Surf Cat

Panaji: Goa has been the home of boardsailing for more than 35 years now. The first national champions were all from Goa, and despite stiff competition from Services, Goans have made a mark.
That domination has continued, never easy in a sport where the army and navy always called the shots. Ask any former champion from Goa and he will unhesitatingly credit Cesar Menezes for Goa’s success story.
Not surprisingly, at the recently concluded annual general body meeting of the YAI, he was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the sport in India.
Menezes was instrumental in the formation of the Goa Yachting Association in 1973 and was its founding general secretary. He is currently the President Emeritus of Goa Yachting Association and was the one who encouraged Goan youngsters to take to the sport by purchasing many sail boats himself.
“In 1980, when windsurfing became a popular sailing class abroad, Cesar formed the Windsurfing Association of India (later changed to Board Sailing Association of India) and helped promote and popularise windsurfing in Goa and all over the country,” the association said in a statement.
Whether it was multiple-time national champion Derrick Menezes or Remy Fernandes or even those who started much later, Menezes has been the constant in their success story.
“The GYA helped me a great deal. They were very supportive, particularly president Cesar,” said Remy, who won the nationals six times, including four times in a row
Derrick, the best of the lot from Goa who won the nationals close to a dozen times and finished a creditable ninth at the Worlds, is never short of praise for the man who was instrumental in the formation of the Goa Yachting Association in 1973 and was its founding general secretary.
“Over the years, he purchased dozens of windsurfing boards and helped Goans excel in the sport. Due to his efforts, Goans have dominated the sport of windsurfing in India winning golds for more than 30 years.
“Due to his efforts, several Goans represented India and won medals at the Asian and other International and World Championships. Many a times, the entire expense of these International participations was borne by him,” said GYA.
Since Menezes was out of the country, the award was collected on his behalf by his daughter Rashmi and son in law Vinay Pinto during a function in New Delhi. The Award was presented by President of YAI Adm. Sunil Lamba, retired Chief of Naval Staff.