Date:27/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/27/stories/2006052704202000.htm

Sport - Sailing

Johal takes honours

Special Correspondent

Chennai: Capt. N.S. Johal of the Army Yachting Node won the prize money (Rs. 10,000) Hutch Open sailing championship '06 race on Thursday. Three classes of boats — optimist, cadet, and laser, vied for the coveted first prize.

Because of their different sizes, the boats were given a handicap using the Portsmouth Yardstick Index. A brainchild of the U.S. sailing organisation, the index helps to compute finish times across different classes of boats to determine the overall winner.

At the prize distribution function held later, Ashok Thakkar, commodore, Tamil Nadu Sailing Association (TNSA), welcomed the gathering, while Ajit Diaz, chairman, organising committee, Hutch National laser coastal sailing championship presented a report.

The winners of each class received their trophies from Maj. Gen. Shiv Shankar, GOC, ATN, K, & K and other dignitaries like Maj. Gen. R.S. Jamwal, vice president, Laser class Assn of India, Commodore T. Hari, the naval officer in Command, IG Rajinder Singh, comm CG, and the CEO of Hutch, Kumar Ramanadhan.

Maj. Gen. Shiv Shankar aid that he was exploring the possibility of establishing a joint services sailing centre at Chennai.

With such a facility in place, he felt that there would be benefit to both the sailors and organisations involved in the sport.

Commending the Tamil Nadu Sailing Association, Maj. Gen Jamwal said that Chennai had good potential for becoming a hub for sailing events.

Dr.Mushtaqh Ali, secretary, TNSA, proposed the vote of thanks.