UAE. 35 year old South African Haydn Holmes was crowned champion of the first Palm Open Water Challenge Cup endurance sea swim on Friday as past of Sea Dubai Week.  

The race, that took place on a challenging, but scenic 6.5km course between Atlantis The Palm and the Mina Seyahi, saw over thirty-five of the best UAE based endurance sea swimmers go head to head in an event that will become part of future Sea Dubai Week programmes, hosted by Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC).

Setting off at day break, with the magnificent Atlantis The Palm, as the backdrop for the start, the competitors battled changeable currents, as well as each other, to claim the crown as the first ever winner of this very challenging sea swim race.

The victor, Haynd Holmes, completed the time in a remarkable 1hr 22mins and will have the honour of becoming the first name to grace the impressive Palm Open Water Challenge Cup commissioned especially for this event. Belgian swimmer,  Jordi Van Engelen, of the Dubai Masters swimming club, came second in 1 hr 24mins and veteran 51 year old American Bill Brackett third in an impressive 1hr 25mins.

The race is the first of a series of celebrations to mark the creation of The Dubai Open Water Swimming Sports Association (DOWSSA), a new body established through the vision and support of Mr Saeed Hareb, chairman of DIMC and his managing director, Sid Bensalah.

It brings together, for the first time, a growing number of individuals and groups in Dubai that have an interest in promoting and participating in competitive open water swimming sports.

Adam Winter, a founding member of DOWSSA committee and a member the Dubai Camels Water Polo Club, commented:

“Today’s race was a truly fitting curtain raiser for the Dubai Open Water Swimming Sports Association. Dubai is home not only to some extraordinary swimming talent, but also has as part of its coastal waters, arguably the most picturesque and exciting open water swimming locations.

We have proven through today’s race that Dubai is blessed with the potential to deliver world class open water swimming events. Over the coming months, we look forward to announcing some very exciting initiatives that will pinpoint Dubai as the premier open water swimming sports destination.”

DOWSSA has been established to promote competitive open water swimming sports across the Emirate with a view to provide programmes and services to the open water swimming sports community; to sanction open water swimming sports competitions and to serve as an advocate for competitive open water swimming sports in the emirate.

DOWSSA will focus on providing individuals with the opportunity and incentive to pursue excellence in competitive open water swimming sports in the emirate of Dubai. It is committed to attaining a five point charter;

• To promote and encourage those living in Dubai to participate in all forms of open water swimming sports.
• To make participation in such sports easy and enjoyable for everyone involved .
• To promote health and fitness through competitive open water swimming sports.
• To co-operate with other organizations for the betterment of open water swimming sports, with a focus on establishing new facilities and gaining permissions to host events.
• To establish Dubai as a world leading destination for open water swimming sports.

 The Palm Open Water Challenge Cup result was as follows:

Overall

1. Haydn Holmes (SA): 1hr 22mins

2. Jordi Van Engelen (Bel): 1hr 24mins

3. Bill Brackett (USA): 1nr 25mins

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