As Goa Yachting Association (GYA) celebrated its 50 years at Hawaii beach near Dona Paula in Goa, the words of Kin Hubbard “Fun is like life insurance; the older you get, the more it costs”, reflected through the water as two members of the first Executive Committee – Cesar Menezes and Anil Madgavkar – relived the past.
From the two, Cesar has been the insurance that has been pumping life into the sport when the government acts in disdain and Anil picking up the spirits when the chips are down. As it is now said, “the show must go on”.
“When I stand on the shore line, I wonder why not many Goans are involved in this sport and to get them on board is the job of GYA,” stated retired Admiral KB Singh, president of Yachting Association of India (YAI).
“We were taught windsurfing by Derrick Menezes here in Goa and I cannot see him around today,” added Singh.
YAI, according to its president, is focusing on the grassroots and winning medals at the international level, which was demonstrated with the medal haul at the Asian Games this year.
At a decently-attended function to celebrate fifty years, the focus shifted from the YAI president to president Emeritus of GYA, Cesar Menezes, who after watching GYA grow from baby to middle age has still not stopped caring for it as a child – hence the gift of two seabirds from him to GYA.
“Anil Madgavkar and myself are the only two of the first executive Committee – Dr Bhosle, Ralino Souza, Commodre Awathi and Jose Menezes were the others – alive, and we are happy to be doing our bit and hope it will continue in the same way,” said Cesar.
With the two seabirds gifted by Cesar, GYA on its 50th birthday celebration launched a training course on Seabird Helm Test to be taught by Umaji Chowgule, who adds an air of free bearing with his presence.
For many, life begins at 50 when shadows start walking slower, but GYA president Raynier Dias promised not only to maintain the momentum of caring but trying to make the sport accessible to all. “I want to thank the people who helped GYA reach this milestone and assure all that after 50, there is a lot more to come,” added Raynier.
There was music, there was food and there was booze and through the merriment GYA recorded the memory of late Antonio D’Souza who donated the land on which the GYA club house stands.
“The original members of GYA were hands on workers. I remember in those days, Cesar, myself and others did all the maintenance work ourselves. We maintained our boats and at that time, the level of enthusiasm for sailing was different,” recollects Anil who still provides the adrenalin during national events organised by Kite Boarding Association of India in Goa.
“The level of enthusiasm has become bureaucratic today. The enthusiasm for the sport is over. Today it has become more of a social club than yachting club,” regrets Anil and adds remorsefully, “There are 300 odd members but only around 10 come to sail.”
“It is heartening to see fairly good participation by both men and women over the decades in the Board classes. Goan waters provide the ideal location for young sailors to learn and hone their skills towards participation at YAI ranking events,” expressed YAI secretary, captain Dixit Jitendra in New Delhi.
GYA received Rs 1,08,87,040 (Rs 1.08 crore) as 80 percent of grants for the purchase of equipment and training camps for its athletes for the recently concluded National Games hosted by the State.
With the infusion of funds from the government, with Cesar still very much around and Raynier showing optimism, GYA can expect change. And that change, as Mimi Menezes, wife of Cesar says, happens, “when one gives without expecting anything back in return.”
