Driven by a passion for the world of seas and oceans, Emirati sailor Jazza Al-Mahribi (28) has set her sights on new horizons after becoming the first Emirati woman to officially compete in the 'SSL 47' yachting class. This marked a historic first for the national team in this category during their participation in the Southeast Asian Games held last month in Thailand. Al-Mahribi's participation, alongside eight of her teammates, carried legitimate hopes of continuing her journey towards global competition and achieving the dream of reaching the 'Olympic Glory'. Al-Mahribi told 'Emirates Today': 'My experience in sailing began six years ago when I joined the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club. I participated in world championships in the 'Elka 6' class and achieved notable results with the national team before passion pushed me to take on a new challenge in the world of oceans.' She added: 'I accepted without hesitation the invitation to join a team of eight athletes to represent the national team in its historic debut in the 47-foot 'SSL 47' yachts class, competing in the Southeast Asian Games hosted by Thailand at the end of last December.' Al-Mahribi explained that she did not hesitate last year to accept a call from world champion Adel Khalid to help establish a new team for this class, saying: 'It was a huge challenge to be the first Emirati woman to compete in the Southeast Asian Games, which qualify for the World Cup - Brazil 2026, with great support from the UAE Modern Sailing and Rowing Federation, chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.' She added: 'The preparation stages included an overseas training camp in Switzerland last August, lasting 10 days, which included testing the yacht and benefiting from interaction with the strong Seychelles team.' She noted that the national team competed in Thailand's championship in the second group and succeeded in winning second place behind the Oman team, with high hopes to continue the journey in upcoming events and qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Challenges Al-Mahribi spoke about the challenges posed by ocean sailing, confirming that the state's support for women is a fundamental driver to overcome difficulties. She said: 'We are in a country that gives great support to women to reach global leadership in various fields, including sports, which gives me constant motivation to overcome challenges.' She continued: 'Participating in the Thailand championship with a mostly male team required extra effort, especially in competitions that lasted five days, relying on harmony and teamwork, and maintaining the highest levels of focus in making the right decisions while steering the sail and yacht.' Proud Achievement Al-Mahribi confirmed that her participation with a mixed team is not the first in her sports career, referring to her experience with the Special Olympics sailing team. She said: 'In 2023, I had a unique experience by participating with the Special Olympics team, and I contributed to winning the bronze medal during the World Games in Berlin, where Emirati champions won 73 medals in competitions that brought together the able-bodied and Special Olympics athletes, an achievement I consider one of the most important in my career.' Colleagues Al-Mahribi, an employee in the Khalifa Port Free Zone, praised the support she receives from her superiors and colleagues at work, saying: 'The flexibility and great support I enjoy in my work environment give me the ability to balance the requirements of the job and long training hours.' She added: 'I make sure to commit to four physical training sessions per week to maintain fitness, in addition to about four hours of daily training at sea.' Olympic Glory Al-Mahribi concluded her talk by emphasizing her Olympic ambitions, saying: 'Emirati sailing has all the qualifications that qualify it to achieve Olympic glory, and I look forward to continuing the work, whether in the 'Elka 6' class or otherwise, to achieve the dream that any athlete aspires to, which is to participate in the Olympic Games.'
