I'm asking a favour for old time's sake. I was KOSA Vice Commodore
back in the eighties and was in the KOSA crew that entered the 1981
Fastnet.

I sailed a Carter 33 called Shamaal, registration KT-247-A. When I
left Kuwait in 1988 it was operated by a consortium of four (I
retained a quarter share)who may not have bothered to change the
official ownership record at the Ministry of Small Boats.

Please find out on my behalf who owns the boat now. I ask this
because the boat was taken from Kuwait by a Dutchman called Bert
Hakker shortly after the First Gulf War and Bert abandoned the boat
in the UAE seven years ago, leaving it on a cradle at Kalba Port (on
the Gulf of Oman side of the country).

I recently found the boat while on a visit to Dubai and am keen to
rescue the dear old boat but without any papers no one can touch it.
Unfortunately the local municipality will scrap her if no one takes
responsibility for Shamaal soon.

This is a chore but I'm sure you will sympathise with my plight. I
hate to see the old boat rotting in the sun.

Cheers,

Adam Reay

PS I have a load of photos of the old days. If you want them for
your archives let me know.