Land is so passé. Forget swanky luxury cars, and fabulously quick motorcycles, Mumbai's taking to the waves in style.
Cars and aircraft are indulgences of the past. In today’s Mumbai, it’s all about the yachtsLand is so passé. Forget swanky luxury cars, and fabulously quick motorcycles, Mumbai's taking to the waves in style.
The seafront is no longer the domain of high rises and promenades, it's giving way to marinas that will house the city's burgeoning population of private yachts.
Now the jet set, instead of driving to their beachfront weekend getaways in Alibaug and Mandwa, can jump into their lavish boats and sail to their destination. Effectively bypassing the city's snarling traffic
But all's not well in this marine paradise. Sailing enthusiasts fear that at present the number of jetties might not be able to sustain boat numbers - if they continue to be snapped up at the current rate. They are emphasising the need for new marinas.
“A year ago there were just 30 private boats, now the number is 100, and by the end of this year, I am sure it will cross 300. People are sailing yachts that are available from Rs70,000 onwards,” said Dr Malav Shroff, who has been sailing for over a decade.
“The swanky boats cost about Rs2 lakh onwards, but standard kayaks and boats start from Rs60,000,” he said, admitting that some of the city's elite were even buying seaside farms to build jetties and create marinas, to be used by their sailing fraternity.
Shroff was instrumental in organising 2007's Mumbai Boat Show.
Over the last couple of years, Mumbai has seen kayaks and super yachts sell for as much as Rs200 crore. After the Boat Show, yachts worth more than Rs6 crore were sold.
“Boats made in the USA have a large market here in India, due to the fall in dollar value,” said Sujoy Chohan, a boating enthusiast. According to Chohan, the import duty remains steady at 34.5 per cent, and unless the custom duty is reduced, he foresees no change in pricing. “Besides buying boats, yacht club membership is also increasing,” he added.
“It has gone beyond a hobby,” says Shroff. “Some boating enthusiasts are keen on creating an industry, as the trend has opened up whole new tourism angle. Some groups want to create a marina for 20 boats, to offer more yachting and leisure boating options.” Shroff and Chohan both expect the 2008 Boat Show — to be held at the Samira Habitat in Alibaug — to be bigger and better than last year's edition.
“This time, we expects over 15,000 visitors to the show, and more than 300 buyers. The number of small boats might even touch 500,” said Shroff.
“At present there is a problem anchoring boats at jetties. We have urged the state government and maritime and port authorities to ensure the development of marinas,” said Chohan.
It would not surprise Chohan, in the least, if the coast running from Mumbai to Goa came to resemble the French Riviera, with its luxury yachts and the glamour world's who's who basking in the sun.
“That will be good,” said Chohan, “After all, the French Riviera earns 40 per cent of its GDP through leisure boating.”
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chittaranjan@dnaindia.net 
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