This Dubai Social Club Wants to Make Sailing the New ‘IT’ Sport

Who among us hasn’t entertained the fantasy of quitting city life and disappearing onto a yacht - minus the White Lotus drama, naturally? But the real obstacle is rarely sea sickness or being mysteriously “taken out” by a group of free-spirited strangers in the middle of the sea. It’s far more embarrassing: the challenge of operating a giant floating machine can feel practically impossible, on top of how prohibitively expensive and out of reach it is to maintain such an activity. That’s exactly what Dubai-based sailing club Wind Rises is trying to undo through workshops, group sails and racing programmes. Since its launch in 2023, it has built a 1,000-strong community dedicated to demystifying the sport and making it as accessible as possible. The founding of Wind Rises is a story of coincidence, which began when founder Max Pinigin found himself on a rerouted trip from Cuba to Croatia in 2008. There, he spent a week at sea with a group of strangers. It wasn’t his first experience in sailing, having been exposed to the sport during student trips, but he had always seen it as an inaccessible pursuit. It was this trip that shifted his perspective. Inspired, Pinigin began to take the idea of sailing more seriously, training and earning sailing licenses in Russia and Turkey, before introducing the sport to friends - which set the foundations of what would eventually become Wind Rises.  By 2023, those word-of-mouth outings had become a much more structured project. Pinigin brought Wind Rises to Dubai, setting up at DP World’s Mina Rashid Marina. It wasn’t the original plan, but the city’s conditions, and the lack of accessible sailing spaces, made it a logical move.  “It came from a simple observation: in Dubai, the sea is right there, but sailing still feels closed. Oftentimes, it’s perceived as either a luxury or something overly technical. We wanted to make it accessible, a normal activity you can do after work, like going to the gym or playing padel,” Pinigin says. Since then, the club has hosted over 1,000 participants, many stepping on board for the first time. In the process, it has built a growing community of newcomers across the Gulf, reshaping not just how sailing is perceived, but how the coastline is experienced, through group sails, racing programs, and open-level competitions. “It’s not necessary to have sailing skills. You just have to be curious.” Each trip and workshop is guided by a professional instructor, with all essential gear provided. “Sailing requires discipline and responsibility, but the space shouldn’t feel intimidating," Pinigin explains. "The challenge is turning something emotional into something operational, building systems and consistency without losing the sense of fun.” The aim isn’t to simplify sailing itself, but to remove the barriers around it. For Pinigin, sailing sits somewhere between sport and mental reset. “At first, it was personal, a way to disconnect and organise my thoughts. Then it became a sport, with training, racing, and teamwork.” That balance, focus and slowdown, is what makes it work as a social space. “You’re on the same boat. You depend on each other, share the same environment. That creates a strong foundation for community.” That dynamic is reflected in the crowd Wind Rises attracts. It’s not limited to seasoned sailors, or even sports enthusiasts. Participants join for different reasons: curiosity, social plans, a change of pace, or simply to see the city from another angle. With members from over 48 countries, the community mirrors the city itself. The club has since expanded into cultural programming, and collaborations across Dubai, including an appearance on Dubai Bling in 2025, as well as hosting various race formats, including the short-distance 'Saturday Race' and the long-distance 'Coastal Race', both of which are open to all levels of experience. For sailors of a more advanced skillset, the three-stage ‘Open Sailing’ race offers a stern test for sailors. The flagship race, however, comes in the eponymous ‘Wind Rises Cup’ - a race series where participants earn points based on standard sailing rules.  Still, the core idea remains unchanged. “Community isn’t something you build artificially. It happens when people share a meaningful experience,” Pinigin says. In a city where social circles can feel transient, that kind of continuity matters. “If you come alone, you’re welcome. If you’re a beginner, you’re supported.” Even for people who don’t stick with it long-term, the takeaway is fairly straightforward: “A sense of confidence that they can try something new, meet like-minded people along the way, and maybe a slightly different way of seeing the city. It’s disarmingly relaxing. Sailing might be the entry point, but it’s not always the main reason people stay. Initially, they come for sailing. But often they stay for the feeling, the connection, the change of pace.” Looking ahead, Pinigin sees the plan for Wind Rises is to keep growing without losing that balance. “I want the club to become the main entry point to sailing in the region. A place where people return, grow, and stay connected.” For anyone considering it, his advice is simple: “Just start. Don’t overthink it.”