Team Giira caught up with Ayesha Lobo for a friendly chat and was quite taken aback with her enthusiasm & experience in sailing! She happens to be one of the most promising young women sailors and plans to represent India at the next Olympic games. Wishing you all the best Ayesha, we hope to hear more from you about all your plans and where you are taking them…

What does sailing/yachting mean to you?

I can proudly say that Yachting is one sport that gives an individual, a tremendous feeling of freedom, away from the trials and stress of everyday life. I truly feel like a bird “flying in the wind”, without a worry in the big wide world.

When did your passion start? When was the first time that you sailed?

My passion for sailing started in the year 2001, at the young age of 10 and believe me, as I continue to sail over the years, this passion has consumed me totally. I still remember the first time on the Optimist boat, the water spluring all around me, the wind in my hair…….the year 2001

What lies in the future for your passion and you? Where do you want to take it from here?

My goal for the future is to get a good ISAF ranking and to represent India at the 2012 Olympic games to be held in London.

Special achievements?

2^nd – 7^th December, 2005 - 11^th South Asian Yachting Regatta held at Karachi (Pakistan)

16^th – 25^th March, 2006 - 12^th Asian Sailing Championship held at Doha (Qatar)

1^st May – 10^th May, 2006 – ABN Amro Optimist Coastal Championship held in Mumbai

27^th July – 5^th August,2006 – IODA Asian Sailing Championship held at Taipei (Taiwan)

15^th – 20^th October, 2006 - National Inland Optimist Championship held in Pune (India)

20^th – 22^nd May, 2007 – National Laser Radial Championship (Youth Nationals, Chennai)

August 2007 - Inland National Laser Radial Championship held at Hyderabad (India)

March 2008 - Match racing National championship held at Mumbai (India)

May 2008 - Laser Coastal National Championship held at Chennai (India)

August 2008 - Laser Inland National Championship held at Hyderabad (India)

September 2008 – 420 class Coastal National Championship held at Chennai (India)

September 2008 - Match racing Nationals Cup Qualifiers held at Mumbai (India)

Yachting Association of India Special award for the most promising girl sailor for the year 2006-2007 (New Delhi, India)

Most memorable moment?

My first National Optimist Sailing Championship held at Chennai in 2001, the third National Optimist Sailing Championship held in 2003, and the National Optimist Sailing Championship held in 2006 of my entire sailing career were the most memorable ones.

In one of the races, a squall hit the sailing area and this caused the waves to swell upto

3-4 meters high, besides wind speed strongly rose to 25 knots. I was in a small bath-tub shaped boat called the “Optimist Class”, very scared before starting the race. To add to this, it rained heavily, there was slim visibility but I knew roughly where the marks were, so I followed my instincts and stayed with the fleet. As I came towards the mark rounding, I could see ahead of me that everyone who rounded had capsized and were having great difficulty uprighting their boats, on account of the huge waves. As I went near the rounding mark, I slowly moved away and sailed with precaution as I wanted to finish the race. Every time someone capsized, I clenched my tiller and mainsheet tight, prayed hard and went past them. I successfully finished that race in 12^th position. In those harsh weather conditions and first time exposure, I think I sailed very well and was proud of my efforts.

In the May 2006 ABN Amro National Sailing Championship held in Mumbai, from day one till the second last day of the championship, I was leading in the girls category, but on the second last day, all the points I had gained throughout the championship was lost to another girl, and I had one last race on the final day to prove my worth as a champion. I did whatever it took and seemed utterly determined to win. After a fight to the finish, I had finally won as the best girl sailor in the Optimist class. I was on top of the world, unforgettable event, even till today! I was first in the girls category and 7^th in the general category, amongst 44 participants.

In the scene of things, where do you see women in the future (in India) …How do you see yourself contributing?

I feel more women should participate in the field of Yachting, as women are now getting a chance to reach the International level of participation. It requires a lot of hard work and efforts and I feel strongly that women are tough enough to handle this sport. As of now, I am in the process of forming a women’s team to perform at the International level, and as a result have been encouraging many women who are keen to learn this sport.

I am also personally trying hard to propagate Yachting in schools and colleges too.

And where do you see India/Mumbai and the sailing/yachting scenario five years into the future……?

Hopefully in about five years, Mumbai will have a Marina and sailing will be a popular sport which will receive tremendous support from the state and Government of India. Besides, India too will have an international (Olympic) standing in this sport.

Your favourite spot for a marina in India?

At the Gateway of India or at Marine Drive in Mumbai

Your favourite sailing destinations?

South Africa (Capetown)

Greece (Athens)

Spain (Barcelona)

Australia (Sydney)

Indonesia (Bali)

Your favourite boat which you have sailed and what kind do you aspire to own and sail?

My all time favourites are the ‘Laser Radial’ , then the Hobie Cat, the 29er , the Tornado, the Blade-runner (power boat), the Princess…….for now

I would like to own all of the above boats if I could, and maybe more………

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