The event got off to a great start with a Practice Race, in conditions tailor-made for sailing; big swells, choppy seas and fresh breeze that gladdened the hearts of sailors and officials alike. The conditions livened up during the period of the IIR, to the extent races were called off on the 19th, as it was impossible to even venture out in rescue boats beyond the harbour mouth. Winds that day went over 25 knots, with monstrous waves that precluded safe sailing.However the wind was otherwise so reliable and steady right through from the North-East averaging between 15 and 20 knots, 11 races could be completed comfortably with five on the final day. Ninety-two sailors from six countries, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland raced in four youth classes, Optimist, Laser 4.7, Laser Radial and 29er.

The Principal Race Officer from Malaysia, IRO Mohd Afendy Abdullah was thoroughly professional, and finished the races well on time each day on perfect courses, assisted by a competent TNSA team. International Judges from Singapore, Malaysia, Republic of Korea and India, ably headed by Hong Kit Lock from Singapore ensured fair sailing.

In the 29er class, it was girl power all the way and the competition was only for the 2nd and 3rd places.

Asian Games Bronze medallists Varsha Gautham and Aishwarya Nedunchezhiyan held complete sway over the class and finished every race a leg or more ahead of the others. While these two revelled in the feisty conditions, some of the less experienced sailors found it rather tough to stay afloat. Another girl pair from Sweden, Hanna Hoije and Emma Fridolfsson, despite having trained in flat waters, coped admirably with the conditions to finish second.Indian pair Pavan Verma and Navneet Vishwakarma finished in third position after giving the Swedish girls a stiff fight for the first couple of days. Vishnu was the name to go by in the Laser classes.

In the Laser Radial, day one started with Cameron Riley from Hong Kong dominating in all three races. Thereafter Vishnu Saravanan took over and was indomitable, he won the remaining 8 races with convincing leads. Nethra Kumanan brought up the third position and won the Girls Gold. These three sailors showed they were in a different league, finishing a goodly distance ahead of the rest of the fleet.

In the Laser 4.7 it was Vishnu Sujeesh who prevailed after a keen fight with Christopher Bezy from Hong Kong. On day one, it was Christopher who led after winning two of the three races. On day two the situation reversed with Vishnu winning two of the races and the two were tied. On the final day Vishnu went all out and won 4 of the 5 races held, and clinched the title. Shikhar Garg finished third while Molly Highfield from Hong Kong finished first among girls.

In the Optimist class, it took two races for Kiwi Robbie McCutcheon to find the measure of Bay of Bengal, but he was unstoppable after that and won 8 of the remaining 9 races and captured the Optimist trophy. Aniketh Rajaram started off day one leading the pack, continued to sail very steady and comfortably won the Silver. Ramya Saravanan sailed a brilliant series finishing third overall and won the Optimist Girls trophy. Mahesh Balachander was happy to grab the third position among boys which Naveen Kumanan lost despite a worthy performance, thanks to one OCS and an infringement on the finish line which cost him several positions; a lesson he is unlikely to forget in a hurry. Indian sailors’ medal haul in the event also won India her first ASAF Youth Cup Trophy, with three more championships left in the series, which will be held in Hong Kong, Singapore and Abu Dhabi in February, March and April, respectively.

The IIR 2014 came to a conclusion on the 21st of December with a memorable valedictory function.

Ajay Narang