Dhows were the great cargo ships of the ancient Indian Ocean trade routes. For thousands of years, sailors used dhows to carry goods – spices, fabric, timber, pottery – between East Africa, Arabia, Persia and India. The triangular lateen sail is specially designed to sail closer into the wind than a square sail, making dhows nimble and versatile.
In a dhow race, the skill is partly about sailing technique and partly about reading the wind and water. Experienced sailors can look at the colour and texture of the water's surface, the direction of birds in flight, and the feel of the breeze on their skin to judge where the wind is strongest. This knowledge is passed down through families of fishermen and sailors over generations.
Dhow races in Djibouti are community celebrations. Families come to the waterfront to watch, vendors sell food and cold drinks along the shore, and the winning crew is cheered like heroes. The boats themselves are often beautifully decorated, with colourful paintwork and patterns that each crew is proud of.
Modern Djibouti has a busy international port and large container ships pass through its waters every day. But the dhow races are a living connection to a much older seafaring tradition – a reminder that long before huge steel ships, the sea was crossed by small wooden boats built by hand and driven by wind and skill.