The Yachting Association of India was formally constituted on 15th May in the year 1960 and was legally registered 4 years later on 22nd December, 1964 at Kolkata, West Bengal. The Yachting Association of India is a governing body of sailing, windsurfing, motor boating, powerboat racing and personal watercraft, at sea and on inland waters of the nation. The YAI is affiliated to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), which is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the governing authority for sailing worldwide. The YAI is also officially recognized by the Indian Olympic Association and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The headquarters of the YAI is at Chanakyapuri in the state of New Delhi.
History of Yachting Association of India
Sailing in India can be traced back to 6th February, in the year 1830 in Bombay, presently known as Mumbai. After the Second World War, when the British left India there were 5 active sailing clubs, which were based at Bombay, Madras, Bangalore, Barrackpore and Nainital.
As such the YAI is responsible for promoting the sport in the country, developing and training of judges, umpires and other administrators of the sport and representing the sailors in all matters concerning the sport. There are currently 55 clubs affiliated to the YAI, spread over the various parts of the country. The YAI is headed by Admiral RK Dhowan, Chief of the Naval Staff as its President and Lt Gen Rajiv Bhalla, the DGMT, Indian Army is the Vice President of the Association.
Yachting Association of India in Sports
After the year 1974, sailing has never been absent in the Asian Games. Sailing in the Asian Games is divided into 6 types of competitions for men and women. In the 17th edition of Asian Games held in 2018, Jakarta, history was made in the sailing contest when Varsha Gautham, 16 years old and Aishwarya Neduchezian, 18 years old, became the first ever Indian women to win a Bronze Medal for India. It was the role played by the Indian Navy in promoting yachting in India that had made it possible for them to achieve this feat.
