Save the Lake Inland Water Championships

Sailor Rohini Rau spills all the beans on her fabulous experience at Save The Lake Inland Water Championships in Hyderabad.

I was home for exactly 4 days! Just enough time to recover from the Laser Radial World Championship in Karatsu, Japan and pack my bags and head off to Hyderabad for the Inland National Match Racing Championship 2009.

My team-mates

I will be joining my team consisting of Pallavi Naik (Goa), Alekhya Sudam (Hyderabad) and a new member Meghna. The 'Save the Lake' Regatta will be held on the J-24 class of boats and to witness these big boats being lowered in the water with the help of big cranes was an amazing sight; standing on the banks hoping that the water was deep enough for these big boats making their way to Hussain Sagar, Hyderabad for the first time! These big boats travelled all the way from Mumbai on large trucks.

The Girls 4 Sport (G4S) Team

I am happy to announce that an American sports clothing company Girls 4 Sport (G4S) will be providing the clothing for our team. We are happy to be associated with G4S as they have a wide range of clothing for water sports like swimming, sailing, surfing, etc. We will officially call ourselves the Girls 4 Sport (G4S) team at the Inland Match Racing Nationals scheduled to start on August 12, 2009.

World Class Sailors

Hyderabad will witness world class racing by veterans like Mahesh Ramachandran, Farokh Tarapore, Nithin and Aashim Mongia who are some of the best match racing teams of India fighting it out on the Hussain Sagar Lake to win the Inland National Title.

Three Women’s Teams in this “Save the Lake” Regatta

There will be 3 women’s teams taking part skippered by Pallavi Naik, Ayesha Lobo and Tara Matiwade. Although this championship has promised to be a lot of fun, there is a serious message attached to this annual event – “ Save the Lake” initiated by Suheim Sheikh, Commodore of Secunderabad Sailing Club. Having sailed in these very waters for many years he feels responsible to improve the conditions. “Hussain Sagar has the best facilities for sailing, being in the center of the city it is easily accessible. Also it makes the sport of sailing spectator friendly as the races can be easily seen standing on land all around the lake. The sailing conditions are also challenging, but the water is extremely polluted, and unless we save the lake now, it will become worse for our future generations” says Commodore Suheim.

We must save our lake!

He hopes that this annual event will catch the attention of people who can do something to make a difference. It doesn’t matter however small a difference it may be, as long as it is a step in the right direction to save our lake.

On a lighter note, I am definitely looking forward to some good racing in the coming week and a lot of fun as this event is being clubbed with the Hobie 16 and Optimists Classes.

Fair winds!