Four-day Indo-French sailing event starts Thursday (Preview)

As part of the third edition of Bonjour India festival, this coastal city is all set to host a four-day international regatta -- Sailing The East Coast -- featuring French sailing champions and local sailors here from Thursday.

The regatta, to be flagged off by Puducherry Chief Minister V.Narayanasamy and French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler, is expected to see the participation of around 50 competitors, including international award-winning sailors and a jury ranging from Brigadiers and Colonels of the Indian Army to Ajit Diaz, who was awarded Race Official of the Year 2017.

Crossing the national boundaries are a host of brilliant young French competitive sailors, hosted by the Puducherry Sailing Association (PSA) in collaboration with the French Embassy - Institute of France in India and the government of Puducherry.

PSA has also gone the extra mile to open the waters to sailors and kids in collaborating with French Olympian and national laser team coach, Felix Pruvot, who conducted a coaching camp before the regatta.

A regatta consists of 10 to 12 individual races sailed in a fleet racing format. The sailor who performs best over this series of races is the overall winner.

The competitors are expected to go around a course that is trapezoidal in shape for a distance of three kilometres with each race lasting about an hour. Usually between 9 and 12 races are sailed over a period of four days.

The young award-winning French national team delegation that will participate include Mael Garnier, Alexandre Kowalski, Leo Maurin, Ivan Scolan, Sofia Karim, Valentin Boyer and Clementine Bretagne, along with a host of exciting local talent.

The event, featuring various classes -- Optimists, International 420, Laser 4.7 and Laser Radial, and Moth -- will be held in the sea on Beach Road here.

Bonjour India is an innovative collaboration between the two countries for merging creativity and partnerships.

--IANS

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