Dubai International Marine Club has launched the activities of the Modern Sailing Summer Camp 2026, with broad participation from various nationalities, as part of the club’s efforts to develop marine sports, expand the base of participants, and identify young sporting talent among children and juniors.
The camp is being organized with the support and follow-up of the club’s Board of Directors, in line with its vision to prepare a new generation of athletes capable of representing the United Arab Emirates in various championships and sporting events, while strengthening the connection of younger generations with the sea and the UAE’s rich maritime heritage.
The program, held at Bulgari Beach in Dubai, targets children and juniors from the age of 6 to under 15. It provides them with a safe and comprehensive sports and educational environment that allows them to learn about modern sailing and practice it through training methods suited to their ages and skill levels.
The first phase of the camp will continue until July 30, taking place every Wednesday and Thursday through two training groups. The first group runs from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., while the second group takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
The first level of the program focuses on teaching participants the technical basics of modern sailing. This includes learning about the parts and components of a sailing boat, how to prepare it before sailing, the use of safety equipment, proper seating inside the boat, and the fundamentals of control, steering, maneuvering, and changing direction.
The program also helps build participants’ self-confidence and promotes discipline, teamwork, and a sense of responsibility. These elements provide young sailors with a solid training foundation that can help them move on to more advanced stages in modern sailing in the future.
The Modern Sailing Summer Camp 2026 is considered the first step within the athlete development system at Dubai International Marine Club. Through the camp, participants begin by learning the basic principles of the sport before gradually moving into development and competition stages, with the potential to eventually represent the UAE in local, regional, and international championships.
The program is supervised by Captain Yousuf Khalid Al Bastaki, Head Coach at Dubai International Marine Club, who has more than 25 years of experience in modern sailing. Al Bastaki began his journey in 2001 as an athlete at the club, representing it in several local championships. He also represented the UAE in Gulf, Arab, and international competitions, achieving strong results and advanced positions.
Al Bastaki is the first Emirati to obtain an International Training Coach certificate from World Sailing, which he received in 2012 with the support of the National Olympic Committee and the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation. This achievement contributed to strengthening qualified national expertise in line with the highest international standards in sports training.
Throughout his career, Al Bastaki has held several technical and administrative responsibilities and has contributed to preparing and developing many athletes. He has also represented the UAE as a coach and administrator in a number of international events. He was among the national professionals who supervised the training of the UAE team at the Special Olympics, in addition to his continued contributions to developing sports talent programs in the country.
The organization of this camp comes as one of Dubai International Marine Club’s strategic initiatives aimed at expanding participation in marine sports, promoting their culture within the community, and preserving the UAE’s maritime heritage. It also supports the sustainability of modern sailing and the country’s continued sporting achievements.
The club has invited parents to register their children to benefit from the program, confirming that registration is open to all nationalities through the electronic link available on the club’s official Instagram account. The camp offers a valuable opportunity to discover modern sailing in a safe training environment, under the supervision of specialized national coaches and in accordance with the highest standards of quality and safety.
