‘Al-Shaqi’ champion of Sheikh Zayed Festival 60- foot sailing bearings

Abu Dhabi / Gulf Time

“Al- Shaqi” owned by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, crowned as the champion of the Sheikh Zayed Festival for 60- foot sailing bearings, in the first round of this category, which was launched by the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club. The race was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region.
“Al- Shaqi” achieved the title under the leadership of Al- Nukhadha Khalaf Butti Musabeh Al- Ghasheesh. He won AED240,000 as the first place prize.
“Zurich” owned by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum came in second place, led by Al- Nukhatha Khalifa Muhair Al- Mazrouei. He won 210 thousand dirhams.
In the third place came “Al- Tabr,” owned by Rashid Muhammad bin Ghadir, and led by Al- Nukhatha Muhammad Suhail Al Muhairi who won 200 thousand dirhams.
“Al Dhafra”, which came fourth, owned by His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It was led by captain Marwan Abdullah Muhammad Al Marzouqi, and won 145 thousand dirhams.
“Haddad” achieved the fifth place. Owned by Ahmed Saeed Salem Al Rumini, and led by the captain Ali Thani Ghanem Al- Rumaithi, winning140 thousand dirhams.
And the sixth place went to the loader “Ghazi” owned by Muhammad Rashid Musabeh Al- Rumaini and led by Al- Nokhatha Ahmed Saeed Salem Al- Rumaithi. He won 130 thousand dirhams.
While the seventh place came to “Hashim” owned by His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, led by Nokhatha Hassan Abdullah Muhammad Al Marzouqi, and received 125 thousand dirhams.
The eighth place won by “Al- Taf”, and owned by Mohammed Rashid Musabih Al- Rumaithi, and led by Noukhaza Youssef Ahmed Mohammed Al- Hammadi, who won 120 thousand dirhams.
The ninth place went to the “Al Qafay” loader, owned by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zached Al Maktoum, and led by Noukhatha Obaid Saeed Rashid Al Tayer, and won 115 thousand dirhams.
Came in tenth place “Atlas”, owned by Al- Nukhaza Ahmed Rashid Juma Rashid Al- Suwaidi, and won 110 thousand dirhams.
Total AED4.244 million was allocated in prizes for the winners and participants in the 25 nautical miles race. There was stiff competition in the race, which started from the West Al Nouf region all way to the finish line in front of the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club headquarters on the breakwater in Abu Dhabi.
As many as 100 loaders from different emirates of the country participated in the race, with more than 2,000 sailors on board, who painted a wonderful scene on the track in a distinctive heritage epic.
Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club presents the marine heritage to its fans and followers, supporting heritage promotion efforts.
The winners were crowned by Salem Al- Rumaithi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club, Majid Ateeq Al- Muhairi, General Supervisor of the Race, and Khalifa Al- Rumaithi, Member of the Organising Committee.
For his part, Majid Ateeq Al Mahbari valued the support of the wise leadership for heritage races, which contribute in preserving the Emirati maritime heritage. He thanked His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his generous sponsorship of the race, which is an additional incentive to all participants for presenting their best efforts and performance.
He said: “The club’s participation in the Sheikh Zayed Festival by organizing heritage races comes from its role in being present in large national heritage forums, and all occasions that the nation is proud of”.
He added: “The scene was wonderful in the Sheikh Zayed Festival race for sailing bearings for the 60- foot category, and it carried a valuable message rich in meanings and connotations that present the UAE maritime heritage in its best form through the great participation and high spirit shown by the sailors during the race and the full commitment of everyone to the competition regulations and the organising laws, so that the event comes out in the most wonderful way, which formed a heritage epic that pleased the participants and followers of the race”.
He thanked the Abu Dhabi Sports Council for its support to all activities and events organised by Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club, including the heritage races. He also thanked all the collaborators and partners of the club who participated in organizing the race, and appreciated the club’s organising committee for their great efforts which professionally led the event to success in all its organisational details.