“Sailing the east coast”, the three-day regatta event co-hosted by the French Institute of Pondicherry and the Embassy of France in India, gets under way on Thursday.
Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, will flag off the Indo-French regatta on the beach at 4.30 p.m.
This programme is part of Bonjour India, a four-month-long celebration of Indo-French innovation, creativity and partnership.
The first regatta and nautical event in the city is held under the auspices of The Pondicherry Sailing Association.
A regatta consists of 10 individual races in a fleet racing format. The sailor who excels in the over all series of races will be declared the winner. Competitors are expected to go around a course that is trapezoidal in shape for three km with each race lasting an hour.
At least 50 competitors, including international sailors, are participating in the yacht races along the east coast. The pool of participants, in the age 8-15 age group, comprise not just professionals but amateurs, children and adults, special guests and fishermen.
