Dubai: ISAF President Gorän Petersson and His Majesty King Constantine, the world governing body's President of Honour, both visited the DIMC yesterday and were highly impressed by a venue certain to stage many more major international sailing events.
Petersson said that the Dubai Match Race has everything needed to be elevated next year from an ISAF Grade 3 event to a Grade 1 series carrying full world-ranking status.
"An application must be made to the ISAF and certain requirements have to be met, but Dubai has got what it takes absolutely," he said. "There have been some fantastic developments since I last came here in 1998. Everything is right for sailing here."
Petersson and King Constantine were welcomed by Saeed Hareb, managing director of DIMC and the regatta's chief executive, who outlined Dubai's plans for more significant sailing developments.
These include the opening of a new, state-of-the art sailing academy next year at DIMC, the expansion of a junior training programme which has created a UAE national team, and the staging of more international events, with a particular emphasis on match racing.
