The pan -Indian (yachtsmen from Bombay, Cochin, Goa, Pune,
Hyderabad, Madras ) Customs Cup Regatta, held on 26th January in commemoration of International Customs Day, was a sailing extravaganza, a 40 + armada, which earned BCYC glorious goodwill. It was a grand spectacle of the largest wind sailing fleet ever gathered, & Espirit de corps among sailors. The event was sponsored by PSUs ONGC, BPCL, HP Lubricants, NTPC and Bank of Baroda.
The Customs Cup Regatta-2018, hosted by the Bombay Customs
Yacht Club, was flagged of by Shri Vinod Tawde, Minister of School Education and Sports, Higher and Technical Education, Medical Education, Marathi Bhasha and Cultural Affairs amidst great fanfare. In his august company were the Chief Commissioner of Customs Shri Rajeev Tandon and the Principal Commissioner of Customs and Commodore of the BCYC ShriS.K Das under whose leadership the event was organised.
The Customs Cup Regatta witnessed a turnout of 42 yachts manned
by over 150 participants from elite yacht clubs and yacht-persons from all over India including Corps of Military Engineers, Army Yachting Node, Naval Sailing Club, Indian Customs, Royal Bombay Yacht Club, Bombay Sailing Association, Colaba Sailing Club and other premier yacht clubs. The turnout included famed sailors who have contributed immensely to the sport of sailing like Shaurya Chakra Brigadier C. Bharti, Arjuna and Padma Shri awardee ShriGulshan Rai and others who circumnavigated the world and carried India’s good will to distant shores.
The Gateway was a sight to behold on Republic Day decorated
with the ceremonial flags of the yacht club towel come yacht crews from all over the country. The thousands who thronged the Gateway promenade were in for a pleasant surprise that afternoon. Their eyes were fixated on the scores of colourful sail boats cutting through the water in the distant horizon. All three event venues—Radio Club, Royal Bombay Yacht Club and the Gateway promenade , were brimming with eager viewers from all walks of life.. The Bombay harbour turned into a battleground of sorts with an armada of various classes of boats like Seabirds, Lightnings, J-24, large Keel boats competing against each other propelled by only the wind in their sails. The mood was electrifying to say the least. The excitement gripped every one of the viewers as much as it did the participants. The Regatta witnessed a great show of sportsmanship and camaderie by all the sailors.
Amidst thunderous applause the India Customs Cup was presented
to the winning team of sailors from the Seabird Neil - namely Prasad Shelar, Prathamesh Bagwe, Suraj Singh and Yugandhara Patil. The team also took home the Sea bird Line Honours & Philip Brag (seabird handicap) trophies. The J-24 class and A-class keel boats winners were Mr Cyrus Herjee, Mr S. Bamboat, Mr Rohan Khandbi and Mr Upkar Singh. The Lightnings - Handicap Winners were Mr Koneru Prabhakara Rao,Mr Rohit Prakash Joshi & Mr. Saravanan R.The Maxi Class winners were Surgeon R Admiral Ravi Kalra, Commodore Gaurav Gautam, Ms Sangeeta Sharma IRS, Mr Atul Sharma IRS . The ex-Commodore of BCYC Pr.Commissioner Shri Bani Bhattacharya, credited with reviving the BCYC, and the Honourary Sailing Instructor Padma Shree and Arjuna Awardee Shri Gulshan Rai were felicitated in the awards ceremony for their matchless contribution to the revival of Bombay Customs Yacht Club. Others honoured include Mr Rayo Nobel (RBYC)- "the voice of yachting",Mr. Rajan (Deputy Sailing Manager- RBYC) & Mr Santosh (RBYC).
The Bombay Customs Yacht Club has aligned its objectives with that of the Customs department, and the demands of a nation with a vast coastline of 7500 kilometres. Entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the economic frontiers of the nation, the demands placed on a Customs officer include possession of a seafaring ability so as to patrol the nation’s vast and porous coastline. The BCYC has succeeded in cultivating a seafaring spirit among its young Customs officers. Armed with the skill earned in sailing only with wind power, the officers are able to engage in extended sea patrolling missions that involve staying out in the high seas for days together.
The Bombay Customs Yacht Club pulled of an immaculately
organized event. The young members of the BCYC infected everyone present with their enthusiasm and love for the sport of sailing. The electrifying atmosphere tempted every bystander to hop on to a yacht and set sail towards a distant horizon to a life of adventure. A seafaring way of life may be a hard life, but not one without its share of rewards. Flagging off the event. (L to R) Sh. Vinod Tawde, Chief Guest of the Event, Sh. S K Das, Principal Commissioner of Customs & Commodore BCYC, Sh. Rajeev Tandon, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Zone-I, A turn out of 42 yachts manned by over 150 participants from elite yacht clubs and yacht- persons from all over India Commodore BCYC Shri SK Das presenting the Indian Customs Cup to the winning crew from Seabird “Neil”- Shri Prasad Shelar,Shri Prathamesh Bagwe, Shri Suraj Singh and Smt Yugandhara Patil. Winners of the J24 class and Aclass Keel Boat category Shri Cyrus Herjee, Shri S. Bhambot and crew with the PrCommissioner AK Jyotishi (second from left) Lightning( Handicap) Winner – Shri Koneru Prabhakara Rao,Shri Rohit Prakash Joshi,Shri Saravanan R being felicitated by Member Settlement Commission Shri PK Dash Maxi Class winners Surgeon R Admiral Ravi Kalra, Commodore Gaurav Gautam, Ms Sangeeta Sharma IRS, Mr Atul Sharma IRS being felicitated by Member Settlement Commission Shri Piyush Patnaik Felicitation of the Only Lady Helm Ms Preeti Ramani by the Commodore BCYC Shri SK Das.
`The lady crew from the Customs team- Mrs Preeti Chaudhary IRS, Ms Vineeta Sinha, Ms Money Jain
(IInsert Picutre of the lady team below..)
Felicitation of the Ex-Commodore BCYC Shri Bani Bhattacharya (L) by the Commodore BCYC Shri SK Das(R) Curtains Down – The Customs Sailing Team and Organising Committee
