Local Goa News

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Goa to be Indian Navy’s home for ocean sailing

PANAJI: Taking a cue from the foreign armed forces, who often compete at international games, the Indian Navy has started a four-year campaign to build a naval sailing team that will aim to compete and win a medal in four classes of the sailing competition at the 2018 Asian Games and 2020 Olympic games.

With this goal in mind, the Indian Navy has sanctioned 6 crore to acquire sophisticated and state-of-the-art equipment.
Speaking at the commemoration of the completion of the all women crews' maiden ocean trip, a naval officer said that the Indian Navy had commenced a four-year campaign to build a skilled Indian Navy sailing team to qualify for the Asian Games. "Let me say that it is a difficult task. But we have to try," a Naval officer who is part of the Indian Navy's sailing division said.
How serious the Indian Navy is about its intent can be seen in the fact that the Navy has recruited civilians who are serious sailors. The Indian Navy intends to compete in the 49er class, the 470 class championship, the Laser class and the RS:X class.
"The RS:X team is based here in Vasco, Goa and is training under Donald Coelho. His son Dwayne Coelho is an award winning national champion in RS:X class," the naval officer said.
During the function, Vice Admiral Girish Luthra and the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command also informed reporters that the Naval base of INS Mandovi would be a hub and a centre for the Navy's ocean sailing activities. "This place will be the hub and it will encourage and help train many more for ocean sailing. It will be the ocean sailing home of the Indian Navy," Luthra said.

TOI Goa News

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