Every year with the advent of the monsoons, the gentle ripples on the Hussain Sagar lake make way for larger waves and forceful winds, transforming the waters into a paradise for Sailing. The Hussain Sagar Lake was witness to a lot of sailing action over the week between 12th to 16th August, 2009…
Sailors from all over the country displayed their skills in various classes including Optimist, Hobie and Match
Racing…
This year 2009, for the first time in the twin cities ,we witnessed a large Catamaran Inland National Championship with a bloom of colorful sails spread across the lake. The National title was decided here.
1) Yuvraj Singh/ Samal Pradhan
2) B. Barik/ Balraj
3) Y. Lad/ Azhar
Alongside the Match Racing event was conducted in J24s Class – 24 feet in length they can accommodate a crew of upto 6 and race Americas Cup style. 4 world champions are competed.
Results of the j24 Match-Racing races –
1) Nitin Mongia and Team
2) R. Mahesh and Team
3) Farokh Tarapore and Team
For the younger kids (below 16) Open Championship – Optimist Class was held. Entries are came from all-across India – Mumbai, Goa, Vizag, Chennai , Cochin and Bhopal.
Results of the Optimist Class races –
1)Upamanyu Dutta
2)Zephra Kareembhoy
3) Aman Vyas
The primary goal of these championships was to draw awareness to the environment of the Lake and provide the Government a platform to announce real measures being undertaken for the lake preservation.
The championships also aided in the promotion of Optimist sailing, the breeding ground for sailors worldwide and to larger classes like the Lasers and 420s and these boats were sailed competitively in Hyderabad waters after a gap of nearly 20 years.
The introduction of 3 new classes to these waters definitely gave a boost to the sport in terms of awareness and exposure.
The media and local newspapers were graceful in their coverage to the sport.
The splendid sight of these sophisticated big boats, small boats and Catamarans was the first ever of its kind and a spectacle that attracted a lot of attention from the shore especially from Necklace Road and Tank Bund.
Once again fun was never far from a sailor so there was plenty of action in the evenings starting with the curtain raiser on 11th Aug in the Marriot off the water-front. Dinner, music, press conference and a panel discussion on the environment. On 14th Aug a jazz night at the sailing annexe and regatta ball with awards on 16th Aug.
West Coast Marine Yacht Services congratulates all people involved in ensuring that this first kind of regatta was a splendid success. 3 teams sponsored by it did excitingly well in the match-racing category of races. Aashim Mongia and Team, Trunal Helegaonkar and Team, and the Girls’ team skippered by Ayesha Lobo (who came first in the girls’ tie) ensured that there was tough competition on the waters.
On the last day all the branded boats were sailed in a fleet race of sorts across the lake – which was a completely spectacular site.
