Make way for mini sailors

Karl Hansotia loves being in water. He started sailing with his father when he was just four; at eight, he had toured the TSS Esmeralda, believed to be the longest and the second tallest sailing ship; by nine, he could swim in the sea. And three months ago, he formally learnt to sail, which he describes as "an easy task since my father had already taught me the basics". The 11-year-old adds: "I love the sea and sailing. I like the speed at which the boat goes, how the sails catch the wind, and the fact that you can see dolphins. You don't use fuel, so it's environment-friendly."

Unlike Karl, Anaushka Dantra feared the water, but was introduced to the course (and thus to sailing) by her father's friend. Her 13-year-old brother Keyan had registered for the course and after the orientation, Anaushka and her twin Ashoi decided to sign up too. "It sounded exciting. We were told to feel the boat and the water, and to be comfortable with the new environment we were in. Each day on the water was wonderful, and now there's no looking back," says the 16-year-old.

Learning turns to passion

When Anhad Singh went on a vacation to Mauritius and Seychelles with his family, the 11-year-old kept looking out for optimists — boats used for close-harbour training and sailing. "Had he found one, he would have gone sailing even while on holiday," says his mother Shalu Walia. "We're a family that loves the outdoors—trekking, camping, weekend trips to forests. Sailing just happened. Anhad knows how to swim, and this was his first attempt at a water sport. He would wait all week for his weekend sailing classes. This meant we could not plan weekend family trips for nearly 2-3 months, because he refused to skip the class," she laughs.

Karl juggled his love for sailing with academics, ensuring he attended the class even during exams. "He loved it so much that it was not worth withholding it from him during exams," says his mother, Tanyushka. "He would come home tired after 3-4 hours of sailing and study in the afternoons and evenings."

More than a sport

Given that sailing is a niche sport, the trend that a growing number of children are taking to it points to the activity's privileged preserve. Learning the basics itself requires 10 sessions of two hours each, says Aashim Mongia, founder of West Coast Marines Yacht Services. "After that, they need to practice to gain proficiency," says Mongia. Once the basics in theory are covered, it's time to get into the water and put it to practical use. "One of the first things we learnt was to capsize our boats and recover them," says Anhad, who is eager to race on lakes in Bhopal and Hyderabad, as sailing on lakes remains unaffected by the monsoon. And then came the knots and rigging, tacking, gybing, learning wind indicators and lots more. "We were told to be careful and not hit other boats, especially bigger one. The smaller boats are made of fibre, and get severely damaged if they collide with the bigger ones, made of metal or iron and have a stronger hull," explains Anaushka.

Patience is key while teaching kids, says Mongia. "You also have to be positive. Positivity goes a long way in making kids believe in themselves to overcome fear," he says. And as parents say, it's more than just having fun in the water. "The kids learn teamwork, strategy, self-esteem, self-respect, how to be independent and to deal with people. And while it's an independent sport, after returning to shore, you sit and discuss all that happened, accept negative feedback and be open to learning from others," says Tanyushka.

Overcoming apprehensions

Understandably, "parents are mainly concerned about their kids' safety," says Mongia. But watching them progress and seeing their love for sailing helps overcome fears. "Initially, I was afraid, and would constantly check the WhatsApp group for videos and photos to see how my children progressed," admits Ruksshana, mother to the twins and Keyan. "They managed well. Their instructors are always hovering around to keep an eye on all of them."

Tanyushka had no apprehensions. "I've seen Karl go sailing with my husband Viraf since a much younger age. As long as Viraf was satisfied with the course, I had no qualms. To add to it, Karl knows how to swim and is a sensible child," she says. As for the kids, once out in the water and a few capsizing sessions later, all their fears were thrown overboard.

Some sporting pleasures run in the blood, they say. The same could be said for these waterbabies.