26 April,2026 10:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Sunil Warrier
R Mahesh at his happiest, solo on the open sea
What can be more tragic for a sportsperson than being consumed forever in the arena that brought him national and international laurels? As a sailor, R Mahesh constructed an impressive curriculum vitae. In his sailing career, there were downs too, but this time in the waters of Maldives, tragically, there was no resurfacing.
There was an enduring air of supreme confidence in Mahesh. A bystander observing his body language would term it condescension or bumptiousness. But those who know him well will insist it is his belief in his own skill that perhaps lent that impression.
"Mahesh portrayed himself as casual and happy-go-lucky but, as a sailor, he was very focused and dedicated. He never had any ego about his performance," says former national coach Homi Motivala, a rare sportsperson who has won both the Dronacharya (coach) and Arjuna (athlete) awards.
Mahesh has sailed the single-hander Lasers, two-man Enterprise and Star class of boats, as well as four- and five-manned bigger boats used for match-racing. Not only has he crewed for others, but Mahesh has also helmed the boats. Both with distinction.
He had an infectious smile and a peculiar way of starting a conversation. Mahesh would softly chortle, then giggle a bit at some self-imagined joke. Muscles on his husky shoulders would have relaxed. The eyes would warmly flutter from behind the fancy glares. The mouth would acknowledge it with a wide spread. When Mahesh spoke, his entire body communicated.
"Mahesh was an extremely jovial person, [he was] my 2 am friend," says Aashim Mongia, his skipper in the Enterprise class boat.
Unlike most of the sailors who went on to make a name for themselves, Mahesh, an aviator with the Indian Navy, did not come up from the junior ranks after sailing Cadet and OK Dinghy class of boats. "He was a late bloomer, had no background in sailing. Mahesh picked up the sport in the naval environment and then found a liking for it. The Laser class was his first boat," says the much-decorated Farokh Tarapore who was Mahesh's personal coach for a few years and has also raced against him.
Motivala first heard about Mahesh before meeting him. "I was second-in-command of sailing training vessel âVaruna' and had to take along sailors in batches of 15 for the trip to Sydney and back in 1987-88. After the first leg, everyone was pleading on Mahesh's behalf [to include him in the crew]. He was an extremely popular person," he recalls.
As a pilot, Mahesh was constantly moved around professionally. He finally got posted at the Naval Sailing Club in Mumbai around the time Motivala took over its reins. That helped him focus and enhance his skill set.
"Mahesh was raw talent and skill, it got honed with continuous sailing," says Tarapore.
Aashim compares Mahesh to Virat Kohli. "Like the cricketer, Mahesh was talented; then he put in a lot of hard work, and that made him a supremely confident sailor," he says.
Aashim's younger brother Nitin had a two-pronged relationship with Mahesh. "For some years, we were sailing the same class of boat - the Laser. We raced against each other and had intense battles on the water. We managed to beat each other a couple of times. I have known him since 1990 and we have been inseparable since then," says Nitin.
The brotherhood brings out a different view of Mahesh who quit the Navy around 2010 to find his feet in the civil world. "He was laid back and lazy, but when he had to perform, Mahesh was a different person and extremely competitive. Not only have we sailed against each other but together too, as I have crewed for him," says Nitin.
Sailors rig up single-handers like the Laser boat to be in full control and to enjoy the full glory solo. Mahesh's move to the two-hander Enterprise was an instantaneous decision, something sailors are prone to do while competing.
"Both of us had fared badly at the 1998 Asian Games. He finished fifth or sixth in the Laser, and I fourth in the Enterprise. On the return flight, we were seated next to each other and feeling miserable. We were discussing our efforts and Mahesh just turned around and said he would crew for me, especially as my regular crew Pushpendra Garg was set to quit sailing," says Aashim.
What followed were the best years of their lives. A debacle brought them together and spurred Aashim and Mahesh. "We went back to sailing as soon as we landed. Plus, we were working on our physical strengths. Running, gymming and sailing⦠we did it all together. It was a meeting of minds," says Aashim, adding that even now "he was built like an ox".
What he learnt, Mahesh imparted too. "He practically trained Rajesh Choudhary (international medallist in Laser class)," said Aashim. "He brought a good,
positive attitude to the sport. Mahesh was helpful to everyone and genuinely a wonderful person," adds Motivala.
With Mahesh around, everyone knew that a joke was around the corner. "He helped changed the mood because of the way he was," says Motivala.
Mahesh is still probably doing just that in a parallel world.
On March 19, a speedboat carrying seven people - five of them Indian - capsized close to Felidhoo island in the Maldives. The incident made headlines on the discovery that one of the passengers was Gautam Singhania, managing director of the Raymond Group. The speedboat was being used to ferry passengers to his yacht, TT Ashena. While Singhania and the other passengers were rescued, Commander Mahesh Ramachandran - a celebrated sailor and captain of Singhania's luxury yacht - remains missing a month on.
1999 World Championship, Silver medal; Enterprise class boat; with A Mongia (helm)
2000 World Championship; Bronze medal; Enterprise class; with A Mongia (helm)
2001 Asian Regatta; Gold; Enterprise class; with A Mongia (helm)
2002 Busan Asian Games; Bronze; Enterprise class; with A Mongia (helm)
2005 Asian championships; Gold; Match Racing; Mahesh (helm) with S Chauhan, GL Yadav and N Mongia (crew)
2006 Asian championship; Gold; Mahesh (helm) with N Mongia, GLYadav and S Chauhan (crew)
2006 Doha Asian Games; Silver; Match racing; Mahesh (helm) with S Chauhan, GL Yadav and N Mongia
2010 Asian Championships; Silver; Match racing; Mahesh (helm), N Mongia
