Dubai Sailing and Sports - 2007-08 Watersports Season at Dubai International Marine Club set to enthrall
View the Sailing Photo Gallery
After a lull of four months over the summer season, the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) gets set for a brand new season of watersports activities. The first of the season kicks off with the 22 feet traditional dhow sailing races scheduled for September 22nd, 2007. The DIMC race calendar is a buzz with activity back to back starting September thru to June 2008 with races from traditional dhow sailing to the traditional Class III powerboat, rowing to modern sailing and the much awaited WPPA Class One World Powerboat Championship races under the aegis of the World Professional Powerboating Association that was formed on the UAE’s National Day, December 2nd 2006.
The Powerboating season has had a successful start under the WPPA and with four more championships to go it is expected top pick momentum and win acclaim from both team members and spectators alike. Besides these are the modern watersports activities such as the Open sailing Regatta in the beginning of October followed by the Class One countdown to the World Championship with penultimate and final round being held in Dubai over November and December. The jet-ski races are a delight for the spectators especially in the free-style category. For the second consecutive year, DIMC will be the venue for the Dubai Desert Challenge a place that has been much acclaimed for its infrastructure and facilities. The International Boat Show held earlier this year was a resounding success and DWTC will see itself on the pits at DIMC for the third year in a row in March next year.
Come December 2007 and DIMC has in store some exciting surprises for those who are pro-water. The year is fun filled with action both on the traditional as well as the modern front. “We are in expectation of a great season this year, with the amount of activities lined up. I and my team are looking forward to an exhilarating year of racing in the gulf”, said Saeed Hareb, Managing Director, Dubai International Marine Club and president WPPA. “On a yearly basis DIMC organizes as well as oversees over 168 events in one watersports season that starts September upto May of the next year when it culminates its season with the much awaited Sir Bu Naair races under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Finance Minister and Deputy Ruler of Dubai”. “The last season witnessed the untiring support of HH Sheikh Mayed Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, both with his patronage as well as personal presence during the Sheikh Mayed Watersports Challenge. That was a great boost for us and we are looking forward to that partnership again this season on a larger scale”, added Saeed Hareb.