Chaitanya D

Fantastic snaps @Mikhail Lukichev. Many thanks and especially for the one where we stopped from entering the bowl of rock formations

Trip report Writing this before the sand of Sweihan wipes off.🤣. All the hassles of testing and 2hr drive are blown away once you are in the vast dunes which this area has to offer. I really hope border restrictions ease and we explore more here . We all were on time except few ( including me as I arrived 5 min late) because of some intermittent dense fog on E66. We had a very interactive COVID safe briefing and we left from Yahar (somewhere near the health center or Al Saad police station). Taking care not to disturb the camel families grazing around we were on to some nice wide and in fact huge dunes for testing our off roading skills. You all did well, even in some tight areas with super soft sand ( come summer and the sand gets more softer due to lack of moisture). We kept driving for most of the time except some minor refusals and quick well managed self recoveries. Towards the end near the famous lady dune , I almost entered a huge bowl to realize the entry and bottom were hard sand formations (rocks). Exit being very steep slip side and a barbed wire running across where I could be dragged with gravity. @Mikhail Lukichev was very attentive here and stopped in time on my instruction which made the whole task easier to avoid this area. Quick rerouting by @Craig Finlayson meant all were parked safely while I needed a nudge to get back managed by winching. Finally towards the end we had some nice crests , some quick tugging and out we were on tarmac almost as planned on time which was fantastic. @Mikhail Lukichev played 2nd lead to perfection, your defacto lead for today. Very responsive and redirecting correctly when asked. Well done @Farouq Owdeh managed his well groomed JGC really well .Hardly any issues even when getting in and out of soft bowls. Great driving @Warren Flay managed his SWB pajero. Great to see your enthusiasm, clear response for the instructions and great improvisations as we drove along. Well done @Zed finally we meet, a new Zed 😜. Changed car and changed look, but the same warmth and friendliness. Great driving buddy with minimal issues. @Karthikeyan Govindarajan did well in his LC. Some refusals and stucks managed well. You will only get better at handling your car as practice in these areas more. Every terrain will be different and will need a slight different approach. @Hasan Wahlan driving another LC was seen enjoying this area , while I was driving 2nd time with you. Always helpful when needed . I suggest you to please add a additional recovery point in the front as discussed @Mus_hus78 showed all his experience at the back with hardly any issues. Managed his Pajero without any issues @Craig Finlayson was the star for today's drive. All over the place - refusal, stucks, tugs and winching. It was a pleasure and delight to see how well you have progressed in the ladder not just with your driving but also with sharing the experience gained which was evident from your advises. Very well done and Thank you 🙏 for being my support for today's drive. Please apply for your promotions if you have the required gears, drive counts and most importantly feel you are ready for the next level. It is not a race to get to next level ,but with time and enjoyment. See you all again sometime soon Cheers , I am missing Sweihan already!🙂

You did great @Warren Flay. Very nice self recovery and then on you hardly had any issue as we kept driving as planned . Well done👍

Great to know that Never push yourself to next level for getting there. Learn it safely and enjoy, take as much time as u want. Practice and repeating makes you better every time

Congratulations @Lakshmi Narasimhan. Well done

Fog intermittent Drive safely

Noted , we will be driving in the dark today 😔😔

Dear friends Warren Flay @Warren Flay Mus_hus78 @Mus_hus78 Zed @Zed Farouq Owdeh @Farouq Owdeh Karthikeyan Govindarajan @Karthikeyan Govindarajan Mikhail Lukichev @Mikhail Lukichev @Hasan Wahlan @Craig Finlayson Please note the convoy numbering for tomorrow We will use Chanel 1 for Radio coms Nearest Gas station is ADNOC Al SAAD (854) Please drive safely in case there is fog Please message here or contact me on 0529970964 in case if needed Position Name Car 1 Chaitanya D Black X 2nd lead Mikhail Lukichev White Prado 3 Farouq Owdeh JGC 4 Warren Flay Golden Pajero SWB 5 Zed LC/Patrol 6 Karthikeyan Govindarajan Black LC 7 Hasan Wahlan LC 8 Mus_hus78 Pajero 9 Sweep Craig Finlayson Black Wrangler See you all tomorrow morning

@Mikhail Lukichev please can you clear if here is fog prediction tomorrow between 4 to 7 am around Al Ain airport.

Please drive safely to the start venue. @Mikhail Lukichev The fog was very variable in Dubai as it was clear in some places and foggy in some. I wonder how was it in Al Ain / Yahar and Sweihan. If any one who stays around that place can update it would be good. I am not sure if we really need to revise the start time as of now, but i will keep you posted.

@Lakshmi Narasimhan in addition to all the fab advises here I would definitely advise you one most important part of driving - Enjoy your drives! You will definitely learn all aspects in due course may be a month early or late, but don't push yourself to learn all at once or all quickly. Driving safely on sand requires all skills - technical dunes, sideys, crossing , bowls and ridge rides. As you progress over time the level, speed , intensity and maneuvering improves.

Looks like some major overhaul or an upgrade coming. Good luck!

Are u not joining tomorrow 8th Apr ?

Dear Friends MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ Jack Thomas @Jack Thomas Tero Vallas @Tero Vallas Hisham Masaad @Hisham Masaad Ahab @Ahab Shamaa Shaaz Sha @Shaz Shah Mario @Mario Cornejo Rob Harper @Rob Harper Islam Soliman @Islam Soliman Please note convoy number for tomorrow We will use Chanel 2 for radio Please bring your torch or led lights as back up in the dark for visibility during recoveries if any.

Trip Report: Even though a bit delayed the memories are fresh from our last drive at Fossil Rock. I remember going here as a NB about a year back in my Patrol and getting stuck all over the place🤣. Considering that you all can now cherish how well you drove here on Sunday as we kept driving, bumping the ante in the middle and ending with a flourish atop the fossil rock for a beautiful sunset. Many thanks to @topgear for being a perfect second lead and doing minor rerouting when advised. You were very clear and correct in all the maneuvers done including the longer and steeper sideys. Special thanks to @MUHAMMAD Kashif RAZZAQ, @Mohamed Seidam (including the awesome defacto report) and @Ahab Shamaa for supporting the drive and all the advises to members when we had some refusals and few stucks. @Mohamed Madani sorry for missing you out, hope you have the required gear by next time you join us. @Ranjan Pattanaik drove well with his explorer, improving every time. Well done and great to see how you are managing your car very well even in tricky places @Lakshmi Narasimhan drove well except for a minor fish tail on a sidey which he immediately corrected upon rehearsing it. Well done and you only get better as you drive more. Always remember " Do not fight Gracity" @Alain Canivet-Abikhalil drove his wrangler really well in all areas. Masterclass teaching with amazing advises from dear @Wrangeldwere quite evident . Great driving buddy @Dodi Syahdar did well in his F150 Raptor, quite a sight to see that monster climb with a roar every time on a sidey or hill climb. Well done @Ammar Naji gets better every time with his LWB Expedition. Be prepared for more roles supporting as 2nd lead/ Sweep . You need to get your experience come through to other peers in this club. @Richard Franks managed his red Rubicon well, controlled without any issues or hardly any . Great to see you bringing your son to nudge him into this sport and I hope he was thrilled. @Ranjan Das was seen driving his White wrangler without any issues as he gets better with his experience and confidence. Well done Fantastic COVID appropriate behavior by all which was really nice to see how we are adapting to live and enjoy with the new normal. Enjoy your week , for another adventure coming weekend. Cheers

Dear Friends Warren Flay @Warren Flay Mus_hus78 @Mus_hus78 Zed @Zed Farouq Owdeh @Farouq Owdeh Karthikeyan Govindarajan @Karthikeyan Govindarajan Mikhail Lukichev @Mikhail Lukichev @Hasan Wahlan @Craig Finlayson Thanks for signing up on this drive. Please note the mandatory gear required for joining this drive 1. Programmed Radio 2. Shovel 3. Off Road Flag 4. Deflator 5. Compressor Not having any one means you will not be riding on sands this Friday. Please arrange them for your and everyone's safety. Please make sure your cars are in best of conditions and all fluids topped up. Kindly go through the newbie briefing video in the drive thread, very important advises there for desert driving from the experts at Carnity. Meeting /Start Point Updated on the Drive and Calendar Nearest Gas station is ADNOC Al SAAD (854) We plan to drive from Yahar and head North ( #asfaraswego 🤣). . Personally I am excited to be back in Sweihan , you all in AD are blessed with some amazing desert areas with absolutely stunning dunes to play and learn. Cheers!

No need for "sir", we are all friends here. Yes would love to see those Baja designs of yours in dark lit the whole convoy and make it like afternoon in Lisaili 🤣 with a cool breeze Not the forget the fantastic members signed up with great cars - well groomed FJCs , SWB Wrangler's, F150, Tundra TRD, LC Prado , X- OR and a SWB super safari. I wish I had all of them one day 😜🤩😍

@Adhir Saxena congratulations

Thanks for informing. Keep me posted as the drive is in evening at 5 pm , you should be able to join hopefully.

Thanks for informing, please sign out. @Ahab Shamaa you are next WL 2 , do you confirm joining?

Join in if you can, Sweihan is a beautiful area with vast clean dunes for any level. We miss going there terribly due to the border restrictions as of now.

@Ali Abas congratulations , well done.