Renowned sailor Ayaz Shaikh continued his unchallenged surge towards glory at the Match Racing category of the 2013 Monsoon Regatta at the Hussainsagar Lake in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Ayaz and his crew, the top seeds in the category, where expected to face their toughest challenge from Naval Commander Atool Sinha. However, in the head-to-head to match-up between the two heavyweights, Ayaz not just sailed past his challenger but blew Atool and crew out of the water.
Ayaz’s much-acclaimed technique and experience was in full display as he unfurled the spinnaker on an afternoon blessed with pleasant Monsoon drizzle. Ayaz manoeuvred the boat to push Atool well off the pre-start box.
Atool, who himself is a highly respected sailor, did all he can, but still ended up at Ayaz’s receiving end.
The clash, in a way, summarised Atool’s entire Match Racing career. A strong and commanding leader who would have enjoyed much more success if only Ayaz had not haunted him like a ghost that keeps returning, with wind in the sails.
On Wednesday, Ayaz, even by his high standard, was spectacular. For Atool, it was a black day, literally. Ayaz’s cunning manoeuvres pushed Atool to the limits, forcing a black flag on the latter. Atool had no other options but to lower the sail, and perhaps his hopes for the gold too.
Thanks to the victory Ayaz is now a run-away leader in the round-robin event.
In the Topper category, overall leader Vishnu Sujeesh continued his dominance with two wins and two runners-up finishes. The Chennai lad now looks set to clinch the country’s first Topper Nationals title.
Meanwhile, local lad Ragi Rajnikanth set a personal milestone by winning his first race at a national event. Rajnikanth, who started his tryst with the sport three years ago when the colourful sails at the Yacht Club of Hyderabad caught his attention while loitering at the adjacent Sanjeevaiah Park, seems to be finally fulfilling the hopes of his mentor Suheim Sheikh — the brain behind Monsoon Regatta.