A team of rowers training to cross the Pacific in June were treated to a rare sight as a pod of more than 100 dolphins joined them during an early morning training session off Kite Beach in Dubai.
The team of Paris Norriss, Barney Lewis, Oliver Amos and Harry Amos plan to row 4,500km unassisted from California to Hawaii, one of the toughest challenges on the planet.
While dolphins and other marine life will become a daily feature of their Herculean challenge next year, it is unusual to see such a big pod in Dubai.
A video posted on Instagram showed the animals swimming up to the team's boat to investigate.
“This morning's early rowing session for our training to cross the Pacific Ocean was pleasantly joined by a giant pod of dolphins just off the coast from Kite Beach in Dubai," the caption said.
“We spotted over a hundred and they seemed fascinated with our boat and decided to join us in our training, by adding some dolphin acrobatics. It certainly started our day off with a smile.
“We are now in full training for our challenge to row across the Pacific Ocean in June.
“Our boat arrived in Dubai last week and we will be training here until we depart in June.
“The crossing is expected to take us 40 days.”
Mr Norriss is a British adventurer who hosts TV adventure show Guy in Dubai, while Mr Lewis is a marathon runner who works as a consultant in London.
The other rowers taking part in the challenge are brothers Oliver and Harry Amos. Harry is a former British Army captain who served two tours in Afghanistan.
During their Pacific challenge, the team will endure sleep deprivation, physical and mental fatigue, salt sores and weight loss.
They will be monitored 24 hours a day by safety teams and race directors to assist in weather routing during their challenge.
The men's world record for the Great Pacific Race is 30 days, seven hours and 30 minutes. In July, an all-women rowing team set a world record crossing from California to Hawaii in 34 days, 14 hours and 11 minutes.
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Total club appearances 411
Total goals scored 241
Appearances for Barca 186
Goals scored for Barca 105
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
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2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
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David Haye record
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The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,470,000 (est)
Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 626bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,350rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km
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