Feast your eyes on the Gateway of India Marina…

29 February 2008 No Comment

…Albeit for only a few days!

As we all must be aware that the Samira Mumbai International Boat Show ‘08 is here and happening in full-swing, something that would surely excite us is the Sea Venue ie a temporary marina put up alongside the Gateway of India.

Just the thought excites us, since we all are well aware of the fact that Mumbai much requires a marina, and if we were to take a public opinion…the first and most obvious choice would be GATEWAY OF INDIA !

Little is known about why there has never been talk about a marina coming up there or why the idea is shunned away if ever promoted. Even the fact that the honorable INS Vikrant has not been berthed in the vicinity adds to the ‘murkiness’ in these waters.

Likewise…have a look at what’s in store for you if you visit this marina, specially made for the SMIBS ‘08. Maybe this is as close to our ‘Marina Dreams’ that we could get.

SMIBS ‘08

The facade of the ‘Gateway’ has been a bit changed lately – with reconstruction and a facelift of the monument itself, and at the same time a lot of open space for tourist to roam around freely.

Last few days have seen the temporary structures put up for the registration to the Marina for SMIBS 2008 – which is a HUGE (literally!) surprise.

A world-class pontoon jetty has been put into place for 3 days of the MIBS and is open to the public, on registration.

This is definitely a fantastic opportunity for all members of the public and media to have a ‘hands-on’ experience at of the world-famous yachts on display. In that way, people would surely get more ‘yacht-friendly’.

IT’S HOT !

When Team GIIRA reached the venue, it was very nice to see the layout of the jetty. Yachts were aligned to the jetty and the hospitable nature of the crews of the various yachts made it easy to approach and get a closer look at things – and most important, the chance of being on a yacht.

Around 9 yachts of a good size were parked stern-faced so as to facilitate easy entry/ exit. There was a Ferretti 550, a Princess, Azimut 50, a Jeanneau Sailboat and a Larson to name a few.

We were present at different times of the day and what was noticable was the great response to this part of the whole event and it flair with which the companies had demonstrated their yachts.

Also, it was a typically very hot and sunny Mumbai day and at the same time in the early afternoon the waters were calm but towards the later part of the day, it was a rocking and rolling affair with waters getting a bit ‘untide-y’.

Hope to see one and all at the jetty…make sure you all are there to have the closest look as possible for sometime to come to a yacht…and possibly one of the few times that our ‘Gateway Marina Dreams’ come true…