Porto Montenegro Match Race Grade 2 2024

 
The Porto Montenegro Match Race is a world-renowned nautical event that combines the
excitement of sports competition with the beauty of the Mediterranean. Held in Porto
Montenegro, an exclusive marina located on the coast of Montenegro, this event attracts the
world's top sailors, each eager to compete in the region's crystal-clear waters and enjoy the
luxurious and sophisticated atmosphere offered by the destination.
In the most recent edition of the Porto Montenegro Match Race, held from May 10th to 12th,
10 teams representing a variety of countries, from Estonia to Spain, participated. This eclectic
group of sailors brought a unique diversity to the event, not only in terms of sailing skills and
strategies but also in terms of the culture and spirit of camaraderie that permeated the
competition.
 
Participants faced off in thrilling naval battles aboard J70 boats, known for their agility and
maneuverability. These sailboats provide a perfect playground for the match race format,
where two boats compete directly against each other in a series of matchups, ensuring intense
and action-packed competition.
 
One of the standout teams in this edition was led by Mati Sep, an Estonian sailor who holds
the seventh place in the world rankings. Sep demonstrated his skill and determination by
dominating the first part of the competition, winning all his matchups with an impressive 100%
record. However, luck was not on his side on the final day of the regatta, where he faced
difficulties in the semifinals and the petite final, thus losing his chance to claim victory.
 
The undisputed winner of the Porto Montenegro Match Race was the talented French sailor
Tom Foucher, who emerged as the absolute champion of the event. Foucher, hailing from the
French match race school, exhibited impeccable performance throughout the competition,
outsmarting his rivals with cunning and tactical skill.
 
The regatta took place in the stunning Bay of Kotor, a place of breathtaking natural beauty that
served as the perfect backdrop for the event. However, the weather conditions were not
always favorable, with tricky shifts and sudden wind drops testing the skill and resilience of the
sailors. Despite these challenges, the organizing committee successfully completed the circuit,
thus ensuring a fair and exciting competition for all participants.
 
Among the sailors who left their mark on the competition was the young Martin Allix, another
emerging talent from the French match race school. Allix showcased his prowess on the water
and his ability to compete at the highest level, earning the respect and admiration of his fellow
competitors and the audience.
 
The Spanish team "Cigarrán Sailing Team" was the first Spanish team to participate in Porto
Montenegro and also made a lasting impression on the competition, demonstrating an
unwavering spirit of fight, sympathy, and determination despite their relative inexperience in
such international events. Although they did not manage to achieve final victory, their
outstanding performance served as a reminder of the potential and talent that exists in the
world of Spanish sailing.
 
The Spanish match race team "Cigarrán Sailing Team" had a memorable performance, facing
every challenge head-on and surprising with their attitude and competence. They maintained
their composure despite being lower in the standings in their first appearance in this circuit,
and they learned from several mistakes, losing just at the finish line due to misunderstandings
of match race protocol. They put up a tough fight against the all-powerful Kiwi Megan
Thonsom, ranked 14th in the world, the Slovenian Bojan Raja, or the Frenchman naturalized
Spanish Silvain Escurat or the Israeli Vladimir Lipinski, who was close to winning but ultimately
lost in an incomprehensible ending. Overall, their performance gives hope for future WMRT
events, showing great learning potential and an evolving attitude. It's worth mentioning that
this discipline doesn't exist in Spain... Now, the new stop will be in Ledro, Italy, from June 20th
to 23rd.
 
The Porto Montenegro Match Race is not just a sports competition but also an experience that
celebrates the passion and love for sailing in a setting of luxury and elegance. Participants and
spectators have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the sophisticated atmosphere of
Porto Montenegro, enjoying its exclusive restaurants, designer boutiques, and lively nightlife.
in summary, the Porto Montenegro Match Race is much more than a regatta; it's an event that
captures the excitement and beauty of sailing in a spectacular setting. With its continuous
growth and ability to attract the world's best sailors, Porto Montenegro has established itself
as one of the premier destinations in the world match race circuit.

Sailing: Coelho’s journey through the storms in the sea

 

Sailing  Coelho’s journey through the storms in the sea

 

“I have an earnest desire to leave something in this world and a profound desire to rub it in the face of anyone who doubted me....,” says Indian sailing team member at the ongoing Asian Games Dayne Coelho in a facebook post with a picture of his draped in the Indian tri-colour after winning a medal at the 37th Singapore open windsurfing championship this year.

Dayne wants to prove his detractors wrong. Cold shouldered and neglected by Sports Authority of Goa the teenager is scripting his own success story against all odds… thanks in large measure to his sportingly inclined family.

The Indian sports system is fraught with bureaucratic red tape, political interference, conflicts of interest and corruption and the Coelho family has had a bitter firsthand experience.

Dayne along with sister Katya Coelho are the only athletes from the coastal state of Goa who are part of the Indian sailing team at the ongoing Asian Games in Jakarta Indonesia.

Coached by their father Donald, a former national windsurfing champion for three consecutive years from 2010-12, the Coelho siblings will be vying for medals in the mixed event on August 24.

But making it to the Games has not been an easy story. They have been neglected in their home by a government, which did little to support the athletic prowess of the two talented youngsters.

Lack of transparency, poor asset management and an absence of a framework for measuring impact of public spending has been the hall mark of Sports Authority of Goa, the sports wing of the Goa government which has stone walled the athletes request for 2 windsurfing boards.

The Coelho’s pursuit to get an Asian Games ticket can be attributed to individual acts of brilliance without much help from the system.

The two Goans attained the qualifying mark for the Asian games at the Yachting Association of India (YAI) selection trials held in April 16-22 in Chennai.

The trials were held to select the top sailors for inclusion in the Indian Sailing Team for the 17th Asian Sailing Championship that was held from June 18-24 and the Asian Games 2018.

“We thank YAI (Yachting Association of India) especially, Capt. Ajay Narang Member Task Force 2020, who stood by Goan talent and strongly recommended case to MYAS/SAI for training programme in Thailand under the Thai coach for 21 days in month of May in preparation for the Asian Games 2018. The most disheartening is our state association (Goan Yatching Association), the proposal for procurement of 2 windsurfing boards is still pending for more than 4 months. Katya and Dayne with their zero self esteem, ready for departure with the old equipment,” coach-cum-father Donald said on the eve of the departure to Indonesia.

“The proposal for two windsurfing boards was put up nearly 4 months ago. This should have been their top priority so they can perform better, now they have gone (for the Asian Games) with their old equipment which has seen a lot of wear and tear,” lamented Nelita Coelho, maternal aunt of the participating sailors in a post on facebook.

“Indeed, "Historic moment" for the state of Goa to be a part of the Indian Contingent  at the “Asian Games”2018, (but), If the sports authorities cannot help even after proving their talent, then what else is left. Goa can never shine,” she added.

“The state has so much of talent but the sports authorities step motherly treatment shown and corruption galore it took these two so many years to come this and even then their eyes have not opened,” she added, while requesting all to share so that “so we can bring out all the scams and skeletons in the department to get justice for our Goan budding talent.”

Dayne (20) and Katya (19) have been taking part in the Youth Olympic Class for boys and girls over the last few years and they will be competing in the RS:One Mixed Team event whcihis open for sailors below the age of 22 years.

The RS:One Mixed Team event is been held for the first time at the Asian Games.

Dayne who has been training individually for the last 3 years in preparation for the Asian games and demonstrated his excellence achieving silver and bronze medal at 37th Singapore open windsurfing championship 2018 in RS: One Class. Men and Youth category.

Katya, a student of Ardee School, Porvorim, Sangolda, Penha de França was the first Indian girl to represent India at Youth Olympic 2014, held in China and she is eager to give her best.

“I am so proud of my kids; it’s one of the happiest days of my life as it was my dream as much as theirs to win a medal for the country. It was a proud moment for us, as Indians, to see the Indian flag flying high on the shores of Singapore and making it all the more special was the fact that we celebrated this victory together on the eve of our 66th Republic Day,” Donald had said after Dayne’s win in Singapore this year.

Donald himself was spellbound by the sport when he was introduced to it at the age of 20. Donald has been the National Champion in Windsurfing for three consecutive years (2010, 2011, 2012). He wanted his children to show the same enthusiasm towards the sport and they didn’t disappoint him.

“It was in 2006-07 when I had gone to Italy for a competition that I saw small kids taking to the sea with great equipment. I bought the equipment for Dayne and since he used to watch me participate in the Nationals, he took to the water quite naturally,” recalls Donald.

Dayne and Katya have a set schedule for their studies and their training. “We practise every day regardless of the wind conditions as we can’t predict any weather conditions for the competitions. From 2.30pm to 5pm, we train in the sea. I go by the coach boat to brief them while they practise their techniques under my guidance. Katya has very good techniques while Dayne loves strong winds,” explains Donald. Besides training in the water, the youngsters also spend 90 minutes in the gym, training core muscles.

Donald’s dedication towards the sport is not limited to his family. In 2009, Donald formed the Goa Beach Sport Academy which conducts annual camps for people interested. Although Donald hopes the popularity of the sport picks up in Goa, he acknowledges that the cost of equipment, which is a minimum of Rs 1 lakh, as well as the fact that parents are unsure about the seriousness of the sport in their child’s life, are drawbacks that need to be tackled. But he’s facing these challenges with full optimism.