Sport - Sailing

Vestas 420 Nationals from tomorrow

Chennai: The Royal Madras Yacht Club (RMYC) will conduct the Vestas 420 sailing Nationals here from September 3 to 6. The event will be the first in a series that will culminate in RMYC’s Centenary Regatta in September 2010.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday to announce the regatta, Navaz Currimbhoy, Commodore, RMYC, said the event was aimed at encouraging the youth to take to the sport.

The three-sail two-man boat, he said, was ideal for the sailing conditions here. The sailors could graduate from the 420 class to the 470 boats that belonged to the Olympic category, he added.

Leading teams such as the Army Yachting Node (Mumbai), Royal Bombay Yacht Club (Mumbai), Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre (Mumbai) and the RMYC will take part in the competition.

Honorary Secretary, RMYC, R. Nandkumar said the meet would be a stepping stone for those aspiring to take part in the 2112 Olympics. “We want to make sailing as inexpensive as possible for the youngsters. It’s an eco-friendly sport. There is a great sense of adventure about sailing,” he said.

Commodore Currimbhoy, thrilled about RMYC’s approaching centenary, said he expected the Chennai Port Trust (CPT) to take part in the celebrations.

“The RMYC, with a 100-fleet boat, had taken part in CPT’s 100th year celebrations in 1981. Sailing cannot exist without port,” he said.

Several young and promising RMYC sailors such as Deep Rekhi, Preet Rekhi, Kuruvilla Abraham, Sandeep Srikanth, Rohini Rau, Niloufer Jamal, Ajay Rau, and Rohit Ashok will take part in the competition. — Special Correspondent

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