Traditional 43ft Dhow Sailing Championships: Victory at the start of the season has whet the appetite of Maqasas who will compete this Saturday to defend his lead in the second of the five heat Dubai Traditional 43ft Dhow Sailing Championships. With a highest place of second last season and sixth overall, skipper of Maqasas, Khalid Al Rumaithi will be looking to scoop another win to increase his lead over his brother Rashid. Baraq, helmed by Rashid Al Rumaithi crossed the finish line in second place in the first round but was the overall winner last season. Not to be left out their father Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Vice President of the UAE Marine Sports Federation will also compete on Thaib and will be looking to improve his performance last month when he was in fourteenth place.

The forecast is looking good and entries for the race have already reached eighty, which will make an interesting and lengthy start line for organizers, Dubai International Marine Club to control. The recent introduction of new and stricter rules by the UAE Marine Sports Federation have been implemented in full since the start of the season and have been welcomed by the sailors. However, the new rules also reinforce that the traditional aspects of the class must be adhered to. The race will start at 14:30 on Saturday 14th November from Mina Seyahi.

Sharon Allison

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 November 2009 )