Sailing over the horizon

From a second placed finish in the Junior National Championship last year,Upamanyu Dutta and Hussai Arsiwala have conquered the senior division title

It’s all about learning on the go for the pair of 16-year-olds from Mumbai,Upamanyu Dutta and Hussain Arsiwala,the newly crowned National Champions in the senior division of the 420 Coastal National Championships. While not the youngest duo participating in the Royal Madras Yacht Club (RMYC) event in Chennai,the pair was unfazed by their comparative lack of experience. While the pair admitted that experience plays a big role in sailing,they maintained that having a creative edge and innovative mind is always necessary.

With a partnership that formed just over a year ago,each sailor had varied involvement in the sport. On one hand,there is Dutta,who was first introduced to the concept of sailing when he was three,citing that both his grandfather and father were avid sailors. I found it very interesting from a very early age, said Dutta who started competing professionally since the age of eleven. On the other hand,Arsiwala turned professional just last year after being associated with the sport since the past four years. My father was a sailor when he was young, said Arsiwala. He introduced me to it and I found it fun and exciting.

Just as any other sport,sailing too has its participants desiring a particular climate in which to sail. Dutta and Arsiwala unanimously stated that they prefer sailing in a warm environment. You dont need extra clothing when it is warm, said Dutta. Getting splashed by the cool water is a bonus and you enjoy it even better at those times. With colder weather conditions however,Arsiwala explained that there are several pieces of clothing one has to wear to keep the body warm and dry. The problem is that the gear gets too heavy and the boat gets harder to manoeuvre, he said. The duo also explained that they prefer practicing during the monsoon season. The heavy winds and high waves give us a challenge,but its also more fun, said Arsiwala.

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When asked about the tactics the pair employed during their races,Dutta mentioned that each has a specific role. I study the weather pattern and the water movement, he said. Accordingly,Hussain controls the dinghy. Arsiwala,in turn explained that the duo make sure they stay focused throughout the race. We have to get the coordination right,and so most of the times were talking about our strategy during the race, he said.

Participating in the 420 class,which requires a pair of sailors to handle a two-man trapeze boat,Dutta claimed that there are a lot of physical demands the event needs. You need to have a lot of stamina, he said. Your feet need to be very strong,but you also have to make sure you have upper body strength. He further commented that a capsized boat is a common feature in the 420 class event since the boat is very light. Its not too difficult to turn the boat over again,but for that you have to be strong enough.

While battling rough waters and frigid weather conditions,it is also fascinating to know that the youngsters also have to create a balance between their education and their sailing career. Its a little difficult to handle both at times, said Dutta. I usually change immediately after getting home and practice for two hours on the weekdays. We get more time to practice during the weekends though. Dutta is a student at the Bombay International School while Arsiwala studies at BD Somani.

The student-athletes are now focusing their attention to the 2014 Asian Games at Incheon,but are scheduled to train in Europe for a month-and-a-half. With the current monsoon season giving them their preferred scene to practice in,hopes are high for the duo to perform well.

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