Caitlin Dillon
The crew of Fateh Al Khair 2019 are finalising their preparations ahead of the fourth edition of their voyage, expected to take place over the course of approximately three months throughout the Mediterranean, set to begin in Istanbul on Wednesday the 10th of July.
Upon their arrival in Istanbul, the 16 man Qatari crew were invited to a dinner party at the The Consulate General of the State of Qatar in Istanbul.
Many logistical aspects relating to the excursion were discussed, including how best the congregation can support and guide the Turkish portion of the journey, offering supplies in order to guarantee the safety of the crew onboard the ship.
The group also finalised their plans ahead of Wednesday’s opening event.
The trip, which will take place on a traditional Qatari dhow, and will pass through 11 countries, aims to showcase the often unseen Qatari culture and heritage to the world amid their rise towards becoming an international sporting hotspot.
Speaking ahead of their departure from Doha, Mohammed Yousef Al-Sada, Fateh Al Khair’s Captain discussed what he would like to gain from the trip, “We have a long history of traditional sailing, so we want to promote this kind of sailing to the people of the Mediterranean.”
He added, “I know in the countries we are visiting, they also have a lot of experience and history with sailing, so it is important to compare our histories.”
Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim AlSulaiti, General Manager of the Cultural Village Foundation, agreed, “The main purpose of this journey is to transfer and show the whole world the heritage of the Qatari people, especially with the diving and looking for pearls.”
Dr. AlSulaiti also revealed another purpose of their travels. “We also want to tell them about the World Cup that will be held in Qatar. In fact, the boat is prepared as a small museum so wherever it stops in the port of those countries it will stop as a museum so we can show the world about the heritage of the Qatari people.”