Some of the best regattas happen towards the end of the sailing season...and with the declared deadline for this season as 25th May, some of these regattas have had the most competetive and choppy waters to deal with.
Goa Yachting Association (GYA) and Board Sailing Association of India have organised a five-day Windsurfing National Coastal Championship and the Optimist Zonal Coastal Championship 2008, that was held in the coastal waters of the Zuari Bay in the Raceboard class of Windsurfers from May 14 to 18.
KICK-OFF
According to the media, GYA President Cezar Menezes said around 20 windsurfers from all over the country would participate in the championship, sponsored by Cidade de Goa.
Of course, as with all regattas and sponsorship coming in nowadays, the winners of the regatta will be awarded the trophy and a special booty.
The event kicked off on last Wednesday with a practice race at 1530 hours.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP
The championship comprised of 12 races, in which sailors will get points in the order in which they finished the race. The sailors with the least number of points at the end of the series were awarded the Cidade De Goa Trophy.
Mr Menezes said in the Optimist Zonal Coastal Championship, dinghy was provided for children u-16. Around 35 children from five clubs in Mumbai and one each in Chennai and Goa, participated in the Championship. A ”Regatta Fleet” of beginners raced separately, he said.
For the U-12 category of sailors, special prizes were distrubuted in an effort to encourage these young sportsmen and in turn the entire sport of sailing.
...AND THE WINNERS
Optimist
Upamanyu Dutta representing the Bombay Sailing Association , Mumbai won the OPTIMIST NATIONAL COASTAL SAILING CHAMPIONSHIP held in Goa between 14 -19 May. Upamanyu took the lead from day one winning the first race of the championship, and with three more wins and a second position he was clearly in the driving position throughout the event. 
The final two races of the optimist Championship saw a keen tussle between Upamanyu Dutta and Sheldon D'Mello of Goa, since both of them were in the running for overall championship. The first race of the last day saw Upamanyu race ahead at the start while Sheldon got caught up amongst several other boats. Upamanyu took the advantage of the situation to race ahead and take the gun.
The championship depended upon which sailor took the higher spot between Upamanyu and Sheldon D’Melloin the last race. Upamanyu managed to tactically dominate Sheldon and finished ahead to win the overall championship with Sheldon taking the second spot in a fleet of 37 Optimist boats.
Upamanyu has added one more feather in his cap as he was judged the ‘MOST PROMISING SAILOR ( under 12 years). The feat is commendable since the Optimist class is a fiercely competitive event for kids up to 15 years that is also an Asian Games medal event for the yachting discipline. Young Upamanyu has many years to make his mark in the national and international championships.
All of 11 yrs old, Upamanyu Dutta is the son of a former National Champion in sailing – Gautama Dutta - and is a student of Bombay International School. He was introduced to sport of sailing very early in life and took to sailing the Optimist dinghy two years ago. He has been smitten by the seas ever since.
Upamanyu truly proved the words of John Wooden that it is not important who starts the game but who finishes it.
WindSurfing
Derrick claimed the first prize in the Windsurfing National Championship over Donald and Tripathi.
The 10th race was sailed in winds of 8 Knots. Derrick battled it out in the last 20 meters to take the 2nd spot.
With a lot of amazing results and conditions, the whole sport of sailing and windsurfing looks all set to go upward!
May 21, 2008
Optimist National Zonal (Goa) Results are here
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