Looking back at 2007 we had a wonderful year for match racing in India...

  1. The MRAI website www.mrai.in was launched.
  2. Match Racing Clinics at all times of the year including the monsoons were held.
  3. The Nationals attracted 12 entries and 48 competitors from 8 clubs and was keenly contested in J 24 class boats at Mumbai.
  4. The RBYC Match Race was organised in J 24's and Seabirds and was a hit with the competitors.
  5. India hosted its first International Match Racing Event and it was a runaway success in all aspects of the game. On behalf of the MRAI I extend a special THANK YOU to the Indian Navy, The Western Naval Command, The sponsors(Friends who put out money to make the event work) and most of the Match Racing fraternity who put themselves out to ensure the events success at the cost of their own sailing. We also thank the NSF for helping us whenever required.
  6. The Indian team had great success at International events held during the year and did the MRAI, the YAI and the country proud being great ambassadors of the sport on and off the water.
  7. The AGM of the association was a mass brainstorming session in keeping with the byline of the MRAI being an association run by the sailors for the sailors! And the list goes on..........and we have lots to do to ensure the momentum keeps us going forward without any major ir-repairable t-boning!!

2008 WILL BE A PATH BREAKING YEAR IF WE PUT OUR COLLECTIVE HEADS AND EFFORTS TOWARDS

  1. BRINGING AND ENCOURAGING MORE PEOPLE TO GET INTO THE SPORT
  2. GOING OUT OF OUR WAY IN ASSISTING IN ORGANISATION(AS MOST OF US DID FOR THE MUMBAI MATCH RACE AND THE MANY CLINICS ORGANISED!)
  3. GETTING OUT ON THE WATER AND SAVE THE TALKING FOR THE BAR!!

THIS IS THE MOUTH WATERING SCHEDULE WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2008
 
  1. Two Grade II events (One Nations Cup Regional Finals in Oct(SUBJECT TO FINAL APPROVAL FROM ISAF) and The Mumbai International Match Race in Dec)
  2. Three Grade III events( Two qualifiers for the Regional finals and the Mumbai Match Race and National Championships)
  3. Lots of clinics and impromptu racing that we are shall organise at the drop of a hat.
  4. Spread of the sport to other centres and cities who have been evincing keen interest in the same.
 
JUST BEFORE I FORGET MATCH RACING HAS BEEN INTRODUCED AS A CLASS FOR WOMEN IN THE 2012 OLYMPICS AND IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE IN WELCOMING LADIES YOUNG AND OLD TO TRY THEIR HAND AT THE SPORT AT OUR CLINICS. WE WILL ORGANISE THE TRAINING SPECIALLY FOR YOU AS YOU GROW IN NUMBERS AND THE NATIONS CUP AT HOME SHOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO START COMPETITIVE SAILING!! IN 4 AND 1/2 YEARS I'M SURE WE COULD MAKE CHAMPIONS IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PUT IN THE HARD WORK!!
 
GOOD LUCK AND AS ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD TO CHASING AND BEING CHASED BY YOU ON THE WATER IN 2008. I SHALL TWEAK THE SCHEDULE ON THE WEBSITE TO FIT IN THE ADDITIONAL EVENTS.
 
BEST REGARDS
 
Cdr R Mahesh
Hon Secretary
Match Racing Association Of India