Tamil Nadu youngsters make waves at FOTNA Sailing Cup 2026
CHENNAI: Young sailors from fishing communities in Nagapattinam made waves at the FOTNA Sailing Cup 2026, clinching the Optimist Green Fleet Trophy after barely two months of training.
The two-day regatta, organised by the Indian Navy and Royal Madras Yacht Club ( RMYC ) on September 19 and 20, brought together around 80 sailors competing across six classes of boats.
The opening day saw light and unpredictable winds that tested the sailors’ tactical skills, while stronger winds on the second day produced fast and exciting racing.
The standout performance came from the Nagapattinam Yacht Club, which is being promoted and supported by RMYC.
Despite their limited training, the young sailors displayed skill and consistency to emerge winners in the Optimist Green Fleet.
In the Optimist Main Fleet, sailors supported by Chennai Port and Cholamandalam Finance performed strongly, while Krishna of RMYC, an international gold medallist, demonstrated his experience at the front of the fleet.
In the J/80 class, the Indian Navy and Royal Madras Yacht Club finished with an equal series score of 12 points each.
The final placing was determined in accordance with the tie-break provisions specified in the applicable sailing regulations, with RMYC securing first position and the Indian Navy finishing a close second.
The Indian Navy stood first in the Enterprise class and second in the Omega and ILCA 6 classes. Open Skiff also witnessed closely fought races.
Capt Vivek Shanbhag, honorary secretary, RMYC, said the club has been training underprivileged youngsters for the past 18 months, with several already winning competitions and gaining valuable exposure at the India International Regatta 2026.
The Nagapattinam victory marked an important milestone in RMYC’s effort to take competitive sailing to coastal communities across Tamil Nadu .
Rear Admiral Upal Kundu, VSM, FOTNA, presented the medals and trophies and congratulated the sailors and club staff for conducting a safe and successful event.
He complimented the race officials, Cdr ML Sharma and Ram Lal, for completing a record 45 races and seven protests in one-and-a-half days.
The two-day regatta, organised by the Indian Navy and Royal Madras Yacht Club ( RMYC ) on September 19 and 20, brought together around 80 sailors competing across six classes of boats.
The opening day saw light and unpredictable winds that tested the sailors’ tactical skills, while stronger winds on the second day produced fast and exciting racing.
The standout performance came from the Nagapattinam Yacht Club, which is being promoted and supported by RMYC.
Despite their limited training, the young sailors displayed skill and consistency to emerge winners in the Optimist Green Fleet.
In the Optimist Main Fleet, sailors supported by Chennai Port and Cholamandalam Finance performed strongly, while Krishna of RMYC, an international gold medallist, demonstrated his experience at the front of the fleet.
In the J/80 class, the Indian Navy and Royal Madras Yacht Club finished with an equal series score of 12 points each.
The final placing was determined in accordance with the tie-break provisions specified in the applicable sailing regulations, with RMYC securing first position and the Indian Navy finishing a close second.
The Indian Navy stood first in the Enterprise class and second in the Omega and ILCA 6 classes. Open Skiff also witnessed closely fought races.
Capt Vivek Shanbhag, honorary secretary, RMYC, said the club has been training underprivileged youngsters for the past 18 months, with several already winning competitions and gaining valuable exposure at the India International Regatta 2026.
The Nagapattinam victory marked an important milestone in RMYC’s effort to take competitive sailing to coastal communities across Tamil Nadu .
Rear Admiral Upal Kundu, VSM, FOTNA, presented the medals and trophies and congratulated the sailors and club staff for conducting a safe and successful event.
He complimented the race officials, Cdr ML Sharma and Ram Lal, for completing a record 45 races and seven protests in one-and-a-half days.
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