The Indian Navy FOTNA Trophy 2018 was sailed as a three-day event on 27-29 April, at Chennai in the ocean North of the shipping channel. As expected, the month of April/May offered challenges and opportunities for sailors with winds that consistently blew in excess of 15 knots, and sometimes gusted upwards of 20+ knots. The sea state was great for dingy and keel boat racing - the swell exceeded 1.5 m. on most days.
The regatta was sailed in the Pursuit Format [using the Portsmouth numbers] in the open sea on either side of the shipping channel and the series was held as a 6 race series - each race was for an hour. The event saw 62 sailors from different parts of the country including Mumbai, Vishakapatnam, Pondicherry, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai
The fleet was 22 boats strong in 6 different classes including the Laser, 420, N.T, 470, Sea Bird, J 80. Based on their Pursuit Number Rating, the boats had a staggered start – their handicap being assigned by the Internationally Accepted Portsmouth Handicap
For the first time In Chennai, a keel boat race was held and a few J 80 and two ocean going yachts raced
The results were declared in different categories as below
| FOTNA Novice cup | |
| Winners | Divik (HIMT) Archana, Pravin, Darshana (MCC) |
| First runner-up1 | Aravind, Jayashree (MBC) Anjali (PSA) Dvijender (HIMT) |
| Second runner-up | Karuna, Abhishek & Fredrick (HIMT) |
| FOTNA INDIVIDUAL CUP – for Sea Bird Class | |
| Winners | Amit Kalra, RMYC |
| PK Racing cup – for J80 Class | |
| Winners | Chinna Reddy led Team EMESA |
| First runner-up1 | Vishnu Led – Team Vishnu |
| Second runner-up | Vivek Shanbhag led – Team PK Sailing |
| FOTNA Keel Boat cup for J80, Benateau, Bavaria | |
| Winners | Murugan, Vivek Shanbhag, Nitya, Varun, Sahoo, Chitresh on J80 |
| FOTNA Cup Individual for 420, laser, 470, Enterprise | |
| Winners | Deep Rekhi / Vidya – RMYC - 420 |
| First runner-up1 | Praveen Kumar/ Sudhanshu Shekar INWTC Mumbai - 470 |
| Second runner-up | Himanshu Yadav – INWTC Mumbai - Laser |
| FOTNA Cup Team Event J80 & Sea Bird | |
| Winners | Chinna Reddy led TEAM EMESA |
| First runner-up1 | Vishnu led – Team Vishnu |
| Second runner-up | Vivek Shanbhag led – TEAM PK Sailing |
| Download detailed race results | |
The prize giving ceremony was held at the INS Adyar on the Northern most end of Marina Beach in a beautifully arranged set with dignitaries from the Navy and Port giving away the prizes. The audience included personnel from the armed forces, the Tamil Nadu government and yacht’s men. Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, Flag Officer Commanding in chief, Eastern Naval Command graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Some of us grew up in the sailing fraternity being often reminded that the RMYC stands on a few pillars of which the Navy is one of the most prominent. The Navy’s commitment to the sport and the Club to promote the sport of sailing is truly appreciated.
Officers and men from the Naval ships in port provided the much-needed Rescue support in their Gemini, RIB and FIC boats. The entire Regatta was incident free notwithstanding the very challenging conditions.
Rear Admiral Alok Bhatnagar, Flag Officer Commanding Tamilnadu and Puducherry Naval Area, a renowned yachtsman, was the Chairman of the Regatta Organising Team and the sailing community is grateful to him for the excellent arrangements.
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