The Bombay to Goa Special - The Sun, Sky, Sand, Surf - and a Sea Ray

Dreaming about owning a yacht?? Well, this is something that most of us well-heeled Indians would be doing nowadays !

What's next?!...'What do I do with my yacht?'? Most of us would just not want our precious water-ladies to be sitting pretty in the harbor and getting 'sun-tanned'.

Most yacht-owners would want to take their yachts for a regular spin with their friends or associates...some would take it one step ahead and get thrilled with watersports at the back of their boat.

BUT one of the most sought after 'things-to-do' for owners is the BOMBAY TO GOA 'ODYSSEA' !

GO GIIRA ! GO GOA !!

Venue : Gateway of India

Date : 6th March

Time : 0530

Event : The Sun, Sky, Sand, Surf - and a Sea Ray going home to GOA ! The euphoria and the excitement that Team GIIRA felt was at a different level.

Boarding boats of different sizes is a daily affair, but boarding one and going ALL THE DISTANCE to Goa, was something that really

Team GIIRA got an opportunity of its lifetime, to board a Sea Ray 330 heading home to Goa after the Mumbai International Boat Show '08...and thouroughly enjoyed this Odyssea.

READY! GET SET!! GO!!!

TWILIGHT - the first light of the day welcomed the start of our journey...

On-board the Sea-Ray were a total of eight of us...'Captain' Malcolm, 'Commander' Milind, 'Lieutenant' Wally, 'Officer' Dilip AND of course the 4 of us.


With all our lugguage stowed away in the cabin of the Sea-Ray and with engines warmed-up to the right temperatures, it was time to get moving.

Thanks to the jetty constructed for the MIBS '08, getting ourselves and the lugguage on to the boat was made easy, which would have been quite a task without the jetty...jumping on and off a tender (small row-boat) with lugguage and load.

CROWDED HOUSE

Almost pitch-dark, when we started off - the ever-expanding Mumbai Harbor - seemed like a small task to waiver around all the boats.

We sailed close to the Pride of the Mumbai Harbor - The Indian Empress. On closing in, we realised how BIG she was in all her beauty.

ONCE UNDERWAY...

...the fresh and cool breeze...kept us all in high-spirits! The team was really excited and did not know what to expect of the journey...but the feeling of being on the water with the surf created by the Sea-Rays twin stern drive engines and the Mumbai skyline slowly diminishing in the background was enigmatic..!

With Malcolm setting course on the Satellite-Navigation equipment and Milind keeping a look-out for the fishing trawlers and their nets with their beacons, we felt quite safe and secured to be in the right hands and on the right track.

Wally would keep ensuring that we ate and drank plenty, in order not to feel sea-sick but sadly since it was one of our first times being out on the sea for so long, got the better of some of us.

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE

Now lets talk about the best part of the trip - BEING AT THE WHEEL OF THE SEA RAY !

YESSSS ! - we got to drive this fast-moving (30 Knots+) beast...and we felt a million bucks and in complete control of the immense power of this 640 Horse-Power monster...

The thrill and the euphoria you feel is way beyond comprehension. If you feel that the fastest car would be able to excite you as much...then you are wrong!!!

Nothing gets close to giving you the Sun over your head, silver-blue Sky, pristine white-sand beaches on your side and the powder-y Surf behind your back...would it!?

Thanks to Malcolm, who gave over the wheel to 2 of us and was guiding us how to ride the waves in order to feel least number of bumps and water splashing in...the drive was a great experience!

THANKS MALCOLM !

JAIGARH - AN OASIS IN THE SEA

Half way through and 5 whole bouncy hours into the drive...and the fuel alarm buzzers about to...we saw the Jaigarh jetty on our Sat-Nav screen...and felt quite relieved.

Because it was the first time that most of us had been so long on a boat moving fast on choppy waters, it did tae a lot physically and otherwise too...with the constant glare of the sun above our head.

Tanned we already were...but the sappy nature of the seas had us quite dehydrated.

Due to such an experience, we strongly suggests that if you ever plan to go to Goa in a yacht make sure that it is a good-sized one with an enclosed deck...or the weather would get the better of you.

But thanks to the Marine Solutions team, we were all well taken care of through the worse part of our experience.

Jaigarh - truly turned out to be an oasis in our case. But what an oasis it turned out to be?!...

We enter the creek that led us to the jetty. Surrounded by the famous Jaigarh Fort's architecture and green hills, we were excited to know what lies ahead.

Sadly, for a mult-crore yacht with a capacity of 1200 ltrs, we had to pump in every litre using a Sudanese pump, and once that pump broke, we had use the galli ka mechanic method of sucking the petrol and using small pipes.

A small fishing town, Jaigarh lives around its jetty. With fish being the staple diet, the jetty houses many a fishing trawlers with a bazaar to take care of its people's needs.

The small huts and cottages on the hilly terrain - that were home to the people there looked beautiful and the quality of life yet untouched by the cities around it.

SNOW-WHITE BEACHES

Once we filled the our stomach at a local eatery and the Sea Ray's really hungry belly with 1200 litres of fuel to suffice our 2nd and last leg, we headed out of Jaigarh underway to Goa.

As the waters got more choppier, what kept us happy was the fact that the waters were getting bluer and the snow-white sand virgin beaches along the Ratnagiri coast.

Dabhol came up with beaches with many windmills and then we had the Vengurla rocks which are commonly known as 'Burnt Rocks' - these are vertical land protrusions (islets) that come almost more than a kilometer into the sea.

Malcolm and Milind contemplated whether to take the channel running through the Burnt Rocks, but the final decision was taken by Malcolm to completely evade any danger to craft or human-life and we swayed out of course and away from the Burnt Rocks and carried on with our journey towards Goa.

THEN COMETH GOA

10 and a half hours !!! - that's what it took us to get Goa showing on our Sat-Nav systems.

First Anjuna then Baga...Calangute...Aguada and the Goa Creek.

The Governor's bungalow atop the cliff to the entrance of the Goa Creek was a fascinating structure.

Watch this space for what happens next in Goa...

(Hint : A Southern Oceans Sail-Boat and a Indian-made International Quality Speedboat...apart from all the fun)
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The Vasco Da Gama Yacht Rally : Forts of India - The Bombay to Goa Regatta 2008

IT'S HERE AGAIN...

The prestigious bi-annual regatta is back! With more sailboats, more sailors and more spirit!!


The RUN down to Goa from Mumbai, with a spectacular overnight stopover at Jaigarh - THE ORBIT FORTS OF INDIA REGATTA - is the Last Leg of the World-renowned multi-class Vasco Da Gama Yacht Rally.

The Vasco Da Gama Yacht Rally is a 4500 Nautical Miles endeavour that starts from Kekova (Turkey) and commences at the Holiday Haven of Goa. Attracting more than a 100 boats of various classes and 250 sailors, the race is a visual treat for its participants - charting the most beautiful coastlines of the best seas of the world.



THE VASCO DA GAMA YACHT RALLY

The Vasco Da Gama Yacht Rally, is a regatta with a social purpose - it aims to break boundaries and set new benchmarks for everyone involved, by touching them on a personal front and bringing-out the sailor in them.

A completely non-profit endeavor, the rally puts full onus on the sailors' navigational and safety skills, by putting those responsibilities in their hands.


The purpose of the Rally is :-

1) To make an international chain of friendship, understanding, dialogue and co-operation amongst yachtsmen and the communities of host countries.

2) To promote an openess between the yachting community and the countries we visit.

3) To enjoy sailing as a way of life; combining pleasure, comfort and experience, without incurring great costs.

During the Rally :-

1) Sailors will share the experiences of interesting excursions to see some of the greatest sights in the world. (Piramides, Cairo, Luxor, Sinai, Petra….)

2) The open character of the rally makes it possible for each yacht to make their own way at any point.


The Rally provides an opportunity to experience :-

1) Spending a winter in a region with excellent weather conditions (no rain or storms).

2) Swimming, snorkelling or diving on wonderful coral reefs.

3) Fishing and enjoying the fun of catching big fishes.


ORBIT FESTIVAL OF SAILS

The Orbit Festival of Sails 2008 is being conducted from 12 – 17 Apr 2008.

The Festival this year consists of two main sailing events - a multi-class regatta on 12 Apr in Mumbai and the Forts of India Cup which is a sailing race from Mumbai to Goa. The Festival of Sail 2008 is being promoted by the Orbit Corporation Ltd.

It is anticipated that over 100 sailing boats and around 250 sailors will participate in this event.

It is a sailing race from Mumbai to Goa in yachts having a minimum length of 19 feet.

The race is in two legs :-

LEG 1 - Mumbai to Jaigarh

LEG 2 - Jaigarh to Goa

The race will culminate off Fort Aguada in Goa.

This international offshore race was conceived and introduced last year by Marine Solutions, in its sincere effort to promote the yachting lifestyle in India and this is the second edition of this race.

SPECTACULAR AND SPONTANEOUS

The race culminates passing through some of the finest seas of the world - Eastern Meditterenean, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.


The route to Goa will see the sailors sampling the visual treat of the splendid Konkan coast, replete with historical forts, islands and virgin beaches. The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) have thrown in their mite to show case this golden heritage and have facilitated a two day halt for the yachts at Jaigarh jetty. The participants will spend their time there at the lovely Ganapatipule beach resort before sailing for Goa. The foreign yachts will sail on later to Cochin where they will shelter for the duration of the monsoons.

THUS THEY SPOKE

General S. Dutta, Marine Solutions - "We also want to highlight to the Governments of Maharashtra and Goa that there is a crying need to develop proper yachting infrastructure like marinas in order to realise the tremendous potential of the coastline of India as an international yachting destination."


Gautama Dutta, Marine Solutions - "What is exciting for the yachting community in India is that we are going to see some big boats in some big time action on the high seas."

Pujit Agarwal, Orbit Corporation Ltd - "The Orbit Festival of Sails 2008 will introduce the Indian audience to the joys of adventure at sea and familiarize them to the world of yachts and yachting, a leisure sport that has the potential of being enjoyed by many more sea loving, sporty people. This event will give a huge boost to the nascent leisure boating industry in India"

Watch this space for live updates and results...BUT at the end of the day...there is only one true winner...the Indian Yachting Industry!

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"It's all about selling emotions..."

Tilli Antonelli - a name that sends ripples in the Italian yachting fraternity...doesn't need any introduction. This true-blue Italian apart from being the Founder and President of none other than the most passionate line of yachts - PERSHING - believes that 'It's all about selling emotions' when it comes to yachts.


It was clearly a matter of good fortune for Team GIIRA when Mr. Gautama Dutta of Marine Solutions invited us to have a light chat over breakfast with the man himself. Little did we realise what we were in for until we got down to talking about everything from yachts, Italian design, Valentino Rossi - and most importantly - emotion.

GIIRA Yachts, proudly presents to everybody a small encounter with the man who is the Vision behind Pershing.

THE MAN

At one glance, Tilli seems like a very calm and composed man, relaxed in his chair. His demeanour is very much of a royal and at the same time humble man. Until you reach out your palm to shake hands - that's when you realise the power behind his calm exterior.

That's when we start talking about Pershing (obviously)...about how Tilli was initially just a sailor, who excelled at this passion...and as he moved ahead in terms of competitive racing...how one thing led to the other...and Pershing came about.


He makes it sound as something very simple, but to sustain a successful run from 1981 onwards until now, is surely a feat of its own.

Born in 1955 and happily married with 3 children, his love for boats started as a young boy and he went on to sail on the 'Moro de Venezia' alongside Raoul Gardini. And it was around this time, that he made the highly intuitive move of becoming a boat constructor.

We talk about how the Pershing is in a class of its own. That's when Tilli brings to our notice about how it is the love for what you do that is the key to what you do.

ON INDIA

In terms of India, we ask Tilli about his insights regarding India and the Indian market over the next few months and down the years. To this he replied that in a year or two time there would be a good change in the market and people would be more acceptable to owning a yacht and to appreciate everything that went into it.


When queried if they saw making any special changes for Indian requirements, Tilli mentioned that the Pershings that would be sold would require very little changes in order to cope up with Indian conditions and yacht-owning culture.

Also, he mentioned that there would definitely be a couple of Pershings in India by the time the Mumbai International Boat Show happens next year.

NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS

"When it is sold, it is just the start..." - with these same words, Tilli emphasized on the fact that buying a boat is just a small part of the process but nurturing the ownership is what Pershing is all about.

Tilli mentioned to us that they have seen this current scenario that the Indian market is undergoing in other countries, and how they have coped with it. He mentioned that what they have done previously is nurtured owners to use their Pershings optimally.

Also, they have literally parented Pershing owners to ensure that both them and the boats are happy at the end of the day. As he said, it is all about the PERSONAL TOUCH.

ON A LIGHTER VEIN

The entire conversation was about power, passion and a gamut of positive emotions personified. We ask of Tilli's well-known passion for bikes. He tells us all about how important form and design are important as well as POWER, when it comes to him chosing a bike for himself.

He happily mentions about Valentino Rossi who he says is as jovial in real life as he is on TV...and a proud friend of his.

His words and style are typically Italian since he talks about all things Italian - love and emotion.


He makes something as technical and mechanical as yacht-making sound as though it is some emotion mechanically replicated. It is not much a surprise when we get to know that he is still completely involved in all the work processes that go hand-in-hand to complete every Pershing coming out of its yard in Mondolfo, Italy.

It is this passion that goes into making Pershings keep them at the top of our hearts also.

Thank you Tilli...
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Anti-Roll Gyro's here for a Rock-Steady Yacht !

In two minds to go on to a Multi-Million dollar Mega-Yacht because it rock-n-rolls too much for your comfort !? We aren't talking about anything to do with loud music, but that swaying, sinking feeling that doesn't leave you whether you are in something as small as a rowing dinghy or as something hot-blooded as a big 'Italian Beauty' of a boat.


ANTI-ROLL GYRO (ARG)...the SOLUTION ! Thanks to the Marine Solutions, Mumbai, we at Team GIIRA were witness to the path-breaking patented technology that keeps your yacht rock-steady in even most of the uncomfortable waters - in none other than the FERRETTI 550 - the only one of its kind in the Mumbai Harbour, also being the second largest yacht in India but the only with ARG.

GYROSCOPE

A gyroscope is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation, based on the principles of conservation of angular momentum. The device is a spinning wheel or disk whose axle is free to take any orientation. This orientation changes much less in response to a given external torque than it would without the large angular momentum associated with the gyroscope's high rate of spin. Since external torque is minimized by mounting the device in gimbals, its orientation remains nearly fixed, regardless of any motion of the platform on which it is mounted.


In simple words, a gyroscope is a device that does not move as much as compared to the force that is applied to its original position, and tends to maintain its vertical position. (Defying Newton ?!?)

WHAT IS ARG?

'ARG' or Anti Rolling Gyro, produces a gyroscopic momentum within the vessel that reduces the rolling motion known as "Rolling Angular Velocity"


Ferretti Group Yachts have the exclusive rights to fit the ARG stabilizers on all of their yachts for the entire european market. Competitors cannot offer similar stabilizer systems as they are protected by international patent.

This technology guarantees reliable stabilization, and has already been proven in the field of aerospace (satellite stabilization).

Gyroscopic stabilization provides the highest levels of human comfort aboard :-
1) Effective even at trolling speed or at anchor
2) No outer hull protrusions resulting in a drag-free effect
3) Hands-free automatic system, just switch the power on and off
4) Maintenance free

OUR EXPERIENCE

Once aboard the Ferretti 550 along with the Marine Solutions team of Mrs. Anju Dutta, Gautama Dutta and Lt. Cdr. Manish Bhardwaj, Team GIIRA got a look at the magnificent look at the interiors of the Ferretti 550 - the opulent use of wood and leather...the almost perfect finish quality and the smell - as though it was freshly opened from the shipyard that it was born. Kudos to the owner and maintenance team from Marine Solutions to maintain it so well...splendid !

BUT one thing conspicuously missing was all the sway-ey feeling, that would literally at times keep us off our feet on some yachts. That's when we were informed that 'the ARG is on'. Lt. Cdr. Manish gave us a good look around the yacht and when we had a look at the kitchen, he noted that many yachts have good-sized kitchens, but what's the point if you can't cook in them due to the swinging!

Also, most people feel quite quizzy and claustrophobic in the interiors of their yachts due to the swaying and run out to the deck to get a breather. With ARG, this cramped-ness is almost non-existent.

We hope that in the future, most of the yachts are equipped with this advanced technology. That would really depend if Ferretti would like to share its patent and if the customers would like to pay that additional cost. But for what it has to offer - being as steady in sea as on land - its worth every penny !

Also, in India, with the culture playing a major role in the buying of yachts and boats - ARG would be a much needed piece of technology to put to rest the hesitation of customers who complain about drawbacks of being at sea.


Thank you Marine Solutions !...we were honored to witness this technology in reality, in front of our eyes and under our feet...
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Ferretti glides the Indian waves !

Ferretti (Ferrari of the sea ?), the market leader and the most preferred manufacturer, embarks on a new journey into the Indian waters and into the hands of the new and ever-growing upper class Indian market.


It has newly set shop in India through Marine Solutions, India's premier Yacht retail company that is promoting the yachting lifestyle in the country.

'LEADERSHIP, IS KNOWING HOW TO GUIDE EVOLUTION'

As aptly quoted by Ferretti, they have been able to dictate the market trends and have been leaders in yacht manufacturing and technology and from time-to-time have pioneered revolutionary designs and technologies that have adapted by their contemporaries much later.

Highly engineered with renowned construction, a Ferretti Yacht is not merely considered another Yacht manufacturer, it is the manufacturer of choice for discerning boat buyers. Manufactured in four purpose built shipyards in Italy – Forli (Head Office), Cattolica, Marignano and Fano. With a current production run of around 60 units, Ferretti Yachts have the undisputed ability to "build their customer's dreams".

This successful story is built on passion, professionalism and great experience – qualities that have lead the Ferretti name to become a cult brand among lovers of the sea and sailing, and a new icon for "Made in Italy" products all over the world.

HISTORY

Having a humble beginning in the form of making sailboats in its boatyards in 1968, Ferretti has come a long way in yacht-making and produced its first ever motorsailer in 1971.

In 1980, foreseeing the expansion of the market for motoryachts, the Ferretti shipbuilding yards applied the skills they had acquired in the sailing sector to the powerboat sector, specializing in the production of luxury motoryachts.

In the late 1980s, a new production unit was established in Forlì (the Group’s current headquarters), where boats up to 18 meters were designed and built.

In the 1990s, Ferretti established itself as one of the leading names in boatbuilding for midsize flybridge sportcruisers.

Along the years, its strategic acquistions, its shipyards and its participation and sponsorship in offshore competitions have been much appreciated by yacht connoisseurs and have been the mainstay in their success.


FERRETTI YACHTS AND THE FERRETTI GROUP

Ferretti Yachts is part of the Ferretti Group, world leader in luxury motor-yachts, with a unique portfolio of exclusive brands in the nautical world: Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Bertram, Riva, Apreamare, Mochi Craft, Custom Line and CRN. The Ferretti Group, founded by Norberto Ferretti in 1968, is in the forefront of the nautical industry, thanks to a constant product and process innovation and a continuous technological research. Luxury yachts are designed by a team of over 100 specialised engineers (Advanced Yacht Technology) and built in the Group's 22 production units. Over 3,000 employees share the same continuous strive towards quality, technological excellence, top performance, exclusive and innovative design, maximising comfort and attention to detail. This daily commitment, common to all Ferretti Group employees, has taken it to the very heights of the nautical world. The Group, lead by the Chairman Norberto Ferretti and the CEO Vincenzo Cannatelli, is currently present in 95 countries and has three representative branches situated in Europe, the United States and Asia. It also boasts an international dealer network, which counts over 85 carefully selected distributors, who guarantee the Group's clientele the very best assistance in marinas all over the world.


FERRETTI AND INDIA

Ferretti's entry into India assures a very 'amicable partnership' since India guarantees a very new and untapped market for Ferretti through its nouveau rich and at the same time Ferretti assures that this clientele gets the best that they have to offer through its huge range of the world's best yachts.

Just as the Italian marques such as Lamborghini and Ferrari are seen blazing on our Indian roads...soon we will see these new Italian beauties adorning the Golden waters of our seas! Read more...

Marine Solutions - A much needed solution has arrived...

Marine Solutions is India's premier Yacht retail company promoting the yachting lifestyle in the country.



The Captain(s)

Jointly headed by Gautama & Anju Dutta, it is India's first professionally managed company dedicated to the leisure boating industry. Gautama and Anju are committed towards winning people's hearts and minds to the yachting lifestyle by providing complete boating solutions. Services provided include help in choosing the right product, handling the import, commissioning the boat, warranty service and various options in maintenance backup and boat management.

"A very important aspect of our business is to be able to build customer confidence and have them rely on us for a variety of pre-sales and after sales services. It is our mission to provide solutions to clients which includes assistance with choosing the right kind of craft and finding the right purchase options."

Also, Gautama Dutta is an intrepid yachtsman, a former National Champion and Asian Bronze Medallist in the sport of sailing. He holds a world record at for sailing at the highest altitude and has sailed in over 48 countries. He was responsible for establishing Army's centre for excellence for sailing, an elite establishment focused towards producing Olympic medallists.

Achievements

Marine Solutions has achieved certain important milestones for the boating industry in India. With the Vasco da Gama Cup in Apr 2006 they heralded India's first Off-shore YachtRace that saw some impressive yachts and their crews from different countries race from Bombay to Goa alongside Indian yachts. Today eleven of the participating yachts lie gracefully adorning the waterfront at our facility on the Mandovi at Goa, India's first Marina!

Currently it represents many of the world best and most famous yacht brands such as Ferretti, Sea Ray, Jeanneau, Marine, Jet Ski, and many more.

It is initiatives and pioneers such as Marine Solutions that are a catalyst to the transformation of countries such as ours into global yachting destinations.

Here's wishing you all the best, Marine Solutions... Read more...