Photos: Hyderabad Sailing week

Opening Ceremony of the Hyderabad Sailing Week was held at Secunderabad Club Sailing Annexe, Hussain Sagar on 27 Jun 2016. Hon’ble Governor of Andhra Pradesh & Telangana State, Shri ESL Narasimhan was the Chief Guest for the Opening Ceremony.

The event is being jointly organised by the EME Sailing Association and Secunderabad Sailing Club under the aegis of Laser Class Association of India supported by Govt of Telangana. Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, GOC-in-C, Southern Command also graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour.

Lt Gen Gurmukh Singh, SM, VSM**, President Laser Class Association of India (LCAI) and Commodore EME Sailing Club said, “We are indeed privileged to have Shri ESL Narasimhan, Governor of the states of Andhra Pradesh & Telangana amidst us who has graciously consented to be the Chief Guest for the Opening Ceremony of Hyderbad Sailing Week – 2016.

We place on record our gratitude to Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat for taking out time to be with us here today”, while welcoming all the sailors from across the country. He also mentioned, “Over the years, the sport of Sailing has received a tremendous boost in the country in general and Hyderabad in particular.

This event is being hosted at Hussain Sagar Lake for the past 30 years. Sailors from all over the country have come here to test their sailing skills by competing against the top competitors, besides mastering the winds and waves in their quest for glory, in the best traditions of the sport of sailing.

Ladies and gentlemen, this year the event has taken a big leap by going multiclass. That means all senior and Olympic class sails in the country will be competing in this glorious event alongside the 31st Laser Sailing Championships.

It is overwhelming to see the record breaking number of entries in the event unmatched for any sailing event in the country ever. We have a total of participants and boats participating in all three classes which makes this event, as one of its kind in India.

I would like to wish all the participants of Hyderabad Sailing Week – 2016, the very best. I am sure that there will be a healthy competition in the highest traditions of the sportsmanship”, while wishing fair winds and happy sailing to the participants. At stake are many trophies including Late Lt Cdr Kelly S Rao Trophy, Rolling Trophy by Secunderabad Club, YAI Katari Bowl and a number of individual medals.

Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, GOC-in-C, Southern Command, said “It is indeed encouraging to see large number of budding Sailors participating in the race. We do hope to see them as medal winners in international competitions”.

More than 200 participants are competing in the races including a sizeable number of women sailors. Maj Gen Sanjeev Khanna, Vice Commodore, EMESA, said, “This is a landmark year for the LCAI due to introduction of Multi Class Championships”.

LCAI was founded in 1986 with a view to promote sailing in the country. Hyderabad Sailing Week is an annual feature organized by the LCAI. EME Sailing Association was formed in the year 1964. The sailing association has produced a number of medal winner both at national and international level.