Saeed Hareb, Managing Director, Dubai International Marine Club, host to the Alinghi teams winter base here in Dubai, he said “I have been watching the America’s cup with great interest. It has been one of the most amazing sailing championships ever. While we congratulate the winners for their success it is Emirates Team New Zealand that we still would like to support, more so since they carry our national carrier Emirates as their sponsor”. Saeed said it was rather unfortunate that Emirates Team New Zealand managed four problems for which they paid the ultimate price.
Alinghi handled the situation like professionals and that was evident even when they were at DIMC for their winter practice session. “I watched them closely, during the two month period, their workouts, their scheduled practices and their regimes. They have worked hard to achieve this victory”, he added.
The winning of the America’s Cup by Alinghi twice ion a row shows their determination to win and stay at the top. This will boost the profile of Dubai, more participants will surely aim at coming to Dubai for their practice preparatory sessions. When asked if Dubai was in a position to host an act, Saeed replied saying, “unfortunately we may not be able to host an act but I have proposed that we could have a mid-year season every two years that will give a boost to the sport and Dubai as a world class destination for sports”. This is just a proposal that I floated and am sure the teams and organisers will take us up on this, Saeed added. “We could call it the Dubai Sailing World Cup and am sure it will reap benefits”, he concluded.