Volvo Ocean Race veteran dubs Arabian Dhows 'amazing'

by Mariam Ibrahim Al Sayed Al Hashmi 2 Sep 2013 21:42 NZST 2 September 2013

McDonald full of admiration for Arabian dhows and their sailors © Ian Roman

Precision skills needed to sail 'go like the wind' dhows, says McDonald

One of Britain's most highly decorated sailing veterans, Olympian Neal McDonald, has spoken of his admiration for the traditional Arabian sailing vessel – the dhow – praising its centuries-old building process and the skills needed to navigate the wooden structures.

McDonald, a trained naval architect who recently signed on as Performance Director for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing – the Abu Dhabi contender for the 2014/2015 Volvo Ocean Race - says his admiration for traditional dhow building techniques and the crew that sail them came during a technical task visit to the UAE capital over 15 years ago.

"I was working on a technical mast-building project in Abu Dhabi when I got the chance to sail, in a single day, on a 60 foot, two-mast dhow and a 40 foot dhow and was blown away by the experience," said the 44-year-old, father-of-two who has contested the Volvo Ocean Race in six previous editions.

"The dhows are a sight to behold when they sail, they go like the wind and an incredible amount of skill is required to sail them."

The dhow has plied trading routes throughout the Arabian Gulf for centuries and the painstaking master carpentry which created one of the sturdiest vessels known to man is still practiced today. Dhow building is a triumph for the art of experience. The vessels, now often chartered for tour trips, are constructed, usually from teak, without blueprints. Hulls are forged by initially fitting planks and later ribs – in complete contrast to traditional Western methods. Measurements owe much to the accuracy of the eye. Dhows were traditional powered by rowing teams and sail – but today the diesel engine often takes the strain.

Neal McDonald is relishing the chance to become reacquainted with the Arabian dhow during the Volvo Ocean Race Abu Dhabi stopover, running from mid December 2014 to January 3, 2015.

"I hope once again to get the chance to sail on one of these vessels and discover more about dhow building techniques – they are traditions which needed to be preserved and cherished – a great part of the Arabian Gulf's history," he said. "The sight of dhows sailing alongside our Volvo 65 race yacht will be a sight to behold as the fleet arrives in Abu Dhabi and hopefully we'll see some dhow races during the Abu Dhabi stopover."

Abu Dhabi will welcome the Volvo Ocean Race fleet next December from Recife in Brazil after one of the longest and potentially most-gruelling legs in the 40-year race history (9,707 nautical miles). The Abu Dhabi Etihad Airways In-Port Race, which home favourite Abu Dhabi Ocean Race won in 2012, will take place on January 2nd 2015, with the fleet departing for Sanya, China the following day.

There is rarely a more magnificent or inspiring sight than that of stately Arabian racing dhows, with white sails full ahoist, going through their paces in annual races up and down the coast of the United Arab Emirates. These races are an historic remnant from the days when pearl diving dhows, which has been at sea for months, challenged each other to see which could be first home with the season's jewelled haul. Much as in days past, winners of today's races can expect a handsome reward for their efforts.

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which is behind the emirate's race campaign as well as the stopover, is pushing forward a package-strong and tourism-driven event, including a fan-friendly Destination Village on the stunning Abu Dhabi Corniche breakwater, as well as a compelling entertainment programme to leverage the seasonal holiday dates.

TCA Abu Dhabi is once again working closely with a number of government bodies to successfully deliver the stopover, including Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht Club - the Official Host Yacht Club and key partner in the roll-out of the stopover and junior sailing initiatives; the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club - Technical Headquarters, which will be home to the team areas and international television broadcast compound, and the Event Security Committee, Ministry of Interior, Critical Infrastructure & Coastal Protection Authority, Department of Transport, SEHA, Abu Dhabi Customs, Abu Dhabi Municipality and Abu Dhabi Airports Company.