Dubai International Marine Club will host two watersports events this weekend in Mina Seyahi, the Maktoum Cup Traditional Rowing Race on Friday 16th and the Dubai Jet Ski Race on Saturday 17th April.
The Maktoum Cup Traditional Rowing Race is the final rowing event of the season and will be the championship decider for the fleet of fifty boats. The 30ft wooden boats have a crew of ten and the majority of the crew are students from the higher colleges in Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ajman which causes fierce rivalry not only between the colleges but also between the Emirates. The race run over 3.5km is a grueling test of strength and energy and the skipper of the leading boat, Arif Ahmed Ali on Ghaleb will be hoping for another win to clinch the season. The race will take place at 4 pm next to the Burj Al Arab and it can be viewed from the public beach.
Nadir Bin Hendi, recently took second place in the UIM Xcat Middle East Powerboat Championships in Fazza 3 and is hot favourite to win the Runabout Stock category in the Dubai Jet Ski Race, which will chase around a course in front of Le Meridein and Westin Hotels at the weekend. The Jet Ski’s are divided in to six categories, which include juniors and free style, where the riders perform summersaults on their skis. Competitors are from the USA, Europe, Asia and the Middle East with the juniors being mainly local Emiratis. Racing will start at 10:30.