Over 120 Dhows Ready For The 33rd Al Gaffal Traditional Sailing Race In Dubai
All eyes are on the 33rd Al Gaffal 60ft Traditional Dhow Sailing Race tomorrow, with over 120 dhow boats confirmed to participate. This significant event, now in its 33rd edition, was initiated by the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and has been organised by the Dubai International Marine Club since 1991.
The race begins at Sir Bu Nair Island, passes through Moon Island, and concludes at the Dubai shore, covering a distance of more than 50 nautical miles. The higher organising committee has confirmed that 123 dhow boats will participate in tomorrow’s race. These boats will raise their white sails on the Arabian Gulf, retracing the historical routes of their forefathers who returned home from diving and fishing trips.
Marine sports enthusiasts eagerly await the event and the crowning of the champion for this year's Al Gaffal Race. Since its inception in 1991, 19 boats have made their mark in the race's history up until last year’s 32nd edition. Initially, the race included the 43ft dhow boat category for its first three years (1991-1993). From 1994 onwards, it became dedicated solely to the 60ft dhow boat category.
The winners in the first three years for the 43ft dhow boat category were:
| Year | Boat Name |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Al Aweer 47 |
| 1992 | Fares 46 |
| 1993 | Al Aziyab 22 |
The first 60ft dhow race was won by Mansour 36. Subsequent winners include:
| Boat Name | Number of Wins |
|---|---|
| Barraq 30 | 4 times |
| Serdal 83 | 2 times |
| Al Ghayoon 17 | 1 time |
| Das 45 | 1 time |
| Al Raed 92 | 1 time |
| Al Zeer 16 | 4 times |
| Ghazi 103 | 5 times |
| Atlas 12 | 1 time |
| Al Qaffay 4 | 1 time |
| Zilzal 25 | 3 times |
| Al Sahel 31 | 1 time |
| Buraq 33 | 1 time |
| Al Shaqi 96 td>1 time td> tr>Namran 211 td >2 times td > tr >Hasheem 199 td >1 time td > tr > table > The defending champion from last year is Namran 211, which has won twice. This year’s race promises to be a significant event for both participants and spectators. With inputs from WAM Story first published: Thursday, May 16, 2024, 23:03 [GST]  Log in for unlimited reading! Manage Profile First Name Last Name Email Address Age Select Age
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