Goa may yet spring a surprise in the Goa International Sailing Week for the vClusive Cup at Cidade de Goa, Vainguinim Beach and Dolphin Adventure Sports, Hawaii Beach, Dona Paula. On Friday, Ajay Patel and Guru Nath of the Goa Beach Sports Association (GBSA) took first place in Hobie Cats Race 4.
Panaji
This is their second gun in the regatta, apart from another third place today, and if they keep it up, may well be in contention for a podium position; Goa’s first ever in the Hobie Cat class. Maheshwar Padhav, though he took the gun in all four races sailed today in the Olympic RS:X Windsurfing class, is facing protests from the Race Committee in the first two races for failing to round a mark. He may face disqualification in those if found in error.
Upamanyu Dutta, however, continued his triumphant march in the Laser Std class. He won three races out of four, with a third in Race 5. Nagarjuna of Trishna Sailing Club, Bengaluru, won all four races in the Junior Laser 4.7 class.
The Laser Standard, with a 7 sq metre sail, is an Olympics single hander class. The Laser hull can also be sailed with smaller mast sections and sails. The Laser Radial, for example, with a 5.5 sq metre sail, is the women’s single hander boat for the Olympics, while the Laser 4.7 is a training and competition boat for junior sailors. All three classes are being sailed in this regatta.
The Laser sailors in the vClusive Goa International Sailing Week are also competing for the Coastal National crown. Upamanyu Dutta, the current national champion, is defending his title here.
Laser Class Association of India Secretary Col Bhuwan Khare said that this is a YAI-approved ranking tournament, whose results would count in selection of the Indian team for the international competitions.
Comfortable winds in the morning with a sprightly 10 knot (18kmph) breeze gusting to 12 knots (22kmph), gave way to a feisty afternoon in which 15-17 knot winds (31kmph) saw gusts up to 22 knots (40kmph). Sailors struggled in the windy conditions, with only two windsurfers able to complete Race 7 within the time limit (10 minutes after the first board).
Racing in the vClusive Goa International Sailing Week continues for the next two days. While Lasers and Windsurfers launch from Hawaii Beach, Hobie Cats launch from Cidade de Goa. Racing for the third day will t
oday at 11 am.
