The first edition of the Champions Boat League (CBL) under way is riding a wave. The first four races (from a total of 12) have generated a huge fan following with almost eight and a half lakh spectators gathering to watch ones held at Thazhathangadi (Kottayam), Karuvatta (Alappuzha) and Piravom(Ernakulam).
Expectations are high and excitement rife as the race comes to the city — at Marine Drive on October 5.
When the nine teams, each comprising 100-125 spirited oarsmen in a chundan vallom (snake boat), it will hark back to 24 years ago when the city last saw a famous (Indira Gandhi Boat Race) snake boat race.
“Alappuzha is the traditional home to boat races. It is in their blood. Though Kochi has a small tradition of boat racing it is not a prominent one. The last big race was held in 1995, so this is the next big water event after that,” says Joint Director, Kerala Tourism, K Rajkumar, adding that along with the main race, smaller races with local boats—kayakers, speedboats and catamarans— will be held.
“As a venue Marine Drive is important,” states says P Bala Kiran Director Kerala Tourism, adding “Each track, much like a cricket pitch has its own characteristics, Thazhathangadi had a bend and a bridge, Piravom waters have a sharp reverse undercurrent and the leading canal at Karuvatta, made to release flood waters in the sea, had its own challenges.”
The race will be held over the one kilometre track that extends from Goshree Bridge to DTPC boat jetty, a distance of 960 metres.
The contiguous Marine Drive walkway with an unobstructed view of the waters will allow a spectacular view of the drama on the waters. In addition, a ticketed viewer’s gallery on the water will seat 2000.
Popular band Avial will perform on a barge near the finishing line as a build up to the event.
An initiative of Kerala Tourism CBL is aimed to bring an engaging activity during the lean August to November tourism season. “With this there is a race every Saturday between 2- 5 pm at any of the 12 venues. The Kochi race is mid season and the city has a good turnout of tourists, so this will be an added attraction for them,” says P Bala Kiran
“It is so exciting when you hear the roar of the boats entering the water. In Piravom it was a photo finish. Tropical Titans (Nadubhagam), ahead in points from earlier races were lagging behind, much to everyone’s consternation. Suddenly midway they changed tack, we could see how the oarsmen switched the paddle to another side and raced ahead. It was amazing,” recalls Smitha R, who is following the league faithfully.
The team composition says an organiser is 25 % of rowers can be from outside Kerala and hence in this very first league race there are rowers from Manipur, Kashmir and a kayaker from Haryana.
The boats themselves have stories and owners talk of them as living beings.
Antony Antony, President of Mighty Oars, team from Devas, is pretty sure of bettering their current second spot ranking as the team is practising hard. Sunil Kumar, trainer of Raging Rowers, the Kerala Police team, says that for a team that was founded only last year and participated in the Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR) they have very good chances because of their “athletic mentality.” He participated in a race on Marine Drive 15 years ago and has a fair idea of the tides on this track. He is upbeat. So is Sunil P Padmanabhan of Coast Dominators, looking forward to a battle on the waters this Saturday.
As CBL becomes a part of Kerala’s sports and entertainment events, it is sure to attract more participation from rowers from outside the State. “It is poised to grow bigger,” says Sreehari K, a happy fan.
Catch the action at www.championsboatleague.in.
