Anchor8217;s aweigh

If polo is a sport for the kings, then yachting has always been associated with industrialists. But for them, sailing is much more than a sp...

If polo is a sport for the kings, then yachting has always been associated with industrialists. But for them, sailing is much more than a sport 8212; business barons love to be photographed on their expensive playthings, unwinding on the sea, in the company of beautiful people. Britian8217;s Richard Branson 8212; the flamboyant owner of the Virgin group 8212; epitomises this spirit to a tee. If he is not ballooning across the seas, he is setting sail across the oceans.

India too has its fair share of Bransons. Leading the pack by a full sail is UB Group8217;s Vijay Mallya. He is the current owner of the most famous yacht docked in India. The 165-ft Kalizma, built in 1906, is all gleaming old wood and brass. It can comfortably house 10 people and has three double cabins and two twin cabins. A TV lounge room, formal dining room and study complete the picture. And if you want to walk on water there are two jet skis on board, to fulfil that dream. But the Kalizma is more famous for its past, than the luxury it offers. It was onboard this floatel that Richard Burton presented Elizabeth Taylor her famous 69.4 carat diamond engagement ring. Unfortunately, their ownership of the yacht lasted longer than their marriages.

The Kalizma changed hands a few times until it reached Mallya. He restored the boat to its old glory and now it can be spotted in Goa, gleaming like a diamond against the azure blue sky and sea. The only distraction around it is the 142-ft Bagpiper 8212; Mallya8217;s other newer and bigger yacht.

Keeping Mallya8217;s yachts company, at sea, are the Piramal8217;s, Godrej8217;s and Birla8217;s seaworthy carriers. While the Piramal8217;s Haveli is as beautiful as Mallya8217;s babies, neither of them can stand a chance next to Jamshed Godrej8217;s Tir 8212; when it comes to speed. One of the most expensive sailing boats in the city, Godrej lets it rip only for his personal pleasure. But if he did, it is commonly accepted, no other boat would stand a chance. quot;It is a classic wooden yacht built over 30 years ago. Today, building such a craft would work outvery expensive,quot; says J S Jehangir, partner, West Coast Marine. His company has built most of the sailing boats docked in the city and it also looks after Mallya8217;s Kalizma.

There is no denying that most of these owners also sail for the sheer pleasure of feeling the sea breeze blowing through their hair. Mallya8217;s Kingfisher regatta is the number one event on the sailing calendar. Godrej has kept a smaller yacht that he brings out for the national-level races. And Mumbai8217;s coastline is dotted with tiny sail boats during the pre-monsoon months of April and May. Owning a yacht is not the sole privilege of industrialists 8212; a small racing boat costs slightly over Rs one-and-a-half lakh. It is the up-keep that limits the ownership.

quot;It costs much more to keep a boat, than to buy it. There are maintenance costs 8212; like you must have a boat man to look after it, every two to three years you have to re-paint etc,quot; says an avid sailor, who owns a 18-ft yacht. Jehangir estimates that a small yacht would cost atleast Rs 50,000 a year in maintenance. A boat man8217;s salary alone is about Rs 30,000 a year. Some owners have found ways to curb costs 8212; they share boat men or pool resources to buy a yacht. But sometimes even that is not enough of a respite. Orkay8217;s Kapil Mehra, it is rumoured, is selling his yacht as he is unable to afford its upkeep.

But there are ways to get in 8212; or on sea. For just Rs 5,000 a year you can join the Colaba Sailing Club and learn how to sail. Membership also allows you to borrow a boat whenever you want. This actually makes sailing cheaper then most other sports. Which is why in the last 30 years, membership has risen 8212; at the moment there are 600 registered members. Corporates like Tata Consultancy Services also have yachts that their employees can use. So did Grindlay8217;s Bank 8212; until one of its employees bought it!

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The only drawback of the sport is that it is time-consuming 8212; which explains why the sport is associated with carefree, wealthy playboys. It takes half an hour toprepare for a sail and another half an hour to dock the boat. So, even an hour8217;s sail takes two hours. quot;And if you want to go for a casual sail on a weekend you will have to wait till Sunday, as Saturday is race day,quot; says Jehangir. To learn how to sail takes at least six months and the season starts in October and ends in May.

But for those who do make the time, the passion for the sport becomes all-consuming. quot;There is a real sense of adventure coupled with hard work and physical exhaustion.quot; A tiredness that is thrown to the winds, as a yacht catches the first breeze and sets off in to the blue yonder.