Email
Print
ShareMumbai: Cdr R Mahesh symbolises the cool breeze blowing across the Arabian Sea with his crew on board. With the match race starting in a few moments, the Indian Navy pilot appeared unruffled as the helmsman.
Leading crew members Sanjay Dulagi, Neeraj Sharma and Seshagiri Rao, the World No.45 cruised to an easy win at the 5th ISS Mumbai International Match Race to top the table ahead of the semifinals. But winning isn't as easy as it seems. Racing on a boat which has to be run sans fuel, everything depends on wind directions and the sailors' skills.
"It is always tricky with the wind sometimes gusty and sometimes almost dead," explained Cdr Mahesh, 1999 world championships silver-medallist. "You just don't have to look at how and where you are headed but also block the wind for your opponent," said Mahesh.
Amid explaining all this to DNA, Mahesh orders his crew to get ready to hoist the spinnaker. As the boat approaches the mark from where they have to take the turn back, "Now, hoist, now, now," shouts Mahesh, amid handling the steering board.
"This is the easiest job in sailing, to sit with the steering board in hand and let your crew do all the hardwork," he quipped.
Just when they cross the finish line, Mahesh recalls his past. "The Asian Games had been a happy hunting ground," remembered Mahesh, who won medals in 2002, 2006 Asian Games. He also is a recipient of Arjuna Award and got in to national coaching only to withdraw later. "I didn't want to get into officialdom, I am always there to help anyone with sailing," he said.
With 10 wins out of 11 races, Team Mahesh has to take on either of the Nitin Mongia Team, Farokh Team or Frenchman Morvan F's team to reach the summit clash. Touted to be the favourites it would not be surprising if Mahesh Team goes on to win the title on Thursday.
Semifinal Line-up Mahesh Team, Morvan F Team, Farokh Team, Nitin Mongia Team.
