Ok! You've done the hard part.you've found us! It's all downhill from here.

The aim of this article is to introduce interested persons (of any age) to the wonderful sport of sailing and provide them with information on how to get on the water and cast off into an experience of a lifetime.

Sailing, Yachting, Cruising, whatever you might like to call it, gives you the unique opportunity of being one with nature for a brief period of time. There is no substitute for being out there in the blue sea with nothing but the wind and the water to disturb your sanctity, no engine sound, no traffic no pollution, just the sound of the water gently lapping up against your boat. On windy days, there's nothing to beat the exhilaration of feeling the spray rise up as your boat skims the waves and cuts through the seas with all the grace of a ballerina in her element.

If I've held your interest thus far, then I guess it's safe to say that you're hooked..sort of.

Broadly speaking there's two ways of looking at the sport. One is the calm, enjoyable, cruising mode mentioned above and the other is more for the Adventure Sports enthusiasts. Depending on your age, physical constitution and of course courage, you could pick either.

Let me start with the first. If you are the more laid back sort or are not a decent swimmer then you could sail bigger cruising boats such as the Seabird (specially designed for harbour cruising in Bombay) which can accommodate 5 people at a time. Another possibility is the Lightning which is an international class and accommodates 4 people. These, and similar boats are easy to handle, do not normally capsize and are very stable. We see active participation in these types of boats even by sailors over 70 years old. At the same time these classes are also keenly raced. With races in the Harbour every Saturday and bigger events at least 5-6 times a year, including the Seabird & Lightning National Championship once a year.

In Bombay you could see these boats usually moored off the Gateway of India and sailing in the harbour regularly.

If, you are looking for something a little more adventurous and a lot more exciting, you could try smaller sport-boats such as the double handed International 420. The 420 is named so because it is 4.20 meters in length and has nothing to do with the relevant clause of the Indian Penal Code.

Being a fair swimmer is a prerequisite for this class of boats. The 420 requires a crew of 2, one helm and one crew. It would be a good idea to go out with an experienced person for a few times in order to save a few splashes. The 420 is a relatively new class in India and as yet there are only a few boats to go around. However, we anticipate the class to rapidly become a widely sailed/raced boat in India, as it is around the world.

There are other similar classes of boats such as the Enterprise, Lasers, etc. presently sailed extensively around the country. These boats require you to be physically in decent shape and also to be prepared to have a few splashes before you get the hang of it. On the flip side, it offers you unparalleled excitement as is evident from the various articles & pictures in this Magazine.

No matter how much I try to describe what it feels like to go sailing, I will never be able to do it justice and will always fall short. It's an indescribable feeling to be steering your own boat and mastering the elements in order to fly along the wave tops.

How do you go about getting into a boat? Here, again you have a few options. If you have the resources and the inclination, you could buy your own boat and subscribe to the relevant class association and cast off. It's just that easy. The Class Association is a body that regulates the functioning of that class of boats in the Country. For instance, the 420 is regulated by the 420 Class Association of India, the Seabird is regulated by the Seabird Class Association of India, etc.

The other option and if I may say so, the recommended option would be to join a sailing club in your area and make use of their pool of boats. Brief introductions to the 3 Civilian Clubs in Bombay, namely the Royal Bombay Yachting Club, the Colaba Sailing Club & the Bombay Sailing Association with contact details, contact persons and membership criteria etc. are provided in this magazine. All you have to do is initiate contact and you will receive guidance on membership criteria/procedures. It's just that simple.

Not all clubs have all classes of boats. So if there's a particular class of boat that you are interested in sailing, you may want to ensure that the club you intend to join has a fleet of that class.

Most clubs have regular "Learn to Sail" workshops and training sessions. These should be enough to familiarize you with the boats and how to sail them. These workshops cater to various levels of expertise, be it beginners, advanced, racing etc. Seniors and regular sailors at the club are also a great source of information.

If you are hydrophobic or just a little nervous of the water, remember that you are a lot safer on our waterways than you would be on our roads! Initially you might find it just a little intimidating especially with all the jargon you will be bombarded with. But once you get the hang of the nautical twang, you'll be speaking the language as if you were born with it. As you sail more often, you find yourself more at ease in the boat and with that will come a new found confidence that will grow with each time that you go sailing.

In Mumbai, we have an excellent harbour which offers us sheltered waters with regular, predictable wind patterns. There are club races virtually every weekend and bigger events with a frequency of at least once every month. The clubs organize regular cruises to different locations in the harbour including Mandwa, Rewas, Elephanta etc.

Our country has a rich maritime heritage, rightly so considering our vast coastline. We also enjoy a good semi-tropical climate which is conducive for sailing all year round. So let's not waste it, come join us on the water to find out what you have been missing out on.I promise you, you won't regret it.