Twilight of the ocean dhow: Sailing the Arabian Sea in 1973

The National
  • A crew member helps raise the sail.
    A crew member helps raise the sail.
  • Ghanjah stempost.
    Ghanjah stempost.
  • The crew hauling sails.
    The crew hauling sails.
  • The crew scale the rigging to help secure the sail’s halyard and mast stays.
    The crew scale the rigging to help secure the sail’s halyard and mast stays.
  • A sailor works with a boom’s great halyard block.
    A sailor works with a boom’s great halyard block.
  • Before a port was built in Salalah, Oman, dhows used stitched surfboats to ferry goods.
    Before a port was built in Salalah, Oman, dhows used stitched surfboats to ferry goods.
  • Nakhoda father and son look out to sea.
    Nakhoda father and son look out to sea.
  • The crew sleeps on the dhow.
    The crew sleeps on the dhow.
  • In a bay off Salalah, Oman.
    In a bay off Salalah, Oman.
  • Mihandust high in the water.
    Mihandust high in the water.
  • A dhow seen on Marion Kaplan’s 1974 Indian Ocean voyage.
    A dhow seen on Marion Kaplan’s 1974 Indian Ocean voyage.
  • The crew bagging a sail.
    The crew bagging a sail.
  • Aboard Mihandust.
    Aboard Mihandust.
  • Dubai port in 1973.
    Dubai port in 1973.
  • Dhows docked at Dubai Port in 1973.
    Dhows docked at Dubai Port in 1973.
  • Sunset aboard a dhow.
    Sunset aboard a dhow.