Emirates Airlines fills the sails of Sea Dubai

[Source: Emirates Airlines] Twenty two years ago, just off the coast of Dubai, Emirates made its first foray into the world of sports sponsorship, with a powerboat race organised by the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC).

The award-winning airline announced on Wednesday that it is again making waves; partnering DIMC's latest initiative 'Sea Dubai', an RC44-type sailing boat, which has just finished competing in the latest stage of the RC44 Series, the Malcesine Cup on Lake Garda in Italy.

The Markus Wieser and Yousef Bin Lahej-skippered Sea Dubai was launched as a concept by DIMC to promote Dubai around the world as the ideal water sports destination.

Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman, Emirates Airline and Group, said: "We are very excited to be able to support Sea Dubai, which is showing itself to be a really competitive team, whilst also promoting Dubai around the world. It seems incredible to think that our sports sponsorship journey began on the water only twenty two years ago; you just have to look at the wide variety of leading sports teams and events that we support to see how far we have come.

We have enjoyed a great deal of success in the sport of sailing with Emirates Team New Zealand and the Maktoum Sailing Trophy in Dubai; I am confident that we are going to enjoy further triumphs with the Sea Dubai team."

Sea Dubai is now the second high-level sailing team sponsored by Emirates Airlines. Malcesine, 11 July 2009. Photo copyright Nico Martinez

Saeed Harib, Managing Director of Dubai International Marine Club, said: "Emirates airline has been our partner since 1987, when they were the main partner for the first ever Class One World Power Boat Championship and have continued to support us in many of our projects since then. The Emirates brand is a very strong and we are proud and happy to have them as the Title Partner with the Sea Dubai Sailing Team."

Sid Bensalah Team Director and General Manager of Dubai International Marine Club, said: "It's really natural and logic to have Emirates, the fastest growing airline and one of the leading international airlines linked with our Sea Dubai project as the association has one vision to promote Dubai globally. Emirates airline has supported the Youth Sailing program since 2000 together with the Dubai Junior Regatta and the Maktoum Sailing Trophy. The Sea Dubai Sailing Team is very proud to race and sail with Emirates."

The Sea Dubai team will now head to Slovenia for the Portoroz Cup in September before their arrival in Dubai for the Dubai RC44 Golf Cup in November; followed by the Sea Dubai Watersports Festival and the Maktoum Sailing Trophy at Dubai International Marine Club Mina Seyahi.

Emirates has a great affinity with sailing and recently renewed its sponsorship with Emirates Team New Zealand, the team that took on Alinghi in the 2007 America's Cup.

Emirates Team New Zealand is also competing in Europe in the Audi Med Cup with their TP52 boat. Emirates is also a long term supporter of the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship.