dhown under

While the video coverage was typically dull, the first (and likely only) non-crash newsworthy item from the Dubai Louis Vuitton Cup was yesterday’s race in the super quick reaching-only 60’ Dhows.  The Emiratis suspended the rule against foreigners sailing the boats for this week only – it’s a rule that was instituted more than a decade ago to prevent the kind of pro sailor arms that you know wouldn’t take long for the Emiratis to create.  It’s not just their love of winning races that would drive it, either – the purses for some of these races total over 5 million dollars!

More ‘slice of life’ stuff from Dubai at the BMW/Oracle Blog here.  Gilles Martin-Raget photo of Spittie at the stick.