AED 105,000 donations raised at the 4th “Whatever Floats Your Boat”

Companies and school teams sailed to victory for the 4^th time running in this year's Whatever Floats Your Boat competition at Festival Marina, Dubai Festival City, helping to raise AED 105,000 to save the lives of Dubai's native turtles.

With spirits high and teams focused and hopeful, plenty of prizes were on offer for those that came out strongest. A special prize was offered to corporate participants, where each member of the corporate teams was entered into a bonus draw to win a luxury weekend break at the Six Senses Resort in Zighy Bay, Oman, donated by Al Futtaim Travel. The lucky winner was a member from GulfTainer team.

Having spent weeks perfecting their boats made from recycled materials in support of the Emirates Wildlife Society and the Worldwide Fund for Nature, three corporate teams and three school teams sailed away with a prize in three separate categories:

From the company heats, team 'Basha' by Mourjan Marinas IGY, walked away with the overall trophy and top prize for the Fastest Boat with AED 2,000 worth of Festival Centre shopping vouchers. Team 'KCT Grr Rafters' by GulfTainer won brunch vouchers in the Belgian Café at Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City for having the Best Boat Design, which was creatively crafted as a Yellow Submarine, inspired by The Beatles complete with guitar-shaped paddles. Finally, 'The Tuggers', dressed as sailors, from Al Badia Golf Club walked away with the prize for Best Costume, winning a relaxing Dhow Cruise Dinner along the Dubai Creek.

Exciting prizes for the school children were also on offer, where the 'Wave Runners' from GEM Private School were the deserved winners of the overall trophy and top prize for Fastest Boat, winning tickets for an exhilarating helicopter tour of Dubai. Team 'Aqua Phoenix', also from GEM Private School, sailed away with brunch vouchers for Anise at InterContinental Dubai Festival City for Best Boat Design, and team 'Eco-Pirates' from Repton School, dressed as pirates, won Best Costume, taking home AED 1,000 worth of Festival Centre shopping vouchers.

Tom Lord, Acting General Manager at InterContinental Hotels Group Dubai Festival City, said: “Each year this event continues to get bigger and better and this time was no exception. The outstanding amount of money we collectively raised will go a long way in helping the EWS-WWF achieve its aims in helping to protect marine life. The support, effort and enthusiasm we receive from our corporate and school teams are simply overwhelming and we hope to have all the teams on-board next year for the event's fifth anniversary.”

Whatever Floats Your Boat is an established annual event, organised by InterContinental Dubai Festival City in partnership with Mourjan Marinas IGY and Festival Centre. It takes place at Festival Marina at Dubai Festival City, where companies and schools race boats they made from recycled materials along the Dubai Creek. The aim of the event is to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and being 'green' and always supports a worthwhile cause where all fund raised throughout the initiative are donated directly to charity.