The SSL Gold Cup, described as the “Football World Cup in Sailing”, brings together the best sailors from around the world to represent their nations in a unique championship. It's the second edition, set for 2026. The Star Sailors League brings together 60 countries, with only 40 advancing to the finals to compete for the title.
The preparations for the qualification have begun for SSL Team United Arab Emirates. The country’s best sailors have started their training in Grandson, Switzerland, to get in shape for the Asian qualification in December.
At the helm of the SSL Team UAE stands Adil Khalid, the team’s captain and helmsman, whose career has defined the highest achievements of Emirati sailing. He made history in 2008 as the first and only Emirati sailor to compete in the Olympic Games in Beijing, before going on to circumnavigate the globe twice in the grueling Volvo Ocean Race, winning the 2014–2015 edition with Team Abu Dhabi. His experience and leadership now guide a team of ten of the nation’s best sailors as they set their sights on international glory.
The challenge ahead is as ambitious as it is symbolic. SSL Team UAE is preparing for the SSL Gold Cup, the World Championship of Nations, where they will fight for qualification in Asia. The team has just completed a full training session at the very venue where they will return in July 2026 to compete for their place in the tournament.
Among the crew are some of the most accomplished names in Emirati sailing. Yousuf Khalid Albastaki began competing in the early 2000s and later became the first certified Emirati international sailing coach through the Olympic Solidarity Program. His decades of experience in coaching and event organization have helped shape sailing in the UAE and inspire new generations. Another key figure is Ahmed Altaher, who started at the Dubai International Marine Club and moved from the Optimist and Laser classes into keelboats, where he continues to compete with passion and resilience.
Aljazi AlMehairbi, who discovered sailing in 2020, quickly advanced into the ILCA 6 class, where she won multiple regional medals, and in 2023 represented the UAE at the Special Olympics as a unified sailor. Today, she serves as the team’s main trimmer, embodying both ambition and inclusion. Alongside her is Saif Alnuaimi, whose international career includes the Optimist and Laser 4.7 World Championships, and who has earned three Arab Championship medals, including gold in Morocco in 2014, silver in Kuwait (2013) and Abu Dhabi (2016).
For others, the sea is both heritage and passion. Jamal Al Suwaidi began in traditional sailing in 1999 and has since won multiple Gulf Champion Regattas in Qatar, preserving the UAE’s maritime identity through competition. Similarly, Nasir Alowais carries the pride of Sharjah across GCC and Arab championships, building a career defined by discipline and determination.
The team’s younger voices bring further strength. Born in 2001, Ahmed Younus have earned recognition in both dhow racing and modern sailing, while also holding a Navigation Marine Officer Certificate that highlights his professional expertise. His brother Ali Younus, born in 2003 in Abu Dhabi and is also a dedicated sailor with expertise in traditional boats and modern sailing. In 2024, he achieved a historic crossing from Bahrain to the Emirates on a wooden sailboat and has also won top titles in major dhow races.
Ahmed Almarzooqi, who began sailing at age ten, became national Optimist champion in 2004, and later turned to coaching, eventually leading training programs at Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club. As Nokhitha of the dhow Toufan, he has already guided his crew to more than 65 victories, proving himself a leader on and off the water.
Together, these ten sailors form a squad that blends heritage, skill, and ambition. As they conclude their preparations and look toward SSL Gold Cup in 2026, they carry with them not only sails and strategy but also the pride of a nation eager to see its flag fly among the world’s best. With Adil Khalid at the helm, SSL Team UAE enters the race for the SSL Gold Cup with determination, unity, and the timeless spirit of the sea.
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