CHENNAI: The 11th edition of the India International Regatta kicked off on December 4, and the early impressions from the under-18 sailors were unanimous. The waters were unpredictable, the winds fickle and often fierce. Earlier this week, DT Next experienced those conditions first-hand, boarding an Indian Navy patrol boat to follow the race course deep into the Bay of Bengal off the Chennai coast.
As the sailors worked their way through the laps, repeatedly swinging their bodies across the boom to balance their boats against the choppy waters, those of us on board the patrol vessel clung to every available handrail. Our journey took us well beyond Chennai Port, the point of embarkation, offering a stark perspective of the conditions the young competitors were battling.
The start of the final day’s racing was delayed by 30 minutes after port authorities temporarily halted competition to allow a cargo ship to pass through the channel. Such interruptions are expected to reduce once the Tamil Nadu Sailing Association completes its Sailing Academy and Centre of Excellence near the mouth of the Cooum river. The facility is expected to ease logistical challenges for organisers and athletes alike.
The new centre will also address the difficulty sailors currently face while launching their boats. During the visit, it took nearly 10 minutes by car from the TNSA office to the separate launch slipway, an added strain on competitors already dealing with demanding conditions.
With an active cyclonic low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal on Friday, the waters were particularly unsettled. Even on a spacious patrol boat, standing steady proved difficult. That reality only deepened the admiration for young sailors from across the world competing in boats barely eight feet long, relying on balance, strength and nerve.
On the opening day, India number one and also the winner of the Optimist class race Krishna Venkitachalam, national medallist Vantava Raguraman and several international sailors spoke about the unexpectedly rising wind speeds. While many expected conditions to ease, they intensified instead, with winds touching 50 to 54 mph by day two, leading to multiple capsizes. The third day offered little respite, with stronger currents and larger swells adding to the challenge.
Away from the water, beneath fluttering event flags, race officials and jury members had a clear view of both competition and progress. For the first time since 2019, international sails returned to Chennai waters.
“The event had to take a long break because the sailing area was handed over to the Coast Guard by the Chennai Port Trust. Sailing came to a complete standstill,” said Ashok Thakkar, Vice President of TNSA and YAI.
International judge Ilker Bavandesh noted the progress of Indian sailors.
Their capability has improved significantly. I follow them at several international events outside IndiaIlker Bavandesh
Thakkar also spoke about the long journey towards building a sailing academy in Tamil Nadu, tracing its origins back to 2003. He added that the Ramanathapuram Olympic Water Sports Academy, with its consistent winds and large training area, could accommodate up to 75 sailors at a time.
For Ruse, the team leader of Ireland, the journey itself was part of the experience. “Six kids and a coach travelled across half the world to get here. They are very excited,” she said.
She added that the conditions were demanding, especially for sailors used to lakes. “But it is all part of learning.”
For Ramkrishna, father of Krishna Venkitachalam, the regatta marked a special homecoming.
Chennai has not hosted a regatta in six years. My son started sailing four years ago and this is his first regatta hereRamkrishna
While the sailors battle the elements on the water, the regatta runs on the quiet commitment of those working behind the scenes. Though the spotlight is firmly on the competitors, the tournament is sustained by ground staff who have supported generations of sailors over the years.
Ranjini, a housekeeping staff member with the Tamil Nadu Sailing Association since 2018, plays a central role in keeping daily operations running smoothly. She looks after the needs of sailors and officials alike, tending to the space when the boats return to shore. Her connection with the association runs deeper.
After her husband, a former TNSA coach, passed away in 2011, she joined the club and became a custodian of its history. Pointing towards restricted waters inside Chennai Port, she recalls earlier training days and charts the association’s journey with remarkable clarity. “You can ask me anything about this place,” she says with a smile.
Out on the water, Lingesh has been a constant presence for decades.
A former fisherman from North Chennai’s Periyakuppam, the 47-year-old works closely with sailors, maintaining boats and guiding them through demanding conditions. His comfort at sea comes naturally.
I have never been afraid of the seaA former fisherman
Lingesh counts Olympian KC Ganapathy among those he helped train, having introduced him to sailing years ago. Watching his protégés succeed on the global stage, he says, is reward enough. Asked what life might have been without sailing, his answer is simple. “I would still be in the sea. I am a fisherman, after all.”