India and Bahrain have joined the line-up of countries that will contest the exciting new match racing event being launched as part of next month’s Dubai Junior Regatta.
The Dubai Match Race is adding an extra dimension to the world’s largest junior sailing event, which is sponsored by
Emirates Airline and takes place from January 22-29.
It will be the first of many match racing events staged by Dubai International Marine Club as part of its ongoing drive to boost
the popularity of sailing and ultimately lead to local representation in the Americas Cup.
India and Bahrain have joined New Zealand, Germany, Holland, Italy, Kuwait and Qatar in confirming that they will be
sending match racing teams to Dubai.
They will be challenging some of the best sailing talent from the host country, including two UAE national teams currently
preparing for next year’s Asian Games in Doha, and others representing Dubai Offshore Sailing Club and Jebel Ali Sailing
Club.
“We’re very pleased with the response we’ve received to the Dubai Match Race and believe this is an event that will go from
strength to strength,” said Saeed Hareb, managing director of DIMC and the regatta’s chief executive.
“Match racing is being introduced to meet a strong demand from within the local sailing community which has been fuelled by
Emirates Airline’s sponsorship of Team New Zealand.
“We’re planning to stage a variety of events, some featuring the world’s top match-racing experts, and the long-term aim is to
have local representation in the Americas Cup.”
An open international match racing series for challengers of all ages, the Dubai Match Race will be contested by 12 to 16
teams sailing the newly-designed V1/Lutra-30 Sport Boat. This high performance racing boat has been built in Dubai
especially for the event and for next April’s ISAF Nations Cup qualifier in the emirate.
Following the regatta two of the five specially-designed V1/Lutra-30 Sport Boats manufactured by V1 Advanced Composite
Technologies at Jebel Ali Freezone in Dubai will remain at DIMC while the three others will be sold on privately to take part
in the 2006 Maktoum Sailing Trophy.
Match race sailing is easy to follow, with two identical boats racing against each other as opposed to fleet racing which sees
large numbers of boats of different classes competing at the same time.
More than 130 competitors from 18 nations will contest the Optimist and Laser 4.7 events and the Dubai Match Race will
boost the overall regatta line-up to well over 200 participants.
Taking place under the patronage of H.H.Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates, the Dubai Junior
Regatta is organised by Dubai International Marine Club in conjunction with the UAE Marine Sports Federation and the
ISAF, the world governing body of sailing.
The event is co-sponsored by Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, the official hotel, Marine Pool and V1
Advanced Composite Technologies. Other official suppliers for the event are Trek, Al Boom Marine, Dubai’s Victory Team,
Duboats, El Mundo, Nordist and Olimpic Sails.
