A Regatta Like No Other
White Sails and Vibrant Spinnakers dominated the Mumbai harbour skyline once again on 26th January. The 2020 edition of the Customs Cup Regatta, one of the most anticipated yachting events in the Mumbai Harbour area, worked a thrill through even the most seasoned of sailors. The never seen before turnout of over 70 yachts was greeted by strong afternoon winds and salt spray at the race venue off the Gateway of India. Despite the challenge the wind threw up , the sailors were raring to go just as the race was flagged off by Additional Director General Vijay Digambar Chafekar, PTM TM, Coast Guard Commander (Western Seabird) and Commodore Bombay Customs Yacht Club and Principal Commissioner Smt. Rama Mathew.
The Customs Cup Regatta is a mixed class race for wind sailing boats held every year on 26th January in commemoration of the International Customs Day. The Indian Customs, as a part of the Global Customs fraternity, has dedicated the year 2020 to Customs fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet. It is noteworthy that the Indian customs is dedicated towards implementing green customs and sustainable practices. India has made a quantum leap to 68th rank in “Trading Across Borders” component of the World Bank’s Doing Business (DB) ranking 2020 —from 146 in 2018, owing mainly to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), which has spearheaded some path breaking trade-facilitation and ‘Ease of Doing Business’ reform initiatives over the past few years like 24×7 Cargo Clearance, Direct Port Delivery (DPD), Direct Port Entry (DPE), Authorised Economic Operator ( AEO ), Risk Management System (RMS) etc. The Regatta would also be an opportunity to showcase recent reform initiatives like
India’s first National Time Release Study
ATHITHI (mobile app based Customs declaration for international travel)
ICEDASH (real time web-based performance monitoring in imports)
Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme
True to the spirit of fraternity that the 26th January embodies, the event hosted by Bombay Customs Yacht Club witnessed the turnout of yachtsmen from all over India like – Army Yachting Node, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers , Corps of Military Engineers, INWTC, Royal Bombay Yacht Club, Bombay Sailing Association, Colaba Sailing Club, Goa Yachting Association and other premier yacht clubs. BCYC was ably assisted by the RBYC, International jurists Major General SM Pillai, Colonel Sathish Kumar Kunwar and qualified international race officer Shri T. Srikanth Chaturvedi. The Regatta 2020 was sponsored by New India Assurance and IOCL.
The challenging race conditions of the afternoon tested the wits of every sailor. The bravado of competing sailors and their adept handling of yachts left every spectator gathered on ferries and boats around the race area awestruck. The race proceeded smoothly under the watchful and reassuring presence of the Indian Coast guard.
The coveted Customs Cup was won for the third time by defending champions Shri Prasad Shelar, Shri Prathamesh Bagwe, and Smt. Yugandhara Patil sailing the seabird ‘Neil’. The team also took home the Philip Bragg (seabird handicap) trophy.
The Bombay Customs Yacht Club has grown from strength to strength since the day of its revival by former Chief Commissioner Shri Bani Bhattacharya. The handholding by adventure sailor & Arjuna Awardee, Padmashri Gulshan Rai has laid the keel for another generation of seafaring Customs officers.
Indian Customs as the guardians of economic frontiers have a pivotal role to play in ensuring the security of a 7400 km long coastline. BCYC has matured to fulfil its destiny—imparting the hard skill of seafaring to a new crop of Customs Officers one sailing season after another. Godspeed to the BCYC in their noble pursuit!
