Poor wind conditions compelled the organisers to call off the races which were scheduled to be held on the opening day of the 26th National Laser sailing championships at the Hussainsagar lake here on Monday.
After waiting hopefully for the wind to pick up all morning, the Race Committee was finally forced to announce at 12.45 p.m. that the morning session of races had to be called off.
In the afternoon, with the water surface as placid as a sheet of glass, the organisers decided to involve the sailors in a Racing Rules clinic which was conducted by Brigadier Jagdish Singh, a veteran of sailing competitions and now an international judge.
Just after 3 p.m. the wind picked up slightly and the Race Committee eagerly went out on a boat to lay the course but no sooner had they done this, there was a heavy downpour. When the rain ceased, the winds died down again and put paid to their hopes. Finally at 4.15 p.m. it was decided to call off the afternoon session too.
“It's just the first day so we have no reason to worry,” said Lt. Col. M.P. Jaggi, who has served the sport in various capacities for many years and has vast experience of sailing conditions on the Hussainsagar lake.
