The Dubai to Muscat Sailing Race – the longest offshore race in the region for modern keelboats is back for their 26th edition next month and sailors can still be part of the event with registration now open.
Covering more than 360 miles around the Musandam Peninsula, the race will leave from Dubai Offshore Sailing Club on March 8 for their journey to Marina Bandar Al Rowdha in Muscat, which will end on March 13.
Sailors can expect to spend from three to five days at sea, racing 24 hours a day in a variety of weather conditions.
Following a successful 25th Silver Anniversary race in 2017, organisers are expecting over 25 yachts to participate with 150 sailors from the UAE, the region and around the world.
“Since 1991 when the first race was held, the event has grown massively,” said David Worrall, race organiser. “At that time, five or six boats would be competing but now it’s a completely different event to what it was in those early years.”
The new March start date allows the race to become part of the prestigious Asian Keelboat Championship, which will eventually attract entrants from across the Asian region.
In addition, the introduction of a double-handed class will allow veterans of the race to seek a new challenge with just two sailors on board where they may have raced the course previously with six to 10 crew.
A new feature for the race this year is that spectators who are not participating, and who cannot sail themselves, or cannot afford the time, can participate in the challenge by entering the online racing game at: http://virtualregatta.com/en.
Using the online game, enthusiasts can sail their own virtual modern keelboat around the same course, using the actual weather seen by the real boats, and with their virtual boat having the same performance as several of the actual boats taking part.
Although registration has just opened, Worrall believes it’s an opportunity not to be missed for sailors.
“It’s like an adventure like no other,” he said. “Sailors will race continuously for three or four days, not only is it a technical challenge to sail a boat but it’s an endurance marathon. You have to sleep while people are sailing the boat and it’s your turn to race the boat when they sleep. With it going for three to four days, if you want to win you have to keep yourself going at a very high standard of a performance. It’s a real challenge and adventure.”
What: Dubai to Muscat Offshore Sailing Race
Where: Dubai and Muscat
When: March 8 to March 13
Contact: For more information or to register, visit http://dubaitomuscatrace.com/