Ajay Rau among the World’s Best Sailors

World Laser Radial Men’s Championship 2009

Japan, Karatsu: 63 sailors from 16 countries have confirmed participation in the upcoming World Championship. The races are from August 5 - 10. Royal Madras Yacht Club’s Ajay Rau is the only sailor racing for India.

Despite a disappointing show finishing 32^nd in the silver fleet at the European Championships (Denmark), he is eager to get back among the top half of the fleet.

Ajay says, “I am aiming to do well. This is the World Championships, there is no place better to see where I am placed in the World. I had a great day out on the water. It’s a great place to sail and I am looking forward to some good top level racing.”

The championship is a restricted allocated event to only a few Radial Sailors across the World.

Accommodating this kind of championships has made it evident that Japan is extremely serious about hosting the 2016 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Four times Olympian, Allan Julie (Seychelles) will be his coach. Ajay is an Elite Athlete of the University Of New South Wales (Sydney) and is supported by the Mittal Champions Trust, Sports Development Authority of Tamilnadu and AMM Foundation.

2009 Radial European Championships from today- Rohini and Ajay Rau to Sail for India

Sailing

2009 Radial European Championships from today

Rohini and Ajay Rau to Sail for India

Denmark, Charlottenlund: The Championship of Europe has finally arrived. It is the only championship of its kind reserved for the best sailors from Europe.

Australia, Brazil, India, Israel, Korea, Malaysia, Newzealand and United States of America make up the challenge from the rest of the world. In total 175 sailors (Men and Women) from 35 nations have confirmed their participation.

While most Indian laser sailors will be gearing up for the National Inland Championship’s at Secunderbad (Hussain Sagar). India’s best brother and sister sailing duo will be racing and leading the charge for team India at the 2009 European Championships.Both sailors are pushing hard to prepare for the Asian Games selections to be held next year.

Team India has been training at the venue for the past ten days and has been trying to get used to the conditions. Majority of the days saw the high pressure system bring in warm conditions and light winds. Towards the end of the week the low pressure system had brought in cool weather, medium-strong winds and thunder storms warnings.

Rohini has been performing very well during the training sessions, she has been going quick and getting used to these conditions while Ajay has been finding it hard to adapt.

“The conditions have been difficult with light/medium-shifty winds, strong current and many changes in wind pressure make it tough to plot a strategy or plan. This makes it hard for all the sailors” Ajay Rau explains.

Allan Julie (SEY – 4 time Olympian) and Roger Craig (IRL – former Olympic campaigner) of SailCoach have been training the Indian sailors while on the water. Sailcoach is a nonprofit and award winning laser coaching organization, instrumental in winning the Bronze and silver medal at the 04 Athens and 08 Beijing Olympic Games.

Measurement, registration and Opening ceremony at city hall (Copenhagen), were held on the 10^th.The series of 12 races are scheduled from the 11^th-16^th of July. There will be 8 qualifying races and 4 races in the final series to bring in the new European Champion and winners of the sailing regatta of Europe.

The European Championships is the toughest laser regatta sailed annually on European waters. Anybody can win on his or her given day. The level of competition is high and the conditions will be difficult. Rohini and Ajay Rau’s expectations are high after a fairly good season so far.The experience will be invaluable to the top Indian sailors, but anything can happen. This ISAF Grade C1 regatta is ranked only below the World Championship.

The contenders for the Women’s European title are Sari Multana (FIN), Sophi de Turckheim (FRA), Evi Van Acker (BEL) and Paige Raiely (USA). The contenders for the Men’s European title are Wojciech Zemke (POL), Jon Emmett (GBR) and Aristeidis Michail (GRE). This observation is only taking last year’s performance at this championship into consideration.

Ajay and Rohini Rau to fly the tri colour at EURO 2009

Thu 9th July 2009 - Thu 16th July 2009 DENMARK, Charlottenlund Over 220 of the best sailors (men/women) are expected from Europe andthe rest of the world to battle it out for the 2009 EuropeanChampionship. Royal Madras Yacht Club sailors, Ajay and Rohini make up the Indianchallenge at the European Championship. Both sailors have been in good form this year. Rohini made historybecoming the first Indian woman to win a bronze medal at an Olympiclevel regatta (Izola Spring Cup) in april this year.Ajay finished 3rdand 1st in the mens radial -Asia Pacific Championship and NationalAustralian University Regatta also earlier this year. Both the siblings are being coached by Allen Julie (Seychelles ,4 timeOlympian) and he will be training them for a week at the venue beforethe start of the Championship.Rohini is already on her way to Denmark,while Ajay is scheduled to join her from Sydney on the 28th of June

May Report

In the beginning of last month we had the youth women team from Queensland and Western Australia join Erik and his team, We did a few speed tests and exercises. When the camp started we had simulation races (practice races).It was great training. It has been more work and less play. This month my first semester in university was coming to a close. Lots of last minute assignments to submit and study. It has been very stressful not to train much this month because of the pressure of being in University for the fist time after a gap of three years! I know that I have enough time to bounce back after my exams which get over on June 18th, to get my sights back on the summer for the European and World Championships. I have bought my air tickets and I am scheduled to leave Sydney by the 27th of June to Copenhagen and return back to Sydney by the 18th of July. I will be teaming up with SailCoach during my Europeans and World Championships in Denmark and Japan. Allen Julie will be my coach this season. He is from Seychelles. He is one of the most celebrated Olympians Seychelles has ever produced. He has sailed in the past 4 Olympic Games. I was his training partner in the past. But more than anything he has a lot of experience and he is a great friend. I look forward to working with him and the rest of the SailCoach team. I am getting help from the UNSW Elite Support Programme. They provide me with a fitness trainer at the University gym. I will be working with James to get back into peak shape before heading to Europe. SEA gear performance sail craft Australia have confirmed to sponsor my kit. I am happy that I will be wearing their gear this season for the European and World Championships. There hasn’t been too much sailing activity this month but I am definitely getting sharper and quicker. But next month is going to be tough as I train hard to prepare for the season ahead

India's Ajay Rau to race in “SEA gear”

Top international sailor and 2012 Olympic hopeful will be sporting“Sail Equipment Australia” gear on water this season. SEA gear has been designing and producing performance marine clothingfor Olympic and recreational dinghy sailors since March 2000. Many Topsailors from Australia, USA and other top sailing nations areassociated with SEA gear. Current 2008 Bejing silver medalist ZachRailey (USA) is sponsored by SEA. The Royal Madras Yacht Club sailor Ajay Rau remarked: “I am happy to be associated with SEA gear. Sea is the bestclothing brand for dinghy sailing globally. The products arefunctional, durable and reliable. The products cater for Olympic level sailor to the recreational, adventure and professional Indian water sports enthusiasts”. The driving force behind SEA gear is Brendan Casey - Laser Radial WorldChampion (1995 &1996) Australian and North American Laser Champion. “We are glad to take Ajay on board with us. We want to support theyoung Indian and help him achieve his ambitions in sailing” “Sail Equipment Australia provides an extensive collection of sailing and off water apparel that meets the high expectations of sailor’s world wide. The company embraces changing technology and innovation using the latest materials and construction techniques," says Brendan Casey. “We were in Mumbai for the 2009 Samira Mumbai International Boat show and are looking to expand into the Indian market and obviously we are not just involved in sailing, we are looking for our products to reach out to a wide spectrum in the Indian Marine sports and adventure industry ” , Brendan adds. The Australian based company has been associated with Indian sailingfor the past 5 years. Sea Gear Products are available in India fromSea Sports Marine, Mumbai SEA gear sailing products are based around dinghies, skiffs,keelboats, kite surfers, windsurfers and Olympic Classes. They alsobase their products around jet ski/motor, boating, white waterrafting, diving, adventure sports to just name a few from their widerange. For more information on the SEA gear visit www.sailequipment.com.au

THE SUN-HERALD May 10, 2009 - Special Report- PROFILE Ajay Rau,University of NSW-By JOSHUA MAULE

Ajay Rau Lives a double Life. Three days a week he can be found sitting in the University of NSW’S Lecture theatres learning media theories; the rest of the time the Indian-born international student hoots around Middle Harbour on his Laser (a one-person sailing boat),refining his skipper skills in the hope of becoming the Sachin Tendulkar of sailing.” I get pretty depressed when I’m not on the water.” He says. Growing up in Chennai, the 21-year-old first sailed more than a decade ago and got serious when he was 17.In 2006 he became India’s junior national champion.” I was just enjoying sailing,”Rau says,” and then the next day there was a lot of attention.” Rau’s success brought sponsorship deals allowing him to sail professionally. It also thrust him into the spotlight and he had to deal with journalists from national newspapers and television stations. With his parents’ help, he managed his own publicity and wrote press releases. “We have never hired an agent.” Rau says.’ You just have to be good socially and have your contacts and that’s how it works,” Rau visited Australia in 2006 and “knew I had to come back and train here some time in the future”. His sailing ambitions coupled with his “fascination” for journalism led him to Sydney this year to study a bachelor of media and communications at UNSW. After he finished his course, Rau intends to work as a sports journalist. Sailing is a minor sport in India, sitting in the shadow of cricket, but he reckons his work as a journalist may be able to raise its profile. “There’s now a sports boom happening in India,” he says,” Primarily it was cricket but now you have Indians getting interested in athletics and Olympic sports. So that’s what I’d love to cover.” JOSHUA MAULE

Mike Leigh Sailing Canada to Glory!

Meet Mike Leigh, currently ranked 6th best Laser sailor in the world.He was among the favorites to win a medal in the 2008 Olympic Games. Mike started sailing at the age of 7 and has been seriouslytraining since 1999.It has been a long but rewarding journey for this Canadian sailor. Mike says candidly: “ The 2008 Olympic trials was my third attempt at trying to qualify for the Olympics”. He finished 9th at the Beijing Olympic Games. This is indeed a great performance foran Olympic debut. And until now the best result by a Canadian sailor at theOlympics in the Laser class.“I was pretty pleased where I stood before going into the Olympics. I had done a lot of work and was quite happy with the progress I madegoing into the event”, the calm champion remarked. He was pleased with his overall finish but asked if he would have changed anything during his races, he added “There are certain things I would have changed looking back at it. But, at the time, I wouldn’t have changed anything”Mike explained to me that the Olympic Games are just one part ofsailing and there are different regattas all year round. I asked himwhat an Olympic medal will mean to him, if he gets the opportunity towear one around his neck, He says it would feel “Good! Great! What is important is the process and improvement. It is a small part in termsof your career. It’s all about the process.” The 2009 World Championships are in Canada (Halifax) .I asked him about the pressures to perform in home waters:“There is always pressure. Funding is based on positions at the World Championships”. Mike Leigh’s message to his rivals on the 2012 Olympic Campaign is a friendly, “I wish them luck!”Having seen him on water, I have no doubt in my mind all sailors campaigning for the 2012 Olympics need all the luckthey can get!

Report March & April 2009

Report March & April 2009 After 3 years on the international sailing circuit, I took the decision to pack my bags and base myself in Australia (Sydney). I am studying at UNSW (University of New South Wales) doing a 3 year under grad course in journalism and media. I was welcomed by friend and top Australian sailor James Burman at theairport. When I reached UNSW, I had attended the welcome address ofthe Elite Athletes Program hosted by UNSW and the Sports Association. Helen is the UNSW Athlete Development Officer and has been very helpful ingetting me started at the university campus. I later meet Gabrielle King, triple youth world champion, friend and fellow student at UNSW. With the help of both James and Gabrielle I have joined Middle Harbour Amateur Sailing Club and my sailing is now in full gear! The moment I entered the club I have been in complete awe! It is a great honor to be among the top Australian and world class sailors. There were members of the Australian sailing team, Australian development sailing squad andsailors from NSW Institute of Sport present. To name a few great sportspersons present - Michel Blackburn (Olympic silver 2000),Erik Stibbe (Coach), Tom Slingsby (World Champion/Olympianand world no.1 2007 - 2008) and a number of top ranked Australian sailors In the last two months I have been training with Gabrielle and herteam. We have had some very good on-the-water sessions. (Long andproductive sessions.) Often Gabrielle has been kind to offer me a lift to training as it is a fair distance away from University. Erik is a fantastic person to workwith, every time I have been on the water, I have learnt a great deal from him. Sailing and training on Sydney waters has been fantastic.There are always a number of boats on the water. And a great variety ofconditions. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to train. I have also been doing a fair bit of outdoor training (Running,Cycling) and actively taking part in college sports like Rugby,Hockey, football etc .The university gym is good and is equipped withgreat facilities. I took part in my first Australian University Regatta representingUNSW. I was leading the overall single handed division 1 after thefirst day of racing but by the third and final day of racing dropped to 3rd overall. I won the Laser Radial category comfortably. The racing was close between the different single handed classes. I enjoyedsailing inside the Sydney Harbour where the races for the 2000 Olympics were held. I have also had the opportunity to meet many top sailors in this short span of two months. I picked up my first road bike with help from current Australian andAsia Pacific Champion Ash Brunning. I have had a couple of rides onthe bike and trained with Mike Liegh, (CAN world top 10 ranked sailor,08 Olympian and friend), Ash Brunning and couple of other sailors. Just a week back I was delighted to hear the news that I was awarded a spot to represent India at the 2008 European Championships in Denmark to be hosted in July this year! My preparations haven’t been smooth sailing all the way for both the World's and the European's. I have had a number of hurdles. To name a few I havehad to get used to the university way of life/studies (after a 3 year gap!), deal witha bout of flu and the usual sport injuries. I am enjoying this experience asthis is part and parcel of being a sports man - to deal withdifficulties and look forward to the challenges. I am enjoying my newexperience being both a sailor and a university student, this has opened out many avenues in my life The next few months I will be focusing on preparing myself for theEuropean and World Championships and my semester 1 exams. I also hopeI will be able to cope with the crazy Australian winter. http://www.ajayrau.blogspot.com/

Ajay Rau Wins Australian University Sailing Regatta - Laser Radial

Ajay Rau Wins Australian University Sailing Regatta (Sydney) Ajay Rau wins the Laser Radial event at the 2009 AustralianUniversity Regatta .He represented UNSW (University OfNew-South-Wales) and is on the UNSW Elite AthleteSupport program. The Royal Madras Yacht Club sailor is also sponsored by MittalChampions Trust, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and AMMFoundation. The 2009 National Sailing University Regatta was organized and hosted bySydney Uni Sailing Club & Woollahra Sailing Club. The races took placeat Sydney Harbour Results Ajay Rau (UNSW) = 1, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 1

RMYC’s Rohini Rau Sails India into History Books. BY AJAY RAU

PRESS RELEASE Sport- Sailing RMYC’s Rohini Rau Sails India into History Books. Wins Bronze in Izola Spring Cup (Slovenia) On Sunday 12th April, 2009, Rohini made history for Indian Olympic sailing at the 2009 Izola Spring cup –ISAF Grade 3 event. The Royal Madras Yacht Club sailor is the First Indian Woman to finish on the podium in an International Olympic Class Regatta. This is her first International medal in the single hander Radial Class. She is not new to making history. Team Pallavi Naik and Rohini Rau won India’s first women’s sailing Asian Gold medal in the 420 Class in Mumbai in January 2004. And in October 2008 Rohini was part of the first Indian Match Racing Team to win an Asian Gold at the Regional finals of the Nations Cup held in Mumbai. But this medal is even more special as this medal was achieved in a single hander Olympic Class of Boats in International waters. Despite having the worst possible start to a regatta (DSQ: scoring maximum points) Rohini managed to climb back strong and win the bronze medal. She did well to keep the home favorite at bay and only gave Marusa Krasevac (SLO) a sniff of the bronze medal. She fought hard against Fellow Gold and Silver medalisits, Elisabetta Macchini (ITA) and Katharina Roeggla (AUT). Rohini’s initial reaction after winning the medal. " It feels good........I mean I was only 2 points away from silver and then I messed up my last race .It was the first time I had got 2 yellow flag penalties in the first race itself (DSQ)......so in spite of all that...I guess bronze wasn't so bad.....” Her reaction shows she is not content with just making it to the podium. She has a burning desire to win. 4 times Olympian and Coach Allen Jullie (SEY) was all praise. This is what he had to say about Rohini: “She kept a cool head and focused right through the regatta. Her goal this month was to just get into shape as she had been racing different classes of boats. She surprised all of us by winning the bronze medal after a 1 year break from international competition in the radial class. She has potential to create waves in the international sailing scene. She is a medical student; yet she has been able to train hard and sail. I am happy to be working with the Indian athlete.” When asked how it feels to be the first Indian Woman to Win a medal in a Women's Olympic Class (Sailing) "It's a step in the right direction for Indian women in sailing...after all the support and effort that my parents, brother (Ajay Rau) ,coach Alen Jullie (Seychelles) and fitness trainer Ramji Srinivas have put in...I guess this is only the beginning....” The 2007 YAI woman sailor of the year said with pride. She also thanked the SDAT( Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu), SAI (Sports Authority of India) and AMM Foundation for their long time support. To win a medal in Europe is remarkable as it hosts some of the toughest circuits on the tour. For an Indian woman to win medals in sailing was “just a Dream” not so long ago. This experience should help her shape up well for the forth coming National Championships against the men where she finished 3rd overall last year. This is also good preparation for major events like the European and World Championships for which Rohini will be representing India. This historic feat will do well to inspire women sailing in India at an International and Olympic level. Hopefully the repeated achievements by this young sailing star will finally get the attention she deserves from the Indian selectors and officials to support her and women sailing. She was presented with a plaque from Slovenian Sailing legend Vasilij Zbogar Olympic Silver (08) & Bronze (04) medalist after achieving this milestone. (Report written by Ajay Rau – fellow international sailor, brother and student of Communications & Journalism at UNSW, Sydney)

ILCA: Entry to the European Laser Radial Men's Championship 2009 accepted for Ajay Rau

The European Laser Radial Men's Championship 2009 will be held from Thu 9th July 2009 - Thu 16th July 2009 in DENMARK, Charlottenlund.