Goa’s vibrant blue sea is a favourite playground for the rich and famous who come here to party or to ride their sails against the wind, evoking comparisons with the French Riviera.
The Portuguese naval officers were the first to tap the yachting potential in Goa with their wooden Luziados – a passion they bequeathed to the Goans. It was only in 1968 that Goa’s first Chief Minister, the late Dayanand Bandodkar, an avid yachter himself, was to make this sport popular in Goa. Later, yachting stalwarts like Cesar Menezes, Anil Madgavkar, Damodar Bhonsulo and a few other like minded individuals started the Goa Yachting Association in 1973. With an impressive membership, the list reads like the Who’s Who of Goan society, many of whom own yachts, both powered and sail.
Rigging sails against wind speed rather than horse power, the Yachting Club has a collection of three seabird class 21 footer yachts, Lasers, Optimists and the 420s which are anchored at a privately owned cove in Dona Paula, during season. It organises sailing trips for members as well as non-members and also conducts sailing classes for adults and children. Some privately owned yachts like the powered ‘Solita’ are rented out for exclusive parties.
Goa has hosted two national level regattas – the National Coastal Optimist Championship in May 2005 which was won by Trisha Sabir and the Zonal Optimist Championships in May 2008 where Sheldon De Mello was placed second. In addition, the Association also organises various State and National Wind Surfing Championships. The world famous Vasco da Gama Rally makes a halt at Goa as it sails around the world from Turkey to Malaysia once in two years.
Says Cesar Menezes, who has been President of the Goa Yachting Association for a remarkable 30 years, “India is waking up to the boating lifestyle. Goa has huge potential and if we develop awareness and a sustaining interest in the young right now, then it will take off with the next generation. We also need to build a marina and other yachting infrastructure. Goa can then become a full-fledged yachting hub on the national as well as international scene. The boating lifestyle is privy to a few presently as the equipment is imported and hence expensive, but in time to come, as the interest builds up, so will demand which in turn will make it cheaper and affordable to all.”
Text: Patricia Ann Alvares