Cruise control

He is a seasoned sailor and exhibits a captain’s tactical thinking. "The yachting industry has grown exponentially in India over the past three to four years. Today at the Gateway of India in Bombay you will find at least 200-300 yachts parked at any given point of time,” states Capt Homi Motivala. Seeing the sea of opportunity available because of rising salaries and the boom in the leisure boating industry in India, Motivala set up Yacht Charters India, a premium yacht charter company, in 2008 in partnership with Marine Solutions, a company which exclusively represents leading international brands, as per their website www.yachtchartersindia.in

"There was a need to put our wonderful coastline on the international charter map and position it as a virgin charter destination to clients overseas,” Motivala explains. "Yacht Charters India offers opportunities to Indians to charter in the country and at foreign destinations and also for foreign clients to charter in India.” With internationally recognized brands of motor and sailing yachts as well as speedboats on offer, you can book a boat and boatman to ferry you across the water! "Different sizes of yachts have different capacities and we have yachts that can accommodate groups ranging from six to 100 people. We operate from Bombay, Goa and Calcutta and the charter business is very good in Bombay,” declares 52-year-old Motivala.

Cruising suggestions mentioned on their website include sailing along the western coastal belt with its secluded beaches, swaying fronds, betel palms and casuarina groves, as towers and turrets of the ancient hilltop forts like Murud-Janjira and Vijaydurg hove into view. From children’s day out to company events and parties, Yacht Charters India has several airy alternatives available, including luxury boats of brand Ferretti, Jeanneau, Sea Ray, etc. The website also mentions international destinations like Dubai, Italy, Spain, the French Riviera, the Caribbean, Florida and Brazil where yachts can be arranged.

In a career devoted to wind and wave, Motivala had served in the Indian Navy, taking premature retirement. He holds the rank of commander and had been awarded the Shaurya Chakra, the Navy’s gallantry award, in 1983. He is also one of India’s most successful yachtsmen. On the top deck of competitive yachting, Motivala had won the gold medal along with P. K.Garg at the World Championships in the Enterprise class in 1993 and silver at the Asian Championship. They were also the bronze medallists at the Asian Games in 1990 and 1994 in the same class of boat, as per Wikipedia. Motivala has the rare distinction of winning all three of India’s most prestigious national sports awards — the Arjuna Award (1993) and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (1994) as champion yachtsman, and the Dronacharya Award for coaches in 2002.

Capt Homi Motivala (top and center) with wife Huzan and son Danesh; (above) motor yacht on hire at the Gateway of India

Steering the business with as sure a hand, Motivala tells us that hiring a 61-foot motor yacht with a capacity of 25 people would cost in the region of Rs 25,000 per hour, a 45-foot sailing yacht would be Rs 30,000 for four hours and a speedboat would cost around Rs 10,000 for an hour of cruising in the harbor. "We offer good deals for regular clients,” he adds. Packages can be customized to suit the client, notes general manager Khojesteh Kathawala. End-to-end solutions include food and beverage, on board services, cultural tours, leisure activities, etc. While an entire buffet can be laid out, finger food is recommended for those likely to be green at the gills! "If you do not find the yacht that meets your requirement in our portfolio, we will be happy to provide you with more suitable options,” their website adds. Yacht Charters India has its office at Colaba and can be reached on 022-32689767; e-mail: khojesteh @yachtchartersindia.in