Vcloud Luxury and Marine Solutions come together to host the first Goa International Sailing Week to be held from March 31 to April 3, at Morjim, Goa.

This edition of the annual regatta includes sailing through popular classes of boats like sailboards, kite boards and beach catamarans and events like Laser Coastal Championship, Hobie 16 Coastal Championship, Boardsailing National Ranking Event and the Topper Grand Prix.

The four day regatta included shopping, music, water activities and more for all viewers, but will upscale to offer exclusive privileges to Vcloud members, like luxury yacht cruises, fine dining at a floating restaurant, cigar lounges and international designer labels among other things.

Vinu Sundaresan, Founder of Vcloud, a vMobo Company, India’s first independent Privileges Program exclusively for Luxury Brands, says “Vcloud curates unique experiences by providing an amalgamation of luxury across fashion, lifestyle, restaurants,

Beauty and wellness, luxury living, art and jewellery to their members. The Goa International Sailing Week highlights the lifestyle experiences and making them accessible to our members. We have received a great response from them as they appreciated this invitation and introduction.”

Marine Solutions, a Mumbai-based company has been dealing in yachts, speedboats and selling the yachting lifestyle since 2003. Gautama Dutta, Executive Director of Marine Solutions observes, “India is one of the fastest growing economies therefore as the propensity to spend increases, so does the spenders interest and interaction with luxury.

We have seen a hundred percent increase in the spending of the ultra-rich to indulge in leisure boating. Organizing such events is relevant to us because they provide our audience a taste and feel of the luxury nautical experience they aspire for”.

The regatta was open for participation in any of the following events

EVENT                                          CLASS

Men’s Sailboard                         RS:X, Techno, RS:One

Women’s Sailboard                   RS:X, Techno, RS:One

Open Sailboard                           Open

Men’s One Person Dinghy      Laser

Open One Person Dinghy        Laser Radial

Open Multi Hull                          Hobie 16

Open Kite                                       Open

Junior One Person Dinghy     Topper

Today’s racing was dominated by the Electro-Mechanical Engineers Sailing Association, Secundrabard (EMESA). Rakesh Yadav was leading in Laser Standard, while Sachin Singha dominated in Laser Radial. Koteshwar Rao of Trishna Sailing Club, Bangalore, led the Toppers, with Avanti Menon of the Royal Madras Yacht Club second and Diya Correa of the Royal Bombay Yacht Club third.

Results:

Laser Standard: (1) Rakesh Yadav, EMESA, (2) Israj Ali, EMESA, (3) M.K. Yadav, EMESA.

Laser Radial: (1) Sachin Singha, EMESA, (2) Dileep Kumar, EMESA, (3) Srinu A, EMESA.

Toppers: (1) Koteshwar Rao, Trishna Sailing Club, (2) Avanti Menon, RMYC, (3) Diya Correa, RBYC.

DAY 2

PHILIP DARTNELL LEADS KITE SURFERS AT SAILING WEEK

Phillipe Dartnell, who runs kite surfing classes in Arambol IN Goa, was the leading kite surfer after two races were sailed at the

Goa International Sailing Week at Morjim Beach today. No races were held yesterday because

the wind wasn’t styrong enough. Max Laphskiy and Derrick Menezes were tied in second place, while Rahul Malani was in third place.

Kite Surfing is a glamorous and fast growing sport internationally. Sailors are tethered to a kite made of parachute fabric, which propels them at high speeds across the water and also enabled them to make incredible leaps into the air, do somersaults and other tricks.

The International Olympic Committee is presently considering whether to make kite surfing an Olympic discipline.

Goa is the absolute headquarters of kite surfing in India. When the wind is strong enough, over a dozen parachutes can be seen off the rolling surf of Morjim, where kite surfers from all over the world take off on seemingly death defying leaps as they ride off the crests of the waves and into the air before coming down on their boards.

The Goa International Sailing Week, being conducted at Morjim by the Chapora Bay Yacht Club and the Goa Yachting Association (GYA), is the very first competition for kite surfers in India. Lasers, Laser Radials, Hobie Cats, Toppers and Windsurfers are the other classes

participating in this mega-sailing event. While the Lasers, Laser Radials and Toppers are launched from the Marina Solutions jetty at the Temb Vaddo in the Chapora Bay, the Windsurfers, Kite Surfers and Hobie Catamarans are launching from the Montego Bay Beach at Vithaldas Vaddo in the same village.

Rakesh Yadav, who won both of yesterday’s races in Laser Std, fell back today because he was disqualified on a technicality from Race 5. Sachin Singha continued in the lead in Laser Radial, though he conceded Races 3 and 4 to club compatriot Dileep Kumar. Koteshwar Rao of Trishna Sailing Club, Bangalore, continued to lead the Toppers, with Avanti Menon of the Royal Madras Yacht Club second and Diya Correa of the Royal Bombay Yacht Club tied on points, though Avanti was ahead on a tecnicality. In boards, Eabad Ali was overall first,

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today flagged off the Goa International Sailing Week being conducted at Morjim by the Chapora Bay Sailing Club and the Goa Yachting Association. Laser, Laser Radial, Hobie Cats, Toppers, Windsurfers and Kite Surfers are the classes participating in this mega-sailing event being conducted on Morjim Beach in Pernem.

While the Lasers, Laser Radials and Toppers are launching from the Marina Solutions jetty at the Temb Vaddo in the Chapora Bay, the Windsurfers, Kite Surfers and Hobie Catamarans are launch with Ishwar Dayal second and Rahul Choudhary third. Hobie Cats saw Jaspreet Singh ahead, with Goa’s Ajay Patel second and Chandrashekhar third.

Results:

Std: Race 3: (1) Rakesh Yadav (2) Israj Ali (3) Mahavir Kumavat

Race 4: (1) Rakesh Yadav, (2) M K Yadav, (3) Israj Ali

Race 5: (1) M K Yadav, (2) Israj Ali (3) Mahavir Kumavat

Radial Race 3: (1) Dileep Kumar (2) Sachin Singha, (3) A Srinu

Race 4: (1) Dileep Kumar (2) Sachin Singha, (3) A Srinu

Race 5: (1) Sachin Singha (2) Dileep Kumar (3) A Srinu

Toppers Race 3: (1) Koteshwar Rao (2) Diya Correa, (3) Avanti Menon

Race 4: (1) Koteshwar Rao (2) Avanti Menon (3) Diya Correa

Race 5: (1) Koteshwar Rao (2) Diya Correa, (3) Avanti Menon

Boards Race 3: (1) Eabad Ali (2) Kamlapati, (3) Ishwar Dayal

Race 4: (1) Eabad Ali (2) Kamlapati, (3) Ishwar Dayal

Race 5: (1) Eabad Ali (2) Kamlapati, (3) Ishwar Dayal

Hobbies Cats Race 3: (1) Jaspreet Singh (2) Ajay Patel (3) Chandrashekhar

Race 4: (1) Jaspreet Singh (2) Ajay Patel (3) Chandrashekhar

Race 5: (1) Jaspreet Singh (2) Ajay Patel (3) Chandrashekhar

DAY 3

RAKESH YADAV CLOSES IN ON LASER SAILING CROWN

Rakesh Yadav of EME Sailing Association, Secunderabad, consolidated his position at the head of the Laser Standard class at the vCloud Goa International Sailing Week at Morjim Beach today, winning all four races to take a commanding lead in the regatta.In Laser Radials, Dileep Kumar stole a march on Sachin Singha, taking three of the four races sailed on the third day of the championship, to surge into the lead.

The International Laser Class sailboat designed by Bruce Kirby, is one of the most popular single-handed dinghies in the world. There are more than 2 lakh boats sailing worldwide. With a single sleeve-rigged sail and few lines, it is robust and simple to rig and sail, in addition to being extremely durable.

An Olympic class, it has three formats, based on changing the lower half of the mast and the sail. Laser Standard (the largest of the sail plan rigs). is now the men’s single hander Olympic class. The Laser Radial (a smaller sail) is the women’s single hander Olympic class, while the Laser 4.7 (with a 4.7 sq metre sail, the smallest) is the youth class. Lasers are also the single largest class sailed in IndiaThe vCloud Goa International Sailing Week, being conducted at Morjim by the Chapora Bay Yacht Club, and the Goa Yachting Association (GYA), has Lasers as its flagship class. Hobie Cats, Toppers, Windsurfers and Kite Surfers are the other classes participating in this mega-sailing event. The Lasers, Laser Radials and Toppers are launched from the Marina Solutions jetty at the Temb Vaddo in the Chapora Bay, while the Windsurfers, Kite Surfers and Hobie Catamarans launch from the Montego Bay Beach at Vithaldas Vaddo in the same village.

Koteshwar Rao of Trishna Sailing Club, Bangalore barely held on to his lead in the Toppers, as Avanti on of the Royal Madras Yacht Club won two races in the lighter winds, while Diya Correa of the Royal Bombay Yacht Club got her maiden victory, leaving Rao with just one win in heavier winds in the last race of the day.

In boards, Eabad Ali continued to be overall first, but Kamlapati posed a strong challenge, taking three races out of four on a day with light winds. Ishwar Dayal was third.

Hobie Cats saw Jaspreet Singh take a crushing lead, winning three races out of four, though Goa’s Ajay Patel managed to win a march on him in the last race of the day. Tomorrow is the final day of the VCloud Goa International Sailing Week, and the action starts at Montego Bay at 2pm.

Results:

Std: Race 6: (1) Rakesh Yadav (2) Israj Ali (3) M K Yadav

Std: Race 7: (1) Rakesh Yadav (2) M K Yadav (3) Israj Ali

Race 8: (1) Rakesh Yadav, (2) M K Yadav, (3) Israj Ali

Race 9: (1) Rakesh Yadav, (2) Israj Ali (3) Mukhtiar Singh

Radial Race 6: (1) Dileep Kumar (2) Sachin Singha, (3) A Srinu

Race 7: (1) Dileep Kumar (2) A Srinu (3) Sachin Singha

Race 8: (1) Sachin Singha (2) Dileep Kumar (3) A Srinu

Race 9: (1) Dileep Kumar (2) Sachin Singha (3) A Srinu

Toppers Race 6: (1) Avanti Menon (2) Koteshwar Rao (3) Diya Correa

Race 7: (1) Avanti Menon (2) Koteshwar Rao (3) Diya Correa

Race 8: (1) Diya Correa (2) Koteshwar Rao (3) Avanti Menon

Race 9: (1) Koteshwar Rao (2) Avanti Menon (3) Diya Correa

Boards Race 6: (1) Kamlapati (2) Eabad Ali (3) Ishwar Dayal

Race 7: (1) Kamlapati (2) Eabad Ali (3) Ishwar Dayal

Race 8: (1) Eabad Ali (2) Kamlapati (3) Ishwar Dayal

Race 9: (1) Kamlapati (2) Eabad Ali (3) Rahul Choudhary

Hobbies Cats Race 6: (1) Jaspreet Singh (2) Chandrashekhar

Race 7: (1) Jaspreet Singh (2) Ajay Patel (3) Chandrashekhar

Race 8: (1) Jaspreet Singh (2) Ajay Patel (3) Chandrashekhar

Race 9: (1) Ajay Patel (2) Jaspreet Singh (3) Chandrashekhar

DAY 4

RAKESH YADAV CLOSES IN ON LASER SAILING CROWN

Rakesh Yadav of EME Sailing Association, Secunderabad, made a near-clean sweep, winning 10 of the 11 races to claim the Laser Standard crown on the final day of the vCloud Goa International Sailing Week at Morjim Beach today. With an unassailable lead, he took it easy in the day’s first race, slipping to fifth place. But he asserted his supremacy in the second and last race of the day, winning comfortably. M K Yadav got the better of Israj Ali in the battle for second and third places, getting a first and second.

In Laser Radials, Dileep Kumar proved his superiority over Sachin Singha, beating him into second place to take the championship. A Srinu comfortably held on to third place. In Toppers, it was Diya Correa’s day. The Royal Bombay Yacht Club lass won both races, but it was still Koteshawar Rao of Trishna Sailing Club, Bangalore, who emerged at the top of the heap. Diya and Avanti Menon of Royal Madras Yacht Club were tied on points, but Diya came second on a technicality, having won the last race.

The Topper is an 11 foot sailing dinghy designed by Ian Proctor, which is recognised as an international class by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). Constructed from polypropylene, it is popular as a boat for sail training. Over 50,000 Toppers are now sailing worldwide. The Topper can be transported on the top of a car (hence the name); the mast splits into two sections, each of which is around the same size as the boat. It is one of the fastest growing classes of sailing boat in the world, with a World Championship held every year. It is considered the most successful ‘pathway’ class to transition to the Olympic Laser class.

In Windsurfing boards, Eabad Ali fought off Kamlapati’s challenge to hold his lead and take the championship. Ishwar Dayal was third, even though Rahul Choudhary (4th) beat him in both the races of the day. Hobie Cats saw Goa’s Ajay Patel win both the races of the day. However, Jaspreet Singh had a crushing lead, and managed to hold on to the title, despite not finishing Race 10. No Kite races could be held today on account of light winds, so Phillipe Dartnell was declared the winner on the basis of the two races held on Day 2.

Prizes were given away by Chief Guest President Emeritus of Goa Yachting Association Cesar Menezes, and the three Guests of Honour: Sarpanch of Morjim Smt Anuradha Morjekar, CEO of Four Seasons Hotel Sandip Ganguly and Head of vCloud Vinu Sunderesan.

Results:

Std: Race 10: (1) M K Yadav (2) Israj Ali (3) Sunil Kumar

Race 11: (1) Rakesh Yadav (2) M K Yadav (3) Mukhtiar Singh

Radial Race 10: (1) Dileep Kumar (2) Sachin Singha, (3) A Srinu

Race 11: (1) Dileep Kumar (2) Sachin Singha (3) S K Guruvaiah

Toppers Race 10: (1) Diya Correa (2) Koteshwar Rao (3) Avanti Menon

Race 11: (1) Diya Correa (2) Avanti Menon (3) Koteshwar Rao

Boards Race 10: (1) Eabad Ali (2) Kamlapati (3) Rahul Choudhary

Race 11: (1) Kamlapati (2) Eabad Ali (3) Rahul Choudhary

Hobie Cats Race 10: (1) Ajay Patel (2) Darshan (3) Chandrashekhar

Race 11: (1) Ajay Patel (2) Jaspreet Singh (3) Chandrashekhar

Kite Surfers (Overall): (1) Phillipe Dartnell (2)