E-Paper
Racing down the blue lake
IT WAS sports, fierce competition, fun, hospitality, social interaction, ceremonies, all on and around Naini Lake. It was the annual Army Commander?s Sailing Regatta-2006 on May 30 and May 31. Before sailing ahead let?s first know what regatta means. Regatta is a boat race or a series of boat races. And this Army Commander?s Sailing Regatta began in 1990 as it was conceived and started by the then Lt Gen FM Bilmoria (retd), the then General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command.
IT WAS sports, fierce competition, fun, hospitality, social interaction, ceremonies, all on and around Naini Lake.
It was the annual Army Commander’s Sailing Regatta-2006 on May 30 and May 31.
Before sailing ahead let’s first know what regatta means. Regatta is a boat race or a series of boat races.
And this Army Commander’s Sailing Regatta began in 1990 as it was conceived and started by the then Lt Gen FM Bilmoria (retd), the then General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command. Since then the event is conducted every year in Nainital. This regatta since then has become a major event on Naintal’s tourist calendar. The lake and the area around it get a different kind of air, feel and sound about it during regatta. Sailing was the first water sport to have gained international recognition and is till date one of the most popular water sports in the world.
Armed forces in particular have historically been the front-runners in propagating the sport at the national level. Sailing not only needs sound technical skills of capturing the winds and navigating the boats but also tremendous physical agility and intelligence in manoeuvering the boat on the right course all through a race consistently and emerge a winner.
This year eight teams with their boats steered by different coloured-pattered sails made the lake differently beautiful. The teams were Engineer Brigade, Bengal Engineer Group and Centre-Rorkee, Nainital Yatch Club, NCC Nainital and Army War College, Mhow, etc.
The area around the lake was ceremoniously and tastefully decorated and decked up in typical Fauji ways-glitters, colours, and elegance.
Lt Gen OP Nandrajog, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command inaugurated the sailing trophy competition on May 30.
After the two days battle royale between the eight teams on the still waters of Naini Lake, the Army team and Nainital Yatch Club (NTYC) were jointly declared winners. Lt Gen Nandrajog presented the trophy to the winning teams. Mrs Kiran Nandrajog, President, Army Wives Welfare Association, Central Command and Lt Gen Ashok Vasudeva, Chief of Staff, Central Command were also present on the occasion.
The special aspect of this years regatta was the whole-hearted participation of NCC cadets of Uttaranchal.
And then there was a party at the end of the two-day event.
