ISAF NATIONS CUP REGIONAL FINALS – ASIA | The Finest Yachts and The Boating Lifestyle in India…and All Over the World.

ISAF NATIONS CUP REGIONAL FINALS – ASIA

13 October 2008 No Comment

For the first time under the ageis of the Yatching Association of India and Match Racing Association of India, the ISAF (international sailing federation) Nations Cup Regional Finals Asia 2008 will be held off the waters of Chowpatty from the 14th to the 19th of October, 2008.

The city of Mumbai with its great Maritime history adds another jewel to its crown by conducting the ISAF Nations Cup Regional Finals Asia 2008 off the waters of Chowpatty at the H2O complex from 14 to 19 Oct 2008, under the aegis of Yachting Association of India and Match Racing Association of India. The Indian Naval Watermanship training Centre Mumbai is the host club for the event.

Sponsors –
The event has been sponsored by ‘ West Coast Marine’ and wholeheartedly supported by the Western Naval Command, Indian Navy, the MTDC. Sail for Cancer- Sport for Life will be the charity of choice for the event.

About the event -
This International event has attracted top-level competition from the Asian Region and from our very own country, India including the top teams in the Open and Women’s classes! The Indian challenge will be spearheaded by Arjuna Awardee Cdr R Mahesh who is rated in the top 50 of the International Sailing Federation Match Racing rankings and winner of the silver medal at the Asian Games in Doha 2006 and more recently the Gold Medal at the World Military Games at Mumbai.

The other Indian challenge includes another Arjuna Awardee, Olympian and two times World Champion Farokh Tarapore who recently won the Indian qualifiers, and Arjuna Awardee and Asian Games medalist Aashim Mongia who was the runners up in the selections and Nitin Mongia who is also an Arjuna Awardee and multiple Asian Games and World Championship medalist.

The boats –
The event will be conducted in the J 24 class of boats with a total complement of 4 persons on board. Considering that the boats have been perfectly matched and are provided to competitors, only skill and talent of the teams will be put to test on the waters of Chowpatty. International Umpires Ajay Balram and International Instructor and Umpire Alfredo Ricci from Italy with a team of National Umpires will be on the water waving off yellow and blue flags to signal penalties in case of rule breakages by yachts.

Format –
The format will be a double round robin and the top 4 from there will move onto the semi final/final knock out stage. In Match Racing the winner of the round robin gets to select his opponent in the semi final match.

Indian companies are a lot behind in sponsoring sports and it is in the interest of visibility that this event is being held in the waters off Chowpatty, which not only popularizes the sport but also gives enough opportunity to the audience to familiarize themselves with the sport.

The match race which is being held at the Chowpatty (Mumbai) which is one of the worlds largest promenades which would create an excellent vantage point for spectators to enjoy the sport. The Match Racing Association has aimed at popularizing the sport of yachting in India by inducting 1000 yachts persons from all walks of life and has gone a long way in bringing sailing to the masses.

The event will be kicked off with a grand opening ceremony at the H2O Water Sports Complex on 14th October at 1930 hrs. There would be a water sports extravaganza in addition to a demonstration Match Race for the press and invitees being sailed.

Racing would start daily at 1100 Hrs from 15-19 Oct. you can also find team members of Giira Yachts at the venue. Do feel free to ask them about the event or anything in particular information that you require.