Remy wins both races on opening day

Panaji, May 10 (UNI) Seven time national champion Remy Fernandes (Goa) powered away to a great start in the Boardsailing National Championship 2006, which got underway at Dolphin Adventure Sports Centre, Hawaii beach, in Dona Paula from today.

P J Thomas of the Army Yachting Node (AYN) finshied second in both the races.

The championship got off to a start in uncharacteristically light winds. In the race one, Remy took the advantage by going left, while most of the fleet went right. He was followed by P J Thomas (AYN) and Rainer Dias (Goa). However, Rainer was overtaken by Prakash and Ghanashyam (both AYN) on the downwind leg. Though he clawed back to fourth place with a tactical beat, Rainer slid to the fifth by a very wide leeward mark rounding.

In the race two, Remy shoot off to a great lead from the start, followed by Thomas, Ghanashyam (both (AYN)) and Donald Coelho (Goa).

Rainer was close on his heels, but hit the windward mark and got stuck there, allowing Maj A Tripathi (AYN) to swoosh past. Rainer suffered a capsize on the finish line, but managed to get across before the time limit.

In the youth category, Chaitanya Chowgule of Goa Yachting Association and Ankeet Desai of Martin's Windsurfing Academy (MWA) won a race each. While Amir Noronha (GYA) and Akshay Deodhar of Colaba Sailing Club, Mumbai (CSC) came second and third in different races.

In the junior class, Tamanna Arora was eliminated, while Aditi Sehasrabudhhe and Trisha Sabir went through to the next round.

Provisional Results: Open category: Race 1: 1 Remy Fernandes (GYA), 2 P J Thomas (AYN), 3 Ghanashyam (AYN), 4 Donald Coelho (GYA), 5 Rainer Dias (GYA).

Race 2: 1 Remy Fernandes (GYA), 2 P J Thomas (AYN), 3 Ghanashyam (AYN), 4 Donald Coelho (GYA), 5 Prakash (AYN).

Youth category: Race 1: 1 Chaitanya Chowgule (GYA), 2 Amir Noronha (GYA), 3 Akshay Deodhar (CSC).

Race 2: Ankeet Desai (MWA), 2 Chaitanya Chowgule (GYA), 3 Amir Noronha (GYA).

UNI SRN SSS CH PM2234