Dubai: Barraq, skippered by Rashid Mohammad Al Rumaithi, won the 24th edition of the Al Gaffal Dhow race, taking Dh500,000 in prize money, on Sunday. Al Adeed, owned by Mohammad Rashid Musabeh Al Rumaithi came in second, skippered by himself, while Dahees took third place led by Omar Abdullah Mohammad Al Marzouqi.
The prize-giving was held at Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) and the winners received their trophies from Shaikh Saeed Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum along with Saeed Hareb and members of the DIMC Board of Directors. A total of 98 dhows took part in the 54-nautical-mile race from Sir Bu Nair island to the Burj Al Arab, crossing the finish line in eight hours.
The ‘Al Gaffal’, or the homecoming race, began in 1991 in an attempt to revive the UAE’s fading maritime traditions. The race route retraces a journey taken by pearl merchants who stopped at Sir Bu Nair island to rest and prepare their pearls for trading in the markets of Dubai.
When trading gradually died out the boats were left unused and weren’t maintained. But Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, helped revive the final journey with the creation of this annual race.
“For me, this is a race that is all about bonding,” said Major Ahmad Bin Thani, DIMC Chairman and member of the race organising committee.
“Though the race is meant to bring an end to our season, it gives me a feeling of euphoria and nostalgia because it transports us all back in time,” said Ali Bin Ghulaitha, acting chief executive of DIMC. “It shows us over the course of the weekend what it must have been for our ancestors to spend months out at sea and then set the course for one final furlong to meet their loved ones back home.”
