Not just sand & wind, Marina to soon host rowing & sailing

CHENNAI: Visitors to Marina beach may soon be able to take a joyride on a row boat or sail boat as the state government is planning to develop one of the longest beaches in the world into a hub for water sports.

A sailing academy and a training centre for sailing and rowing will be set up at a cost of Rs 7 crore, said CM J Jayalalithaa in her announcement made under rule 110 in the legislature on Wednesday.

"In our election manifesto, we promised that facilities for sea sports will be set up," she said, adding that the academy on the beach was being planned on the lines of what was pledged in the manifesto.

The project is likely to be undertaken by the sports department.

Sources said that the aim of the government was to rope in the expertise of fisherfolk and encourage youngsters from the community to diversify and take up adventure sports. A private initiative has resulted in fishermen being trained in surfing at Mamallapuram and Mudaliarkuppam.

This is the second attempt by the state government to introduce adventure water sports at the Marina beach. The government had earlier announced that a marina on the lines of the one in Kochi for berthing boats and yachts would be set up at the beach but the plan is yet to take off.

Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) had planned to use 30 acres of land to set up an adventure sports facility where people could sail, use yachts, surf and parasail. An official said that the plan fell through as a study showed that the shore is not safe for adventure sailing or surfing because of strong winds and rough seas. A few coast guard experts submitted a report saying that a marina was not feasible.

The government is also beautifying Marina beach in a gradual manner. Trees are being transplanted between the walkway and the service lane for the benefit of walkers and the loop road from the lighthouse to Foreshore Estate is being spruced up with lights being set up.