The Event is being organised by the OK Dinghy Association of India and the EME Sailing Association in association with Cidade De Goa Beach Resort. The event is being sponsored by Raymond, BG, Goa Shipyards and Fosters.

The racing is being organised as per the norms of the International OK Dinghy association. 7 races are scheduled over 4 days on a Triangular – windward leeward course.

There are a total of 25 Competitors from 8 countries. All eyes will be on Nitin Mongia, the Current Indian National Champion and Asian Games silver medallist who is expected to be a frontrunner, his main competitors will be Greg Wilcox the current World Champion and Paul Rhodes both from New Zealand, Nick Craig and Robert Deaves from the UK and Peter Scheuerl and Sonke Beherns from Germany. Mary Reddyhoff, the lone female entry is also expected to post a tough challenge to the top guns.

Other notable Indian entries are Naresh Yadav, Gautama Dutta, Ramkumar Singh and Anirudh Vijaykumar.

Nitin Mongia won the recently concluded Indian Open OK Dinghy National Championships held at this venue as a warm up to the Worlds in convincing fashion with 5 wins and a third out of 6 races sailed. Paul Rhodes from New Zealand was 2nd overall and Defending World Champion Greg Wilcox of New Zealand was fifth. The other Indians in the fray were Naresh Yadav who was 6th and DP Selvam who was 7th.

The Organising Secretary Col. Sanjay Sahni met with Principal Race officer Cdr. Homi Motivala (Chief National Coach YAI and Arjuna Awardee) and Mr. Ajay Balram Chairman of the International Jury to establish procedures. The Chief Measurer Maj Gautama Dutta was aided by his effective assistants Sumit Talwar, Maneck Contractor and Sandeep Srikanth. All 25 Competitors completed measurement without any problems and the stage has been set for the racing activity to commence tomorrow.

When asked about his chances in this event, Anirudh Vijaykumar an employee of Andhra Bank and a stalwart of OK Sailing in India and former National Champion said “it will probably be a very open event, Nitin, Paul Rhodes, Greg Wilcox and Nick Craig are the favorites. I will be looking to capitalize on my experience to finish in the top fleet.”

Kiwi star Paul Rhodes who finished 2nd to Nitin in the Open Nationals when quizzed about his chances said “it is going to be a very open event, the fleet is small but competitive and sailing the nationals just prior to the event has helped me get more in tune with the conditions.”

There is more registration and measurement scheduled for the Day 2 (30th March) followed by the practice race which is scheduled for 1400 hrs.

The Official Opening Ceremony of the International OK Dinghy World Championships 2003 is scheduled for 1800 hrs on the 30th of March. His Excellency the Governor of Goa will preside over the event as the Chief Guest.

Source: Event Press