Team Herald
sports@herald-goa.com
DONA PAULA: Day 1 of Sail Goa 2025, organised by the Goa Yachting Association at Dona Paula, got off to a slow start as light morning winds delayed the races. However, the afternoon brought gusts of 9 to 14 knots, allowing the competition to commence under near-perfect conditions for most windsurfing classes.
Participants in the Techno 293 and Raceboard classes made the most of the moderate breeze and strong currents, showcasing their skill and resilience. However, the Olympic Class iQFOiL faced challenges as the first race had to be abandoned due to a sudden drop in wind. The race committee swiftly adapted by switching the course to a Slalom format.
By the end of the first day, the leaders across various categories had begun to emerge:
Raceboard men: Veteran windsurfer Chennaiah of EMESC Bhopal Army Club demonstrated his enduring prowess by winning all three races. He finished ahead of Mithilesh Kumar of the Army Yachting Node, Mumbai, and Kamlapti of EMESC Bhopal, who secured second and third places respectively.
Raceboard U-21 boys: Raj Santosh Patil of the Yachting Association of Maharashtra (YAM) dominated the field with three straight wins. He was closely followed by Narayan Munda of the Odisha Yachting Association in second place and Sai Patil of YAM in third.
Raceboard U-21 girls: Tejassui Prajapati of NSS Bhopal currently leads the category with two race wins and a third-place finish. Prarthna Bhoi, also of NSS Bhopal, sits in second place with one win and two second-place finishes. M K Pragathi of TNSA trails narrowly in third. Techno 293 U-15 girls: Naavya Kaku of YAM leads the fleet with two wins, followed by Vaishnavi Kajale of the MG&G Area Sailing Club (Army) and Priyanshi Patil of YAM.
Techno 293OD U-15 boys: Udaiveer Singh Johal of the MG&G Area Sailing Club (Army) holds the top spot with two wins. Mohit Mhatre of YAM is in second place with one win, while Sohan Rajput of NSS Bhopal is placed third.