Date:16/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/16/stories/2008051655901700.htm

Sport - Sailing

National u-16 optimist coastal meet starts today

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: For the second year in succession, the Tamil Nadu Sailing Association has been given the charge to conduct the National optimist under-16 coastal championship which commences in the Bay of Bengal sea area on Friday.

The Yachting Association of India will oversee the event which also serves as selection trials for all the optimist class international regattas this year.

Seven sailors will be selected for representing the country in these regattas. Last year five of the sailors selected happened to be from the TNSA. In all 40 sailors spread over eight clubs in India will feature in the championship which starts with the sponsor’s race on the opening day. Thereafter 12 races have been scheduled in the individual category from Saturday. Team racing comprising four sailors in one team, will be held on May 19 for the Admiral Tolani trophy. The championship ends on May 21.

The participating clubs, apart from TNSA, are Marve Sailing Club (Mumbai), Bombay Sappers Sailing Club (Mumbai), Royal Connaught BC (Mumbai), EME Sailing Association (Hyderabad), Kerala Yachting Association (Kochi), Corps of Engineers Sailing Club (Pune) and the fledgling National Sailing School (Bhopal).

Last year, TNSA swept all the medals except for the gold in the boys. The focus this time will also be on the boys from the fishermen community who were inducted into the sport in the post-tsunami phase.