Sailing: Laser Coastal Nationals 2010

iSporter and Ace sailor Rohini Rau gives us an update on the recently concluded Laser Coastal Nationals that were held in Goa. iSport congratulates Rohini for finishing 4th overall and 1st in the women’s category!!

rohinilasernationals

The Laser Coastal Nationals was held in sunny, fun Goa after a long long break of 8 years. I remember the last time I raced there was when I was still sailing the Optimist (the little bath tub for under 15 year olds) It also happens to be the home of my sailing partner Pallavi Naik. We created Indian sailing history by winning ’s first women’s international gold medal at the Asian Sailing Championship in 2004.

My parents and I drove down a week before the championship to soak in some Goan sun.

This year had a record number of entries. There were over 60 participants from Clubs from all over India such as the Army Yachting Node (AYN Mumbai), Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centres (Vizag, Mumbai & Kochi), The Royal Madras Yacht Club, The Tamil Nadu Sailing Association, The Royal Bombay Yacht Club, The EME Sailing Association, The EME Sailing Club Bhopal, the Corps of Engineers Sailing Club, the NDA Sailing Club and the Hosts: Goa Yachting Association, Goa.

The Classes sailed were the Laser Standard (Men), Radial (Open) and 4.7 (Youth). I sailed the Laser Radial which is an Open category at the Asian Games and a Women’s category at the Olympics. This was the most strongly contested class at these Nationals with 30 entries.

The races were sailed in wind strengths ranging from 5 – 15 knots of wind. We had two races every day. But we alternated our races with the Lasers for the morning and the afternoon so that every one had a chance to sail in different conditions.

The ten race series was spread across 5 grueling hot days off the beach of the beautiful venue, Cidade de Goa. In spite of the heat it was a treat!

Rajesh Choudhury (AYN) got off to a great start winning 6 races in a row in the Laser Radial Class. The two time Asian Games bronze medalist in the same class also celebrated his 36thbirthday during the regatta making him eligible for the Master’s title.

I had a few good races finishing 3rd and 4th. But my wrist injury prevented me from performing to my fullest especially when the wind got stronger. I finished 4th overall and 1st among the women.

The Laser Standard had 18 entries with Gajender Singh (AYN) winning all his races. The Laser 4.7 was keenly contested by 8 sailors from the RMYC and TNSA, Chennai. Hussain Bhavnagarwala (TNSA) won the boy’s title and Aishwarya N (TNSA) won the girl’s title.

GYA did a great job of hosting the Coastal Nationals this year. They also clubbed the Windsurfing Board Nationals during the same time where veteran Derek Menezes (GYA) won the National title, yet again. He has the distinction of never having lost a single race in all these years.

2010 is going to be an action packed year for sailing for me with a lot of Regattas coming up, nationally and internationally. I will keep you posted.

Next up is the Royal Madras Yacht Club’s Centenary Regatta that will feature the 420 and 470 Nationals and a Match Racing Cup from 18th to the 23rd of May 2010.

I will be taking part in the 420 with my partner Pallavi Naik after 4 years. The golden pair returns! Stay tuned for more news!