XCAT World Series is trying to attract families & deserves support

Anthony Fernandes 18:12 23/01/2014
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  • The XCAT World Series, launched last year with a limited number of rounds, returns to Dubai this weekend for the season opener and will be much bigger with 10 rounds spread over the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

    The World Professional Powerboating Association (WPPA), the organisers and promoters of the series, have some very ambitious plans and are working on running this series on every continent with the exception of Antarctica.

    Between now and 2016, the series is expected to grow further with 18 rounds worldwide the target. Apart from increasing the number of venues, the WPPA will be introducing a class system, one for entry level competitors who can then graduate to the Pro Class.

    One of the most defining changes though will be the introduction of a new eco-friendly futuristic boat – the Neo Hybrid Catamaran – for the Pro Class from 2016 onwards while the present boats would be run by entry level competitors.

    Some of the first races were run in 2008 in the UAE only – in Dubai and Fujairah – but last year the WPPA and UIM, the governing body for watersports, signed a far-reaching memorandum of understanding whereby the sport would be taken to the global audience with the World Series.

    The response from drivers was overwhelming with 13 teams registered for six races and 15 teams registered for the current season.

    While the series enjoyed tremendous success in its debut year, the organisers left no stone unturned to ensure that not just racing enthusiasts but also families flocked to the shores near the Mina Seyahi to watch the spectacle.

    On the sidelines of the racing, there were other events to keep spectators occupied like the Skydive Dubai Show, Flyboard exhibition and a Kids Zone where a drawing competition was held in various categories with five winners walking away with an iPad each day of racing.

    The XCAT boats are powerful 280hp monsters capable of touching speeds in excess of 200kmh and at their peak virtually fly over the water. A slight error on a turn can result in the boat flipping over.

    Little wonder then that the drivers and throttlemen are highly skilled in their trade, and best of the current lot are Fazza’s Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi, last year’s world champions.

    The series this year is expected to pose a different challenge given that it will be a longer season with 10 races and Fazza can expect teams like Skydive Dubai, Mouawad, Nicolini Offshore Racing and Westerlund Racing, to name a few, to offer some stiff opposition.

    Moreover, teams will be under added pressure as most XCAT drivers also race in the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship, which this year has a provisional calendar of six races. In the past the response from spectators to watersports in general has been lukewarm at best.

    Although the December XCAT finale did bring in the crowds, it would be great if the people of Dubai turn up in numbers along the Corniche this weekend because the World Series is a home-grown event, offers great entertainment and deserves our support.

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