A dramatic twist to end to the match-racing season stretched the tactical play on the water to its limits at Dubai International Marine Club in the Traditional 22ft Dhow Match Race finale on Thursday. Lahoub came out as the clear winner after a protest hearing knocked the favorite Shamardel into second place out of the four match race finalists with Dahees coming third followed by Rejam.
The picture was very different at the start, Mohammed Abdullah Mohd. Marzouqi on Lahoub pulled away from the line with good boat speed and left the other three boats struggling. Sultan Saeed Harib on Shamardel was left at the back of the pack after a poor launch.
At the first mark it was Lahoub, Rejam, Dahees and Shamardel to turn in order with over ten boat lengths between the top two. The pattern changed on the downwind leg with though with Sharmardel going deeper at the turn and claiming two positions by evaluating the breeze perfectly. But the downwind turn bought problems for Dahees as the fickle wind detuned the dhows speed and caught the boat head to wind leaving it stationary. Three attempts to turn lost valuable ground and what looked like an impossible return. With Shamardel now in second place the excitement grew as skipper Harib caught Lahoub at the top mark where confusion rained as Lahoub dipped on the same tack and crossed very closely in front of Shamardel who protested loudly. The questionable maneuver by Lahoub cost Shamardel the match as they fell below the mark having to turn and go back to go round losing irreparable time. Lahoub got away and although Shamardel put up a fight to the finish the race was over and Lahoub crossed the line first. ‘We tried our best and after a poor start we sailed really well, my crew were great but we are disappointed with the result. But that’s sailing,’ said Sultan Saeed Harib after the protest hearing.
‘We are very happy to win, there was some controversy but we used a tactical move to our best advantage,’ said the skipper of Lahoub, Mohammed Abdullah Mohd. Marzouqi. ‘It is a great end to the season for us.’
Results: Position, Boat Number, Boat Name, Skipper, Owner
- 1st 77, Lahoub, Mohammed Abdullah Mohd. Al Marzouqi
- 2nd 1, Shamardel, Sultan Saeed Harib, Sh. Majid Bin Mohd. Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
- 3rd 2, Dahees, Hassan Abdullah Al Marzouqi
- 4th 88, Rejam, Khalid Tarish Al Qubaisi
