Mumbai's Luxury Yacht Regatta

The 2019 Bombay Merchants Cup Regatta for luxury yachts will see its finale on May 5th in the Mumbai harbour, with more than 20 participating boats, making it the largest regatta so far.

- Danny Carroll

BOAT RACING around the world has become synonymous these days with regattas, featuring luxury yachts. The increasing popularity of races like the Louis Vuitton Cup, America’s Cup, Rolex China Sea Race, Rolex Middle Sea Regatta Malta, Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race et al now overshadows traditional racing that happens in major sporting events, like the Olympics. It is a trend that has however bypassed India. The country, despite its lengthy coastline and long history of organised sailing (the Royal Bombay Yacht Club was founded in 1846) has always given the sport short shrift. In fact Mumbai, India’s richest sailing city, with one of the best harbours in the world, still doesn’t have a marina for yacht owners.