Dhows given finishing touches
Departure date to Khairan pushed forward
By Arab Times Staff
KUWAIT CITY, July 26: Departure date to Khairan for trainees of the Al Ghous Festival 2016 has been pushed forward by a day to enable the team more time to sharpen their skills and put a few things in order, says Captain Hamed Al-Sayyar, organizer of the program, as he spoke to Arab Times Tuesday at the Kuwait Sea Sports Club.
The boys cannot wait for Thursday to come so they can experience the most unique journey of their lives.
On Tuesday, the temperature was harsh and it was very humid as well, but the thrill of floating away on a vessel, kept the spirit of the trainees high, as they plugged away preparing the sail to be hoisted on the mast. The sand seemed to be glowering taking the full wrath of the summer sun, shared by the trainees, whose bare bodies were turning red and black.
During the morning drill, the sun was not so unmerciful, just climbing up from the horizon. The boys went through the grind first running and then doing stretches, pushups and abs.
After breakfast, a flurry of activities followed. Boys got busy with preparing the sails, hefting them onto the boats, and hoisting them on the erected masts.
Earlier a couple of boats underwent a pilot run. The boats that went for the test sail were in good shape, said Captain Jawad Al-Qallaf. He was happy with their conditions. This year, the crew will go to the traditional pearling berth in Khairan. In 2009, the team had snapped a long-standing custom by voyaging into the waters of Bahrain. That was a long journey taking days. However, the boats used motor power to complete the journey, taking away the real charm of sailing on a dhow.