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Abu Dhabi Dalma 28 April 2024: The first stage of the “Dalma Race for Heritage Rowing Boats, 40-foot class,” at Delma Island on April 28, 2024, marked the beginning of the Seventh Historical Delma Race Festival for 60-foot sailboats. The event, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the region, is organized by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority and the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club. Running until May 5 on Dalma Island, the race consisted of four rounds of 4 nautical miles each, with 680 sailors on board 40 boats competing.

The participants represented the top ten winning boats in each round of the Abu Dhabi Heritage Rowing Boat Race, 40-foot category, previously held at the Marine Heritage Festival on the Abu Dhabi Corniche in February. Boats finishing in the top three spots in each round advanced to the final round known as “Dalma’s Measles,” with competitions scheduled for that evening.

With total financial prizes exceeding two million and 400 thousand dirhams, winners are awarded generously. The first-place finisher in each preliminary round receives 80,000 dirhams, the second-place winner 70,000, and the third-place victor 60,000. Prizes are distributed up to the tenth position. Meanwhile, the winner of the final round, “Measles of Dalma,” receives a prize of 100,000 dirhams, the second-placed contestant 80,000, and the third-placed 70,000, with prizes awarded up to twelfth place.