KOCHI: Thronging the shores of the placid Vembanad backwaters on Thursday are a bunch of exhilarated children. And, what excites them is yachting- its art of controlling the wind and wafting it through the deep waters. Seems like the unfathomable waters have not scared them one bit.“It is exactly this we had in mind when we started to train them to control the yacht, besides promoting the watersport. Presence of mind, courage and decision-making are the three key features a child learns from the moment he/she step into the water,” says Jolly Thomas, the coach. He adds that once the children are in the water, they are by themselves. “As the yacht is purely controlled by the wind, the chances of it capsizing cannot be ruled out. They are devoid of any external help and a decision has to be made very quickly for it will be a ‘do-or-die’ situation,” he said. Jolly Thomas said the children dutifully obey the instructions given to them. “Once you are in the deep waters, you get commands and you have to act accordingly,” he said. The coach’s words proved right when Suzann Thomas, a seven-year-old girl jumped right into the deep waters with a life jacket. Suzann does not know how to swim and had only joined the training session just a day before. Rahul Thomas, a 13-year-old from Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Thevara, said it was the sheer thrill of this adventure sport that prompted him to take up yachting. “I love the thrill this gives. From Vembanad backwaters, we have sailed to Marine Drive and Vaikom,” he said. Rahul has participated in the national and international yachting championships held in Chennai. The Kerala Watersports and Sailing Organisation, which conducts the training, said the training was being offered free of cost for children between the age group 7-15. Other sections have to pay the registration fee. Girija Govind, Secretary, Kerala Watersports and Sailing Organisation, said yachting has always been put on the back burner considering it to be a ‘sport of the rich’. “Kerala is blessed with an ambience to promote a sport like yachting. It has both backwaters and the sea. But, we do not have professionals in the domain. But in Tamil Nadu, they have 152 professionals despite the fact that they have only rough sea to explore,” she said. Though sailing is a passion for Jolly Thomas, he is not happy with the government attitude. “We have about 33 items in yachting for Olympics. Besides, the Centre has earmarked a good amount of money for it. But, none of it has been used judiciously,” he said. The training session is being organised for 300 persons and of it, the best 100 will be given additional training. From it, the best 50 will be trained by the Electronics, Mechanical and Engineers’ Sailing Association, Secunderabad. The best 10 among them can participate in the National Inland Enterprise Championship organised by NDA Sailing Club, Pune.
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