Watching the sun set can be a memorable sight. Now you get to experience this while sailing the high seas. The Guide was able to be part of this spellbinding visual while sailing on a yacht near Mumbai's harbour, and the best news is that getting a slice of this stunning view, doesn't come at a price
“Hark, now hear the sailors cry, smell the sea, and feel the sky, let your soul and spirit fly, into the mystic...” Northern Irish singer and musician Van Morrison has aptly elucidated the feeling one gets during sailing. Living in a city like Mumbai, which has the luxury of a sea, many of us, take its existence for granted and often don’t even seem to notice its overwhelming presence around us. But now, few for whom sailing is a passion have introduced ways by which we can include the calming effects of the sea in our lives. One such company is Luxus that not just organises events on yachts but also provides individual trips in the morning and in the evening if you wish to capture the magic of sunset in your memory.
(Right) Owner Suhasini Deshmukh of Luxus gives us a few tips about sailing in the high seas, as the yacht made its way further into the Arabian Sea.
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After hearing about a service like this, we were more than tempted to try it out, especially when we were conveyed that prior knowledge of sailing is not required for these trips. There are three options — either one can opt for the morning session that starts at 7 am or try out the evening sessions that are available from 4 pm tou00a06 pm and 6 pm to 8 pm. Since watching the sun go down, soaked in the awe-inspiring magnificence of the sea was our wish, we decided to go for the 6 pm slot.
A sailing yacht for a smaller group. This accommodates up to four people. Pic courtesy / Luxus
On reaching Gateway of India, we were directed towards jetty no 15 where the skipper (a person who has the command of the vessel) was waiting for us. With the help of a speedboat our journey was facilitated to our yacht, which was stationed further away in the sea. Once we were on our little eco-friendly vessel (the yacht had the traditional sail which doesn’t have a motor and is maneuvered with the help of a handle) the sails were hoisted. We were given our life jackets and we were ready for our voyage (a short one, in this case).
The two-hour sailing trip takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the city and into a world, which is serene, peaceful and exudes a tranquillising effect on a person, especially when the sky turns crimson from blue and eventually darkens with twinkling stars giving you company.
The bigger yacht is motorised; between 10 to 15 people can sail on this. Pics/Shadab Khan
How they set up Sail
Luxus is run by 30-year-old Suhasini Deshmukh, who has sailed many seas with her husband, who was a sailor by and is now a legal expert in the marine industry. “When I was in the UK, I studied the yacht industry and realised that we don’t have this culture in India. When I moved back I researched this and it got me interested; the way the yachting industry is moving in India. It’s picked up momentum in the last 3-4 years. I wanted to be a part of this growing industry.”
SAIL AWAY: The company has sailing and motor yachts and can accommodate from four to 60 people. It also organises events on yachts and provides sailing training in a 10-session course of two hours each. Anyone above the age of sevenu00a0can apply.
YOU PAY: While individual two-hour trips cost R1,500 per person, the cost of organising an event depends on client requirements.
HOW TO SIGN UP? Finalise a day and time, make your payment on their online portal (www.luxus.co.in) and get ready for your sail.
Dos and Don’ts
>>u00a0On a yacht ensure you’re comfortably dressed.
>>u00a0Skip alcohol before getting on board (if you’re sailing on a small sailing yacht) chances of seasickness are higher.
>>u00a0Those prone to motion sickness or seasickness, should take medication.
>>u00a0Follow the orders of the skipper and wear your safety equipment.u00a0
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