Its summer time… Its water sports time
Published on: March 25, 2010 - 23:18
More in:
iEXPLORE
BY CLARA A RODRIGUES
There was a time when Goans simply loved their beaches where they went to relax and unwind with their families. But bronzing themselves on the beaches no longer holds the same appeal to the Goans as it used to decades ago. There has been a shift in their outlook.
There are a horde of reasons for this - beaches crowded with rowdy tourists, shacks popping up left, right and centre, pesky vendors, dirty coastline, etc.
Blessed with a breathtaking coast, the locals are now searching for an alternative to reach out in the sea. They don’t merely want to sooth their minds with a dip in the waters. They want to reign over the seas. And they literally do so, thanks to the water sport activities that are fast catching up in the state.
With a vast ocean, plenty of options to steer in the calm hinterlands, and an easy connectivity between water channels, aqua-terrestrial activities are claiming the top spot for Sunday getaways with friends and family.
During the monsoons water sports sees a downward graph due to the unpredictable weather and choppy seas but nevertheless the calm rivers still offer an exciting getaway.
The number of people participating in watersports for leisure or at a competitive level may be increasing but not as much as may have been expected. It is a hassle to own your own boat, kayak, water ski, surfboard, and other equipments as these are expensive or there is no suitable place to store it or even more simply because it is difficult to transport the equipment. Going out to ski or kayak is not as simple as packing a lunch box and deciding to spend an evening by the beach. Since it is not generally viable for individuals to own them and as such you have enterprising people coming forward to organise group water sport activities. Quite a few locals along the coast, seeing the that water sports can be a money spinner, have invested in banana boats, jet skis, and parasailing and other equipment.
Deepak Dias, the proprietor of Goa Adventurers informs that a lot of Goans are opting for water sports such as tubing, kayaking, wind sailing, canoeing. “We get a lot of feedback from parents who say they do not mind spending money on sending their kids for a water sport as they rather see their child enjoy some outdoor activity than see them sit in front of the TV or play video games.”
Mr Prakash Afonso, proprietor, Goa Kayaking agrees that Goans are taking to the water. “The whole coast is open for water sports. We also have the riverside where such water sports activities can be conducted,” says Mr Afonso. Naming a few routes were he conducts kayaking trips, Mr Afonso says: “Depending on the tide we go to various places like from Cortalim to St Jacinto Island, Agassaim to Bambolim Beach, Siridao- Panaji to Chorao Island, Divar Island-Aldona-Pomburpa-Old Goa to Panaji.”
The hidden beauties of sea bounties are partially exposed during such journeys. From mangroves to different species of birds, the trip is not just any water excursion; it is a uplifting and unforgettable experience.
Citing examples of grandmothers who came along for the water expedition, Mr Afonso emphasised on the point that things like age factor, weight factor or even knowing how to swim don’t matter.
The backwaters areas bordering Goa are quite a temptation to the water sport lover. Nearby destinations near the Goa border like Karwar, where the River Kali has some awesome backwater areas to explore, are some great options. Many eco-resorts along this route also allow guests to use their water sport equipment and also have trained personnel to guide a water trip.
Donald Coelho, who has represented Goa at the National Sailing Championship and was the winner, last year, says that Goa has been bagging the top rank for the past many years at the National Sailing Championships. With plans to open a sailing school next year in Calangute, Donald is hoping that the youth will come forward and benefit from the facility. “It is more for those who wish to sail at a competitive level,” Donald says. When asked the ideal place to sail in Goa, he ventured with the answer, “If you are perfect, you can go anywhere but if you are not so sure, then Baga and Dona Paula are safe bets.”
The best time to do water sports would be from 6 in the morning to 12 in the afternoon. Beyond that the wind speed and scorching heat can throw a wet blanket on your water sport activities.
Caution when it comes to safety has to be taken into account. The time of the tide, informing the right people before you go to sea, etc, is useful. Apart from that the boating equipments have to adhere to safety norms. Once these factors are in place, water sports can be safer - “Much safer than crossing the Mandovi in a ferryboat,” says Mr Afonso. “We give life jackets to those participating in these rides, also the boat has a buoyancy of 150 kg, which makes sinking unthinkable,” remarks Mr Afonso.
The surge in water sports in Goa has led to an increase in a lot of unregulated activities along the crowded coastline. Areas like the Calangute stretch are crammed with operators vying for the same target group. With no segregated zones, and specially demarcated areas for a particular water sport activity, the cases of accidents are on a high. However these do not get the desired attention.
Water pollution too is increasing as a result of many water sport activities that are conducted without getting various clearances. “The Baga water is dirty and smells of kerosene,” says Donald “Water sports are not polluting but pollution controls have to be implemented and followed,” he adds.
Published on: March 25, 2010 - 23:18
More in:
iEXPLORE
BY CLARA A RODRIGUES
There was a time when Goans simply loved their beaches where they went to relax and unwind with their families. But bronzing themselves on the beaches no longer holds the same appeal to the Goans as it used to decades ago. There has been a shift in their outlook.
There are a horde of reasons for this - beaches crowded with rowdy tourists, shacks popping up left, right and centre, pesky vendors, dirty coastline, etc.
Blessed with a breathtaking coast, the locals are now searching for an alternative to reach out in the sea. They don’t merely want to sooth their minds with a dip in the waters. They want to reign over the seas. And they literally do so, thanks to the water sport activities that are fast catching up in the state.
With a vast ocean, plenty of options to steer in the calm hinterlands, and an easy connectivity between water channels, aqua-terrestrial activities are claiming the top spot for Sunday getaways with friends and family.
During the monsoons water sports sees a downward graph due to the unpredictable weather and choppy seas but nevertheless the calm rivers still offer an exciting getaway.
The number of people participating in watersports for leisure or at a competitive level may be increasing but not as much as may have been expected. It is a hassle to own your own boat, kayak, water ski, surfboard, and other equipments as these are expensive or there is no suitable place to store it or even more simply because it is difficult to transport the equipment. Going out to ski or kayak is not as simple as packing a lunch box and deciding to spend an evening by the beach. Since it is not generally viable for individuals to own them and as such you have enterprising people coming forward to organise group water sport activities. Quite a few locals along the coast, seeing the that water sports can be a money spinner, have invested in banana boats, jet skis, and parasailing and other equipment.
Deepak Dias, the proprietor of Goa Adventurers informs that a lot of Goans are opting for water sports such as tubing, kayaking, wind sailing, canoeing. “We get a lot of feedback from parents who say they do not mind spending money on sending their kids for a water sport as they rather see their child enjoy some outdoor activity than see them sit in front of the TV or play video games.”
Mr Prakash Afonso, proprietor, Goa Kayaking agrees that Goans are taking to the water. “The whole coast is open for water sports. We also have the riverside where such water sports activities can be conducted,” says Mr Afonso. Naming a few routes were he conducts kayaking trips, Mr Afonso says: “Depending on the tide we go to various places like from Cortalim to St Jacinto Island, Agassaim to Bambolim Beach, Siridao- Panaji to Chorao Island, Divar Island-Aldona-Pomburpa-Old Goa to Panaji.”
The hidden beauties of sea bounties are partially exposed during such journeys. From mangroves to different species of birds, the trip is not just any water excursion; it is a uplifting and unforgettable experience.
Citing examples of grandmothers who came along for the water expedition, Mr Afonso emphasised on the point that things like age factor, weight factor or even knowing how to swim don’t matter.
The backwaters areas bordering Goa are quite a temptation to the water sport lover. Nearby destinations near the Goa border like Karwar, where the River Kali has some awesome backwater areas to explore, are some great options. Many eco-resorts along this route also allow guests to use their water sport equipment and also have trained personnel to guide a water trip.
Donald Coelho, who has represented Goa at the National Sailing Championship and was the winner, last year, says that Goa has been bagging the top rank for the past many years at the National Sailing Championships. With plans to open a sailing school next year in Calangute, Donald is hoping that the youth will come forward and benefit from the facility. “It is more for those who wish to sail at a competitive level,” Donald says. When asked the ideal place to sail in Goa, he ventured with the answer, “If you are perfect, you can go anywhere but if you are not so sure, then Baga and Dona Paula are safe bets.”
The best time to do water sports would be from 6 in the morning to 12 in the afternoon. Beyond that the wind speed and scorching heat can throw a wet blanket on your water sport activities.
Caution when it comes to safety has to be taken into account. The time of the tide, informing the right people before you go to sea, etc, is useful. Apart from that the boating equipments have to adhere to safety norms. Once these factors are in place, water sports can be safer - “Much safer than crossing the Mandovi in a ferryboat,” says Mr Afonso. “We give life jackets to those participating in these rides, also the boat has a buoyancy of 150 kg, which makes sinking unthinkable,” remarks Mr Afonso.
The surge in water sports in Goa has led to an increase in a lot of unregulated activities along the crowded coastline. Areas like the Calangute stretch are crammed with operators vying for the same target group. With no segregated zones, and specially demarcated areas for a particular water sport activity, the cases of accidents are on a high. However these do not get the desired attention.
Water pollution too is increasing as a result of many water sport activities that are conducted without getting various clearances. “The Baga water is dirty and smells of kerosene,” says Donald “Water sports are not polluting but pollution controls have to be implemented and followed,” he adds.
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