Today, all eyes are on Sir Bu Nair Island deep in the waters of the Gulf, in anticipation of the start of the 33rd Al Qaffal Race for local 60-foot sailing ships, which is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, as a closing touch for the Dubai Club races. International Marine Sports in the 2023-2024 sports season.
The race was scheduled to start yesterday morning, but the state of the sea and the low average wind speeds necessitated the organizing committee to delay the start date from the early morning hours in the hope that it would improve, so the decision came to raise the red flag and return the ships to the shores of the island again awaiting the new date that was set in the morning. today.
The race, which was established in 1991, is considered the most expensive and oldest among long-distance marine races.
The ships, which numbered 123, will sail with the closing of registration before moving to the starting place, towards the shores of Danat Al Dunya (Dubai), passing through the Moon Island, and reaching the finish line opposite the Burj Al Arab Hotel between the most prominent landmarks, the World Islands and Palm Jumeirah Island, and the participating ships will travel a distance. More than 50 nautical miles.
For his part, member of the Supreme Organizing Committee and Supervisor of the event, Mohammed Al-Falahi, said in press statements: “The security, safety, and safety of the participants and their ships always takes priority,” noting that “the sea condition yesterday did not allow the race to be held, due to the low levels of wind speeds, which may Some of them are not able to complete the race on time, which means that some of them arrive, and others stumble.”
Al-Falahi thanked the event partners from governmental and national departments, bodies, and agencies, as well as the owners, captains, and sailors, for their patience and understanding of the circumstances of postponing the race by one day, as the organizing committee always looks forward to making all events a success, especially the Misk race, the finale of the season. The Supreme Organizing Committee of Al Qaffal Race 33 held a meeting on board the yacht (Dabawi) with a number of captains, to discuss the preparations and equipment for the race, and to listen to their views.
The race is expected to witness a hot and fierce competition to snatch the title of the 33rd edition, as the participants prepared well, as demonstrated by the enthusiasm for participation and the demand to participate in the large demonstration in which many names emerged, including 19 champions crowned in the past 32 editions.
. 19 champions crowned in the past 32 editions are preparing to compete for the title.
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