Keeping Fujairah Heritage Afloat with Al Shoosh Boat Racing

This Friday 13 November at 4.00pm will see the rowing of the first heat of the Al Shoosh Championship to compete for the cup named after the Fujairah Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi.

The shoosh (singular shasha) are the small fishing boats built of materials from the date palm that have been used for centuries along the eastern coast of the UAE and the Sultanate of Oman.

Thirteen boats have registered to compete in the race which will have one category (no race for youth, adults, men and women). Each shasha has four rowers and a cox who steers the boat and shouts the encouraging ‘aiwa’ (Yes!) and ‘yalla’ (Come on!).

The race will be rowed over a distance of 2,000 metres, starting within the ‘banana’ out from the Fujairah corniche and ending at the Fujairah International Marine Club.

The Al Shoosh race will be over in eight minutes.



Trophies and cash prizes given by the Fujairah International Marine Club will be awarded to the teams who secure one of the first three places.

Following the presentation competitors and spectators will be encouraged to view the new Heritage Souk where souvenirs, Arabic bread and sweets will be sold. Among the attractions, women may get their hands painted with henna and people can enjoy watching the traditional shoosh being made.

Further

Rowing Races are Keeping Alive Fujairah's Traditional Fishing Boats the Shoosh, ETE.

Dr Geoff Pound

Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com on Facebook and Twitter.

Images: Pictures of an earlier shoosh race sponsored by the Fujairah International Marine Club.