Fifth Edition of India International Regatta Competition Inaugurated in Chennai

The Minister of Shipping GK Vasan inaugurated the fifth edition of the India International Regatta Competition in Chennai on 30 September 2013. The competition focuses o sailing, which teaches the control of the boat depending upon the flow of the wind, the tide and the currents. The India International Regatta Competition is an annual sailing event which is organised by the Tamil Nadu Sailing Association.

It is important to note that the sailors of the Tamil Nadu Sailing Association also won Gold in the team sailing championships in the Sail the Gulf event at Doha, Qatar in February 2013. The team also won other individual medals.

About the India International Regatta Competition

• The India International Regatta (IIR) Competition is the only International sailing event held in India every year.
• The first edition was launched in 2009 and a total of 77 sailors from 5 countries including India, participated in the two classes of competition.
• The two classes of boats are: Optimist, the starter single-handed boat for sailors from the age of 7 to 15 and 29er a double-handed skiff for sailors up to the age of 19.
• The two classes of boats are sailed by youth enthusiastically all over the world.
• The Optimist is the most popular international class for the junior sailors while the Australian designed 29er is a stepping stone for the Olympic classes 49er, 49FX and 470.
• In the fifth edition of IIR, more than a hundred participants from nine countries including India are taking part in three classes of competition with addition of competition in the Laser 4.7 class.