One can only fathom the ‘cool’ quotient in being a windsurfer. Images of athletic surfers, riding the waves accompanied by massive explosions of surf spray usually gets the inadvertent female attention. But apparently, it wasn’t the cool quotient alone, that got Derrick Menezes hooked to the sport.
“My dad introduced me to the sea and taught me sailing and goggle fishing. I got hooked and could sail when I was 9 and went on to participate in my first sailing championship at 13,” says a fit Derrick.
Windsurfing made its foray in India in the late 70s but with no equipment available then, learning the sport formally was a challenge. In the early 80s, Goa Yachting Association (GYA) started conducting a National Championship in wind surfing. Derrick won his first Nationals in 1985 and kept his winning streak intact, adding 13 more gold medals, even to his mid 40s. Age was never a barrier. Derrick chuckles, “I eventually stopped participating in 2010 since I thought it important to pass the baton over to the next gen.”
As part of the GYA, he, along with his companions Remy Fernandes and Mathew Gomes dedicate time in training fresh talent. These training camps are held in April/May every year in Dona Paula. Derrick adds, “Last year, 35 kids enrolled. Few take it up seriously and some others sail as a hobby.” When quizzed on the pre-requisites, Derrick is candid, “With correct equipment, you can pick up the basics in 3 days. It’s like playing chess on water. You need to cultivate a judgement of wind direction, strength and patterns. Fitness is a prerequisite, given that you have to have board-handling skills and control the wind. It is a physical sport and it’s no wonder that windsurfers are some of the fittest athletes in the world. Along with fitness though, it is important to sharpen your senses which comes only with experience.”
Recently Derrick also trained sailors from the army and navy at the Army Yachting Node and the Indian Naval Sailing Association for the RS: X National Championship. Says a jubilant Derrick, “Impressively, two of them won a gold and silver medal at the 2016 National Championship, in all Olympic classes. Moreover, the entire fleet of sailors saw immense improvement over last year’s Nationals.”
Staying fit is a way of life for 56 year-old Derrick, who has also been a State champion in badminton, a sport he learnt from his mum. Obviously, his sporty genes have something to do with his ability and his looks belie his age. With his youthful energy and vibe, it’s shocking that he had to go through a bypass surgery a few years ago. “It may have had to do with smoking cigarettes for some years of my life,” admits Derrick.
Given his commitment, three months post operation, he was back to windsurfing and in almost what seems like a duel between the mind and body, he began kite surfing too. If parting the sea is what Moses did, taming it seems to be Derrick’s forte, “The feeling of flying in the water, in complete silence and navigating the wind especially at night, is the most exhilarating experience.”
Derrick’s ability to take his passion and create a sustainable living around it is inspiring. At a time when chartered tourism had not even begun, Derrick set up an international level Water Sports Centre in Bogmalo in the late 80s and continued till 2002.
The next phase was his shipbuilding career. He worked with Anderson Marine, the best shipbuilding unit in India and now runs his own boatbuilding consultancy. Since 2000, Derrick has also been associated with developmental projects at the Food & Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
“It’s an immense sense of fulfillment working on reconstruction projects in tsunami ravaged Aceh in Indonesia and Maldives. I’ve also undertaken boatbuilding projects in Somalia, where unrest and threats from pirates makes it challenging but fun,” states Derrick.
He adds, “To be able to come up with solutions that can help people maximise their fish yield to upgrading boats and practises to better their livelihood is extremely satisfying. I am fortunate to be able to live my passion.”
